P P E E A C E

So many works upon the Alps have appeared duringthe last ten years, that an apology is almost requiredfor adding to their number. Still, the majority ofthese are monographs, devoted, either to special topics—as the books of Forbes and Tyndall, or to parti-cular districts—such as Dauphine, the Oberland , andthe Bernina, rather than works attempting to give ageneral view of the very diverse subjects of interestconnected with the Alpine Chain. I have thereforein the present volume endeavoured to put together afew notes, which may serve not only to give thosewho cannot travel a general idea of the Alpine Regions,but also, at the same time, be useful as a kind ofhandy-book to those who are purposing to visit them.

I must not, however, be supposed to have at-tempted anything of the nature of a formal guide-book, scientific or topographical. Had I endeavoured