MONT BLANC AND THE VALLEY OF CHAMONIX, FROM THE COL DE BALME.

The Col de Balme forms the north-eastern barrier to the valley of Chamonix, and is about 7540 feet above the level of the sea; but the point from which the view is taken is not quite so elevated.

Most of the pedestrian visitants to the valley pass over this mountain in coming to or in leaving it; but many ascend it merely for the sake of enjoying the very fine prospect, and return to the Priory *.

Mont Blanc is the most prominent object; but the whole line of aiguilles on the south side of the valley has a very beautiful effect, particularly that of Argentière. The Breven, with the Aiguilles Rouges, on the north side, have also a very pleasing and conspicuous appearance. Besides these mountains, the Buet is seen, and the "Cols" which form the barrier on the opposite side of the valley.

From the great height of the mountains surrounding it, and also of the point from which the picture is taken, the valley seems to be very low and narrow, which it certainly is. Its length is about eighteen miles. The Arve takes a serpentine course through it, constituting a beautiful feature in the scene.

* Dr. Clark thus describes it: "On approaching the summit of the passage, however, the thick vapours suddenly burst away, and to our infinite satisfaction displayed the immense colossal form of the White Giant lifting his hoary head in awful majesty, and claiming his rightful reverence as indisputable sovereign of European hills: we lingered long, feasting our eyes with this most sublime spectacle, the huge Dôme du Goûté and the vast slopes of snow, glittering like silver in the glorious burst of sunshine."

MONT BLANC FROM THE VALLEY OF COURMAYEUR.

The south side of Mont Blanc is represented in this plate. The glacier of Brenva, a very extensive and beautiful one, commencing at the base of the mountain, is on the left of the plate. The upper part of this glacier is terrific, the slope being rapid, and the ice broken, heaped up, and intersected by innumerable

crevices.

Notwithstanding the great beauty-the icy dazzling magnificence of the northern side of the mountain-the view is equalled, if not surpassed, by that of the black and awful form rising up at the end of the beautiful and luxuriant valley of Courmayeur. It is a spectacle which elevates the mind to ideas the most sublime, and at the same moment procures it enjoyment the most delightful, from the magic effect of the contrast of the rich valley with the fantastic shapes of the primitive rocks. The valley of Courmayeur, becoming narrow between two tolerably high mountains, branches off and forms the valleys of Veni and Entréves, both of which run at right angles with it. Facing the valley, appears the colossal rock of Mont Blanc, with its numerous aiguilles. The "Monarch of Mountains" proudly raises himself up to a height of eleven thousand feet; and, having this side of his vast body turned towards the sunny climate of Italia, he disdains being covered with his snowy mantle, and shows the "naked majesty of his form." His satellites are not all so careless; some have their cloaks of ice, some their caps of snow, yet all are worthy of being attendant on the Grand Monarch.

INDEX

TO THE

SKETCH OF THE CHAIN OF MONT BLANC
TAKEN FROM THE BREVEN.

This sketch gives a most perfect idea of the beauty and magnificence of the aiguilles on the south side of the valley, and also the position and appearance of Mont Blanc itself. I have endeavoured to mark, as correctly as the nature of the sketch will allow, the line I pursued in the ascent, as well as the old route from the Grand Plateau to the Rochers Rouges, where it joins the new track.

MAP OF THE MOUNTAINS AND GLACIERS WHICH SURROUND THE VALLEY OF

CHAMONIX.

This map is taken from the Carte Physique et Minéralogique par J. B. Raymond, Capitaine au Corps Royal des Ingénieurs Géographes Militaires; the most correct one that has been published.

The letters refer to the geological structure of the mountains.

G Granite.

Gn Gneiss.

Cc Limestone.

S Transition slate.

Gypsum.

P Lead mine.

C Copper mine.

The pink line marks De Saussure's route in ascending Mont Blanc; the yellow line that which I pursued. The red line is the route over the Géant to Courmayeur.

EXTRACT from Notes taken during an Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc, on the 8th and 9th of August, 1827, by Michel Carrier, Naturalist, residing in Chamonix.

"I feel it to be a great misfortune that my notes written at the Grands Mulêts, and on the summit, were so much damaged by the effects of the terrible storm which fell during the descent, that they are comparatively useless, the following being only a small part of them.