ASCENT, &c.

(The principal part of the following Narrative appeared in the *' Edinburgh NewPhilosophical Journal for January, 1835.**)

As we reached the Col de Balme, on the I5th,in passing from Martigny to the Priory ofChamonix, Mont Blanc presented itself for thefirst time. It came suddenly and magnificentlyinto view in its whole extent, so that the eyeknew not where to begin the contemplation ofthe amazing picture. The Col de Balme may,on this account, he recommended as a pointfrom which to obtain the first near view of themountain. Though inferior to Chimborazo inits elevation above the sea, Mont Blanc is to beconsidered as the higher mountain of the two,as it rises 12,300 feet above the valley of Cha­ monix ; Chimborazo not more than 11,600above the plain of Quito . There is another im-portant feature in Mont Blanc ; its line of per-petual snow is nearly 7000 feet below the summit;that of Chimborazo only 2,400, according toHumboldt .

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