AN ATTEMPT TO REACH THE SUMMIT OF MONT BLANC, In 1820. SHORTLY after our arrival at Grand Mulet, we put on our additional clothing, and dried our shoes and stockings, which were completely saturated with moisture from our long march over the snow. In consequence of these precautions, we did not suffer much from cold. Our amusements on the day of our compelled halt were similar to those of a piquet on an outpost, which commands a view of the enemy's camp; for the greater part of the time was spent in looking through M. Sellique's excellent telescope, and in reconnoitring the ground below. From our elevated post we saw distinctly the windows of our hotel at Prieure, and sometimes fancied we discovered some one or other watching us in a similar manner. Sometimes we lounged over a pamphlet of Saussure's ascent, from which we gathered that he had taken a day and a half to arrive at our present situation, with eighteen guides. We made arrangements for letting off our rockets at night, and some considerable time was spent, occupied in mending one of Dr. Hamel's barometers, an air-bubble having found its way into it the day before. I was employed in making some lemonade for the following day, which was pronounced excellent, and proved a good substitute for wine. On the whole, we amused ourselves so well, that the evening again surprised us before we were aware, and we were obliged to hasten our arrangements for the night. Having learned wisdom by experience, I now disposed myself with my head to the rock and my feet to the precipice; and though we were thus exceedingly cramped for room, and Dr. Hamel and myself shared the same knapsack for a pillow, yet, on the whole, I reposed much better. The evening of this day being also rainy, we reserved our fire-works for the following one, to celebrate our return; but about two o'clock in the morning, we saw the stars through the apertures of our canvas, though the fog still seemed rising from the valley. We were thus kept in suspense until five o'clock, when the sun, silvering with its rays the summit of the mountain, appeared, as it were to invite us onward.The guides were now eager to proceed, and our whole party shared in their ardour, with one exception. M. Sellique had passed a rather sleepless night, during which he had made it out completely to his own satisfaction, that a married man had a sacred and imperious call to prudence and caution where his own life seemed at all at stake; that he had done enough for glory in passing two nights in succession perched on a crag like an eagle; and that it now became him, like a sensible man, to return to Geneva, while return was yet possible. All our remonstrances proving ineffectual,though an allusion to his new barometer was not forgotten, we left him, with two of the guides, in possession of our tent at the Grand Mulet.These men were persuaded, much against their inclination, to forego the pleasure of continuing the a cent, and thus adding to their reputation as guides. Two of them who had never been on the summit, and who were, therefore, selected as more proper to remain, These were actually refused. Pierre Balmat and Auguste Tairray, whose names will appear again in the sequel.. Our party was now reduced to eleven, a number sufficiently large at this period of the ascent; and we set off again in much the same order as at first: the tent, however, and the ladder, with all the heavy baggage, were left behind. One blanket only was taken, which was to serve as a carpet during our halt for breakfast on the Grand Plateau.* We were clothed much warmer than on the first day, but yet so as not to encumber our march. The head and neck were well secured, and we each carried a double veil of green crape, to be tied over our faces as soon as the sun should become troublesome. Almost all the danger was now considered as surmounted. The difficulty, it is true, increased with every step as we rose into a rarer atmosphere, and our path was The occasionally very steep. snow, however, was just of the right consistency, as we continued to mount the successive slopes.Perhaps, if any objection could be made, it was, that it was some what too soft; but this removed still farther from us all idea of slipping while our feet had so firm a hold. The guides marched in front alternately, the first being, of course, the most laborious place, for we all trod precisely in the same steps, which thus soon be came firm enough to support our At twenty minutes past eight * A name bestowed upon the last of three level spaces which succeed one another, after as many steep slopes, in the interval between the Grand Mulet and the Dome de Goute, the western shoulder of the mountain. Saussure slept on the second of these, the second night of his ascent. nued to ascend. Though we felt no great appetite, yet, at the urgent intreaties of the guides, who assured us that we should feel it absolutely impossible to eat as we advanced higher up, we finished two more of the chickens. The lemonade proved much more acceptable, for we had now arrived at a high state of fever, and our thirst was incessant. Our spirits, however, were still good, and we sincerely pitied our timorous friend below, who, we doubted not, had long since repented of his resolution. About nine o'clock we resumed our march, with the expectation of reaching the summit at half past eleven, and without another regular halt. brought so home to our imagina tions, as when, amid these vast wastes, we felt ourselves shrink into comparative insignificance by the side of the stupendous objects in our view. We now also began to feel rather painfully the effect of the rarity of the air, being obliged to stop every five minutes to recover our breath; and in a short time we found even this too seldom, and three minutes' progress completely exhausted us. At these intervals we turned round, raised our veils, bent down our heads, and, leaning on our poles, absolutely gasped for breath for the space of half a minute. Before the minute had elapsed, we were in a condition to proceed. Under The guides, David Couttet (bro- these circumstances, we advanced ther to Joseph) and Pierre Carrier, in complete silence, finding that were in front alternately; for the we had no breath to spare, and Jabour now became so great, that that, in consequence of the rarity they were obliged to relieve one of the air, it required a great efanother perpetually. I followed fort to make ourselves heard. The second in the line, rarely so far sky above us appeared of a very behind as third; Dr. Hamel was dark blue, almost approaching to in the rear of the party, and H- black, while in the horizon it reabout the middle. We were soon tained its ordinary appearance.obliged to lower our green veils, Occasionally a slight drift of snow to shield us both from the cold from the summit obliged us to turn wind and the glare of the sun upon our backs for a few moments; but the snow-in addition to which on the whole, we found our promy companions had green specta- gress at this part of the ascent cles. Perhaps the most impress- easier than at any former period ive feature in our present situation since we had embarked upon the was the perfect and most appalling snow. We were all (to quote Dr. silence which prevailed. Even Hamel's own words in the short the buzzing of the insect would account which he published) "full have been a relief. This, together of hope and joy at seeing ourselves with the absence of all traces of so near the end of our laborious animal life, (for we had seen no journey. The glorious weather quadrupeds since the goats of the which prevailed, the awful stillchalet, and not even a bird had ness which reigned around, and appeared to remind us of the pos- the pure, celestial air which we sibility of any aerial visitant,) was inhaled, gave birth in our souls to something altogether new to us. feelings which are never experiOn no former occasion had we enced in these lower regions." ever found the idea of solitude (To be continued.) RELIGIOUS AND MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. GRAND RIVER MISSION, UPPER CANADA. Letter from the REV. ALVIN TORRY to the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the M. E. Church, dated Grand River, Sept. 12, 1825. REV. AND DEAR SIR--Having now con- fourteen, were brought to God, among cluded my labours in this mission for the whom were several Mohawks, but prinpresent conference year, some account cipally Missisaugahs; and many more will be expected by the society of the re- returned from the meeting under powersult of our labours, and the state of the ful awakenings. Now conversions at the mission. This duty I most cheerfully per- mission house were frequent, the pious form, as the work of grace this year will were strengthened and encouraged in afford farther evidence of the power of the their Christian course-their peace was gospel on the mind and manners of one like an overflowing river, and they apof the most savage tribes of Indians in this peared as happy as they could live. Oli, country. It is among the Chippewas (Mis- what a day was this! I cannot describe sisaugah tribe) that this reformation is it, but it was a time of God's power. The going on, though the Mohawks have sha- Holy Spirit was poured out on our assemred this year also in the revival. The com- blies in such effusions, that it appeared mencement of this work is noticed in my like the day of pentecost. Cries of the last, of January 26th,* where we mention- penitents were heard in every part, and ed the conversion of a Chippewa chief, shouts of joy and triumph made the who had pitched his tent at the mission neighbouring woods to resound with house. After the conversion of this chief, praise! In these Indians there is nothing the Missisaugahs continued to come in artful--no studied affectation: all is simfrom the forest, thereby increasing our ple and natural-giving vent to their feelpublic assemblies and the schools. It is ings in artless expressions of sincere deremarkable how soon the word fastened votion. When the penitents are brought on their hearts, even sometimes by the to feel their unworthiness and just defirst discourse they heard. This to us servings, they become earnest in their appeared most extraordinary, as they supplications that the Great Good Spirit were wholly pagan, and the most besot- will have mercy on them, and, for the ted in drunkenness of all the savage tribes sake of his beloved Son, forgive all their in this country. You can scarcely judge sins. Nor do they long mourn in sorrow. the emotion of our hearts when we saw They listen with eagerness to hear of the their tents spread abroad on the banks of sufferings of Jesus; and believing that he the Grand River, for the purpose of hear is now able and willing to save, their trouing the word of life, and sending their ble is removed, their spirit is revived, the children to a Christian school. Our con- Comforter is come, the love of God is shed gregations were now generally crowded abroad in their hearts, giving them assuwith native hearers, who listened with rance that God is reconciled, when they great attention; and the work of instruc- rejoice with joy unspeakable. Several tion and of awakening continued to pro- instances have occurred when they have gress till the campmeeting at Mount Plea- been awakened and converted at the same sant, 24th June,† when a new impulse was meeting. given to the revival. The addresses of our Indian exhorters on that occasion were weighty, well adapted to the occasion, and delivered with a fluency and fervour that captivated and astonished the whole assembly. These discourses wrought powerfully on the minds of those whose prejudices were against attempts for the improvement of the natives, and had a happy effect on the missionary cause generally. During the meeting, The changes wrought in the outward deportment of these Indians are as extraordinary as their devotions are sincere ; and they are manifest among the most respectable, as well as in those of abandoned lives. Two instances out of many I here give you. Among the respectable is Jacob, a Mohawk, of good disposition and amiable manners. His industry in his way of farming had raised him in his worldly circumstances to a more civilized • See Magazine for 1825, p. 199.—† For an account of this meeting, at which so much interest was awakened in behalf of the Indians and the missionary cause, sce Meth. Mag. For 1825, p. ̈ ́ and comfortable mode of living; and he seldom allowed himself to be intoxicated. Such was the character of Jacob, that he was much esteemed, and thought to be a good and very happy man: and so did Jacob think of himself, till he heard the truths of the gospel in power. He then saw himself a sinner: bis heart had never been changed-had never loved Godnever worshipped him in spirit and in truth. At the campmeeting Jacob found peace, and returned to his home a happy Christian, and soon after rejoiced in the conversion of his wife and two fine daughters. Jacob is now much alive to the welfare of his people. Before his conversion, he looked with indifference on the degrading practices of his nation; but he now goes from cabin to cabin, among his neighbours, saying, "Oh, my brethren, do not these abominable things. The Great Spirit is angry. You must die.Now consider where the wicked man must go." Jacob urges the new birthtells his people, "We must be born new men. Our heart new. His Spirit make as new heart. Then, oh! much peace, much joy." Jacob too is much concerned for the rising and future generations of his people, and is very importunate for a school in his neighbourhood. The other I shall name is a man who was so given to drunkenness, that he would part with any thing to gratify his thirst for whiskey. On one occasion he offered to sell the only bullock he had to obtain whiskey, and because his neighbour would not purchase it, he attempted, in a rage, to destroy the creature. At another time, when he had sold even the clothes that were worth any thing, he stole away from his wife the few traces of seed corn which she had carefully reserved for planting. This he offered for whiskey. Destitute as they were before, the poor woman now thought herself and family nearly undone, as this seed was their hope of a future harvest for bread. The corn was purchased by one of our friends, and privately returned to the afflicted woman. When intoxicated, this man was very quarrelsome, and in his frays would sometimes get bruised and scarred in a shock ing manner, and in this plight return to his hapless family, destitute of clothing, and bearing the description in Mark v, 2, of one possessed of devils, and coming from the tombs. But what hath God done for this poor, degraded sinner! He is altogether changed. He is kind to his family, leads a praying life, "clothed in Among the Indians, the labour of the field, squaws. his right mind, and sitting at the feet of Jesus." As he is now more industrious to make his family comfortable, as well as attentive to his religious duties, we hope, through grace, that he will continue to adorn the gospel he professes. Such are the effects of the gospel generally, 2 very much to better the condition of men; but to the Indian, particularly, it is the PROMISE of the life that now is: for, in stead of lying about drunk, filthy and half starved, surrounded by children, trained by their example for whiskey and the devil, they have now become orderly in their deportment, attentive to the duties of t ligious worship, observers of the Christian sabbath, more neat and cleanly in their apparel, and more industrious for an ho nest and comfortable living. An active life, however, must not at once be expect ed: like children, they must be instructed, and led on by habit, till labour becomes natural and familiar. These babits the Missisaugahs, since their conversion, are much disposed to, and they have made application to the government for aid in settling on their lands on the river Credit, for the purpose of civilization. As s preparatory experiment, as well as to provide themselves the means of living while encamped at the mission house,having obtained lands of the Mohawks, they have planted considérable fields of corn. Industry has marked this commencement, and they are likely to have a promising harvest, Thus have our Indian brethren been blessed in their temporal and spiritual concerns, and the number in society by the 1st of July had increased to 70. In July the Missisaugahs received in structions to repair to the Credit, for the purpose of receiving their presents, which are issued by the government. On these occasions it has been common for the Indians to indulge in scenes of drunkenness and revelry; and at those times there were not wanting men, who eagerly sought opportunities of tempting them with ardent spirits, for the purpose af obtaining their blankets and other pro perty. These drunken frolics our bre thren now viewed with horror, and they dreaded the hour of temptation, and the company of others of the nation, who would most probably follow up these drunken scenes at the ensuing ass blage. But they prayed most ferventy that the Great Good Spirit would deliver them from this evil; at the same time they resolved they would drink no ardent sp as well as the care of the cabin, devolves on to |