The Annual Register, Or, a View of the History and Politics of the Year Volume 94 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 Excerpt: ... any light appeared in the sky, the other was in hard relief against its brilliancy. The Dome de Goute, now opposite the sun, was a mass of gorgeous violet colour, which being reflected on the prominences of emerald green ice on the plain before us gave a variety and peculiarity that if correctly described would sound like a magic illusion--it seemed like walking on a huge prism." At half-past 5 they arrived at the Grand Plateau; and then by a precarious staircase, cut in the ice by the axes of the guides, ascended the terrible Mur de la Cote. This accomplished, the last and highest dome of the mountain appeared before them. "This dome, indeed, looked like Mont Blanc in itself; but its symmetrical form, a perfect pyramid, I should think about as high as St. Paul's, was assurance that here was the Monarch's crown indeed." The dangerous inclination to sleep, so fatal at these elevations, now seized the whole party, and when they had made some further progress with great labour, most threw themselves down on the ice, declaring they would sleep for ten minutes. The experienced guide, old Tournier, combatted this resolution, by telling them that three minutes' further exertion would place them on the summit. Stimulated by this prospect they started up, and with some further effort reached the top, Mr. Browne first. This was 11 A.m. of Tuesday. "I was as strongly impressed with the view as if I had been looking at it for the whole day. The Bernese Oberland appeared like a mass of mountains packed in clouds; their peaks rose from the clouds, which seemed to fill the villages. Monte Rosa and the Wetter Horn appeared beyond, and on that side no real horizon appeared. To the south the Genoese mountains, and over them a long purple mist, whether th...