EXTRACTS.

AULDJO'S REACHING THE SUMMIT OF MONT BLANC.

We had to climb about one hour to get to the summit ; but this part of the undertaking required a most extraordinary exertion, and severe labour it was. From the place where the rarity of the air was first felt, we had been able to proceed fifteen or twenty steps without halting to take breath; but now, after every third or fourth, the stoutest, strongest guide became exhausted ; and it was only by resting some seconds, and turning the face to the north wind, which blew strong and cold, that sufficient strength could be regained to take the next two or three paces. This weakness painfully increased the difficulty of advancing up the ascent, which became every instant more steep. Although the sun was shining on us, I felt extremely cold on the side exposed to the cutting blast ; and other side of the body being warm, it increased the shivering, which had not quite left me, to such a degree as to

deprive me almost of the use of my limbs. Some of the guides, also, were similarly affected, and even suffered more than myself; but all were anxious

to get on, evincing a resolute determination that was quite wonderful in the

state they were in. Their attention to me was marked by a desire to render me every possible service while they endeavoured to inspire me with the

same firmness of which they themselves gave so strong an example. This earnest solicitude which they showed, much to their own discomfort and annoyance, to keep my spirits up, was in vain : I was exhausted ; the sensation of weakness in the legs had become excessive ; I was nearly choking from the dryness of my throat and the difficulty of breathing. My eyes were smarting with inflammation, the reflection from the snow nearly blinding me, at the same time burning and blistering my face. I had, during the morn

ing, as a protection, occasionally worn a leather mask, with green eyeglasses, but latterly I found it oppressive, and wore a veil instead: that, also, I was now obliged to discard. I desired to have a few moments' rest, and

sat down ; I besought the guides to leave me : I prayed Julien Devouassoud to go to the summit with them, and allow me to remain where I was, that by the time they returned I might be refreshed to commence the descent. I told them I had seen enough : I used every argument in my power to induce them to grant my request. Their only answer was, that they would carry me, exhausted as they were, to the summit, rather than that I should not get to it; that if they could not carry they would drag me. Being unable to resist, I became passive, and two of the least exhausted forced me up some short distance, each taking an arm. I found that this eased me, and I then went an more willingly ; when one of them devised a plan which proved of most essential service. Two of them went up in advance about fourteen paces and fixed themselves on the snow ; a long rope was

fastened round my Chest, and the other end to them-' as soon as they were

seated, I commenced ascending, taking very long strides, and doing so with quickness, pulling the rope in ; they also, while I thus exerted myself, pulled me towards them ; so that I was partly drawn up, and partly ran up, using a zig-zag direction ; and the amusement derived from the process kept us in better humour than we were before. I was less fatigued, and melt the effects of the air less, by this process, than by the slow pace in which I had hitherto attempted to ascend. I had taken very little notice of the progress we were thus making, when I suddenly found myself on the summit. I hastened to the highest point

(towards Chamonix)' and, taking my glass, observed that the party on the

Breven had noticed the accomplishment of our undertaking, and were rewarding us by waving their hats and handkerchiefs, which salutation we re turned. I noticed, also, that the people in Chamonix had also collected in considerable numbers on the bridge, watching our progress and success. It was exactly eleven o'clock. The wind blew with considerable force. I was too much worn out to remain there long, or to examine the scene around me. The sun shone bril liantly on every peak of snow that I could see ; hardly any mist hullg over the valleys; none was on the mountains ; the object of my ambition arid my toil was gained; yet the reward of my dangers and fatigues could hardly pro

duce enjoyment enough to gratify me for a few moments. The mind was

as exhausted as the body, and I turned with indifference from the view which I had endured so much to behold, and throwing myself on the snow, behind a small mound which formed the highest point, and sheltered me from the wind, in a few seconds I was soundly buried in sleep, surrounded by the guides, who were all seeking repose, which neither the burning rays of the sun nor the piercing cold of the snow could prevent or disturb.

In this state I remained a quarter of an hour, when I was roused to survey the mighty picture beneath. I found myself much relieved, but still had a

slight shivering. The pain in the legs had ceased, as well as the headache, but the thirst remained. The pulse was very quick ; and the difficulty of breathing great, but not so oppressive as it had been.

Having placed the thermometer on my baton, in a position in which it might be as much in shade as possible, I went to the highest point to observe my friends on the Brevet, and in Chamonix once more, but Was summoned immediately to a repast, and willingly I obeyed the call, for I felt as if I had a good appetite. Some bread and roasted chicken were produced, but I could not swallow the slightest morsel ; even the taste of the food created a nausea and disgust. One or two guides ate a very little; the rest could not attempt to do so.

I had provided a bottle of champagne, being desirous to see how this wine would be affected by the rarity of the air. I also wished to drink to the prosperity of the inhabitants of the world below me ; for I could believe that there were no human beings so elevated as we were at that moment. The wire being removed, and the string cut, the cork flew out to a great distance, but the noise could hardly be heard. The wine rolled out in the most luxuriant foam, frothing to the very last drop, and we all drank of it with zest; but not three minutes had elapsed when repentance and pain followed ; for the rapid escape of the fixed air which it still contained produced a choking and stifling sensation, which was very unpleasant and painful while it lasted'', and which frightened some of the guides. A very small quantity was sun

cient to satisfy our thirst, for nine of us were perfectly satisfied with the contents of one bottle, and happily its unpleasant effects were but of short duration.

The most peculiar sensation which all have felt who have gained this great height, arises from the awful stillness which reigns, almost unbroken even by the voice of those speaking to one another, for its feeble sound can hardly be heard. It weighs deeply upon the mind, with a power the effect of which it is impossible to describe. I also experienced the sensation of lightness of body, of which Captain Sherwill has given a description in time following words : It appeared as if I could have passed the blade of a knife under the sole of my shoes, or between them and the ice on which I stood.'" Narrative of an Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc. pp. 43-49.

LITERARY PATRONAGE BY A MINISTER OF POLICE.

It may not be inaptly remarked in this place, that in the zenith of the Emperor's power, which was immediately after his marriage, he might have given an unbounded loose to the pretended spirit of despotism, the thirst for arbitrary measures which have been ascribed to him. Nevertheless, it was at this period that he dispensed graces and favours in the greatest profusion. I could perceive that an impression had been conveyed to literary men that he considered them as his enemies; and I began from that moment to entertain a settled opinion with respect to the course resorted to for the purpose of alienating many of them from his iteerests. As he had particularly enjoined me to treat them with every consideration, I sought an opportunity, which soon presented itself, of cultivating their acquaintance. A variety of poetical effusions had been addressed to the Emperor on the occasion of his marriage ; and he desired me to give hint every information, not, as may well be supposed, in respect of the productions, but concerning the authors: for although I was not insensible to the effect produced by reading them, or hearing them recited, it was far above my capacity to discuss their respective merits.

I had all those literary productions collected, and ordered that those which had obtained most approbation should be pointed out to me, and with them, all the compositions published under similar circumstances from the time of Louis XIV., and considered worthy of being handed down to us. The only one that could be pointed out of the latter class was an ode entitled La Nymphe de la Seine; a production of Racine in his younger days, on the occasion of time marriage of the Dauphiness. It is less copious, and in my opinion less elegant, than the greater part of those which the Emperor's marriage had inspired.

An opportunity was thus afforded me, whilst executing the Emperor's orders, of giving him an account of each author, and of letting him know that the poetical effusions which filled the columns of the newspapers had been levied from those authors by my predecessor's commands. The Emperor became indignant upon hearing this. " I had been told so," was his reply ; " but I was unwilling to credit it : thus he proceeded in every timing; and I ant consequently accused of being my own panegyrist." He was greatly hurt at such conduct : he directed that I should submit to him a scale of the distribution of a hundred thousand francs, which he was desirous of awarding tothe several persons who had displayed their talents on the present occasion ; adding, that it was doing him a very unworthy service not to re, compense authors whose labours had been rendered compulsory. Had he, in fact, lost sight of their claims, they would never have heard of the gratuities I delivered to them in his name ; and would have been justified in complain • ing of him, though he could in reality have been arraigned with as little justice for forgetting them, as he had been for the orders they had received.

It thereby came to my knowledge, that the system of ordering poetical effusions was another of the means resorted to by the police to acquire wealth. When, however, this system has been so usefully applied to private purposes, there should be an end to that unblushing impudence of pxtblishing to the world, that the man whose liberalities were a source of personal wealth to individuals, and who received a profusion of praises wholly unsolicited, was a tyrant doomed to destruction. The distribution of the abovementioned sum to the several persons for whom it was destined, afforded me an opportunity of seeing them all in succession : I never omitted to peruse, immediately after the visit of each author, the piece of poetry lie had composed. my curiosity being then awakened respecting, him ; and I seldom failed to discover something of the author's character by a comparison of his physiognomy with a production which could only have emanated from the dictates of his heart.—Duhe of Rovigo's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 9-11.