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 61 > /‘an ora nr a r/r .If. Man//in 
 
DESCRIPTION 
 
 t 
 
 OF A 
 
 VIEW OF THE CITY AND LAKE 
 
 GENEVA, 
 
 AND 
 
 SURROUNDING COUNTRY; 
 
 NOW EXHIBITING IN 
 
 THE PANORAMA, STRAND. 
 
 PAINTED BY THE PROPRIETOR, 
 
 R. BUR FORD, 
 
 from drawings taken by himself in the year 1826 . 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 I 
 
 Printed by J. and C. Adlard, Bartholomew Close. 
 
 1827 . 
 
 Price Sixpence. 
 
V 
 
 A VIEW OF 
 
 MADRID, 
 
 AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY, 
 
 INCLUDING THE 
 
 GUADARAMMA MOUNTAINS, and the ESCURIAL; 
 
 And a View of 
 
 MEXICO, 
 
 UPWARDS OF TWO CENTURIES THE CAPITAL OF 
 
 the SPANISH SETTLEMENTS IN SOUTH AMERICA 
 
 ARE N OW OPEN, 
 
 AT THE 
 
 PANORAMA, LEICESTER SQUARE. 
 
geneva, 
 
 The Capital of a small Canton of the Helvetic Confederacy of he same name, 
 on the confines of France, Switzerland, and Savoy, is situated at the we ernam 
 narrowest extremity of the beautiful Lake Leman, being partly bu.lt: on the 
 plain which borders the lake, and partly on a hill about nine y feet m height. 1» 
 principal attraction is derived from the beauty and grandeur of the r " 
 
 scenery. Nature seems to have bestowed her treasures with a most buun iful 
 hand ; and to l.ave added one of the most charmingly variegated landscapes at 
 can delight the eye, to the sublime and magnificent mountain scenery so peculiar 
 ufthis part o! Swi zerland : the views are infinitely varied, and so particularly 
 romantic, that they appear rather the effect of enchantment ban of e.1, y. 
 
 Three sides of the city are surrounded by a rich and fertile count )» * J 
 
 diversified by gently sloping hills of low elevation, carefully cult vated y 
 the industry, and richly adorned with villas, groves, &c. by the ta e a. d 
 opulence, of the citizens: the most arcadian scenes meet e . J 
 
 side, backed by the grand and terrific magnificence of nature ; the remai g, 
 
 or eastern side, is occupied by 
 
 “The wavelesslake, blue as the heavens it reflects; 
 
 —the gentle swells on each side of which present 0 series of ptcttircMtue 
 village,f villas groves, gardens, and vineyards, of the most tint,vailed verdure. 
 The valley in which the city and lake are situated, is about seven y mi <-•> 
 length varying from fifteen to twenty in breadth. On the north of the lake 
 lies the^ichcountry of the Cantoni 3. Vuuij, of -Inch ahtrave ers.speakm 
 terms of rapture; that part which borders the lake is a awards 
 
 corn-fields, and luxuriant meadows, and rises with a g which range 
 
 the long line of the Jura Mountains, on the boundaries of France, which range 
 like an g enorn»ous wall along the horizon, forming a barrier of imposing mag . - 
 tude; on the south, the lower range of calcareous Alps 
 
 “ Those palaces of nature, whose vast walls 
 Have pinnacled in clouds their snowy scalps. 
 
 And throned eternity in icy halls 
 Of cold sublimity, where forms an d falls 
 The avalanche—the thunderbolt of snow ! 
 
 All that expands the spirit, yet appals, 
 
 How earth Say^ereetohlav”™ yVlVave v°£n man below.”-BvaoN. 
 
 And (he glaciers of Savoy, in grolesque and fantaslic forms, bend in a magnificent 
 mnnl itbemre will. Iheir while lop, glistening in the sunshine, ti.wauls the 
 31 and unite with the Jura, at their western estremity, at a narrow chasm 
 
 called Passage de l’Ecluse, 
 
 «<_Where the swift Rhone cleaves his way between 
 
 Heights, which appear as lovers who have parted 
 in hatf» whose mining depths so intervene, 
 
 That they can meet no more, though broken hearted. — * 
 
 Retween the City and the Alps, the Mountains of the great and little Salcve 
 nrcsent their nearly^perpendicular escarpments of limestone, bare and forma , 
 and Le Brezon, the Mofe, rising precipitously from the plain,and Le Vo n. , 
 form conspicuous figures. More distant are Mount Sion, Le lltposon, Dt 
 
 du Midi, and Le Buet,— 
 
 « Hills peep o’er hilts, and alps on alps arise. Pope. 
 
 with .’he snows of ..housed winters, and bound one of .he mu. .^cauf ful 
 
 t this ctloof mountains, Ld ah,ms. carl. »—.»».« change lake. 
 [Sfrancf.] 
 
4 
 
 D i ace - they first assume a golden tint, which, as the sun declines, gradually 
 warms intoVmk, and finally into a glow of crimson, of indescribable beauty. 
 Mont Blanc from its great height, receiving the last rays a quaiter of an ho 
 later, shines’forth in brilliant light when the lower mountains are enveloped in 
 total daikness. 
 
 “ 1 love to watch in silence till the sun 
 
 Sets; and Mont Blanc, array’d in crimson and gold. 
 
 Flings his broad shadow half across the lake ; 
 
 That shadow, tho’ it comes thro’ pathless tracts 
 Of ether, and o’eralps and desert drear, 
 
 Only less bright, less glorious than lumseit. 
 
 But, while we gaze, ’tis gone ! and now lie shines 
 Like burnished silver ; all, below, the niglus.— 
 
 Such moments are most precious. Yet there are 
 Others, that follow them, to me still more so; 
 
 When once again he changes, once again 
 Clothing himself in grandeur all his own ; 
 
 When, like a ghost, shadowless, colourless, 
 
 He melts away into the heaven of heavens; 
 
 Himself alone revealed, all lesser things 
 
 As tho’ they were not j” Kogebs. 
 
 Geneva is very ancient, although its name is not mentioned in history before 
 the lime of Julius Cfiesar, in the year 696 ot Rome, or 58 before the Christian 
 era * vet there is every reason to believe, from the advantages of situation, 
 and from its being at that period a considerable and strong place, that it was 
 inhabited as early as any of those parts ot Europe. After he had taken it 
 from the Allobroges, Julius Czesar made it extremely serv.ceable in the 
 reduction of the Belvetii, or ancient Swiss. Its strong pos.t.on did not, 
 however, secure it against the invasions of the northern nations, and it was 
 frequently destroyed and rebuilt. Two distinct pavements have been found 
 at different depths below the present level. The want of public documents of 
 an earlier date than the 12th century! involves the history ol Geneva in much 
 obscurity: at the great partage of empire it fell to the Burgundians, and 
 became t occasional residence of some of their kings: «. then came under 
 the jurisdiction of France; Charlemagne conferred some valuable privileges 
 and made it his Place d’Armes when he marched against the Lombards ; it 
 next formed part of the kingdom of Arles, and then again belonged to 
 Bumundv and when that race became extinct n was incorporated with the 
 German empire, by Conrad II. in 1032. The German emperors being too 
 much elided by internal warfare to be more than nominal sovereigns, Geneva 
 became fhe° scene of continual disputes, between the Bishops, who asserted 
 divine rights, the Comtes de Genevois, as officers of the emperor and theComtes 
 or Dukes of Savoy, as the strongest; and their frequent and bloody quarrels 
 occupy the whole of its history for several centuries: the bishops at last sue 
 ceeded in uniting to the spiritual most of the temporal authority, which they 
 enjoyed for a very short time, having a new and much more powerful enemy 
 
 then to contend with—the reformation. . , u 
 
 In 1526 the Genevese concluded treaties of alliance with Berne, and 
 Friboure being their first effectual step towards independence, for besides pro- 
 ducing some very important changes in the government of the canton, the 
 
 seeds of the reformation were introduced by the Bernese. 
 
 The doctrine of the reformation was first preached at Geneva in 1533, by 
 W F«,el“" native of Gap, ia Dauphine, and P. Viret, of Orbe The greater 
 part of Switzerland had been reformed sometime previous, by the exertions of 
 Zwingle, Haller, &c. but its final reception and estabhshment in Geneva was 
 owing to the ardent and unremitting exertions of John Calvin, who has given 
 his name to its sectaries. In 1535, the Genevese threw off the yoke of the 
 
 . About this lime the Helvetians 
 
 in 1291, 1321,1334, and 1430. 
 
5 
 
 pone and the bishops and council admitted and countenanced the new religion, 
 a cfrcumstance which contributed much towards their future prosperity, as 
 their city became the refuse of the persecuted protestants of France and 
 England] and the resort of a number of foreigners, who flocked to it as the 
 
 m Zr,'tro h fV™™:co“Me,l . treaty of alliance wUU Switzerland » 
 1759' in which Geneva was included and us independence acknowledged ; 
 it was called in this treaty, the key and bulwark of SwtiZetland. 
 
 In 1581, the Genevese, 
 
 and Bmm and'inTwar of several years’ duration, maintained a well disciplined 
 a mv of foreigners in their pay, but were at last so exhausted, that they were 
 compelled to apply to the protestant states for assistance. The subscription m 
 England remittetOo them b, Queen Elisabeth, amounted to he then large 
 non Although a peace was concluded in loOO, yet the oukc count 
 
 no™ britm^iimself^o^renmince^Geneva: in the night of the ; shortest day, 160*, 
 not bring mmsei the Savoyards succeeded in scaling a bas- 
 
 tion ma wh?nthe e watchful Genevese were alarmed, and a general contest took 
 place m the streets: the attempt failed, mainly owing to one of those s.ngular 
 
 charges which often render abortive the best laid schemes-lhe sweeping away of 
 
 three scahng laddersf by one cannon ball. Peace was again concluded the 
 duke stipulating that he would not have an army within four leagues of the 
 T ^ duke again approached with hostile intentions, but the 
 
 Genevese ^conscious of increasing^trength, gave hi,n such a recent,on, that 
 to elans’were disconcerted, and a final peace established. Ft- tit. 
 
 . P. . • ’pH for a lon<r time free from external foes, but it ha., 
 
 petted the city r . ■ imernol commotion, and the government and 
 
 So . Ple have been mutual accused, the one of unnecessary seventy, the 
 me people nave ..- J n o ne 0 f the most serious of these distur- 
 
 otlier of a notoua’ j s P decision of the council on two of the works of 
 
 Ro n sse S au W Emiiius! and the Social Contract, which they suppressed, both from 
 Kosseau, ixmiiius, n having retired to the mountains or 
 
 NeuMntel heldTotr^ondence with hi. friend, in Geneva, and put forth hi. 
 
 .*.■? rife * a 
 
 party spirit tan "g , . P tbe government were obliged to tern- 
 
 hers lor the ce»ncd gem ^ ^ , for 
 
 porize, and yield , P l m d bred such dislike between the patricians 
 
 a time suppressed.these clrcu ,„s,antes were continually occa. 
 and the pet pie, that the "ton ^ blic a,ion „f a new code of law, pro- 
 
 smiling fresh ruptures. ’ • rebellion : the government solicited 
 
 duced a com,not,on which ended n open in>ested tile citJ . 
 
 foreign aid, and the ttoops o ‘ were ’ made’ for defence, and the people 
 The most active piep, ruins of the walls, but at last sur- 
 
 threatened to bury themse ves uni resolved to emigrate in a 
 
 rendered. In the first violence «- the offered them 
 
 body : Lord S1, ^ urne ^'‘ed ^ ^ J most eligible j the proposal 
 
 land in Derbyshire, b fForl Temole ) and approved by ihe 
 
 was patronize,I S a ehSr, and led 50,0007. 
 
 privy council; the Irish pailia an d lands were purchased for 8000/. near 
 ,m,a,ds d f ra ^l^ l '; > , e 2 01 , ha ’,| expended nearly 30,000(. the project was 
 suifdeid)^ relinquished , delay having given time for refieetton, the proposed 
 
 ""fflrSirta h2ES? oOhe French revolution extended itself to Geneva, 
 
 ; nrt u «« states that a multitude of foreigners were admitted in- 
 
 « The register of the council,Oct ''+• 1“ 7 ’ H 25 Italians, nnd 4 Spaniards; amongst the 
 
 Si!“l“u b r!?8°rit"'p«sSu»n%>me ™ * hoJy to Hie council to return Hank, tor the |>ro,ect,on 
 
 Geneva aunng u»c - 
 
 the + y A a v d ortr 0 n V of d une of these ladders is still preserved in the arsenal. 
 
c 
 
 and, in 1791, the city was desolated by confiscations, condemnations, and blood¬ 
 shed. Four years after, a detachment of the French army took the city by sur¬ 
 prize, contrary to positive assurances of good-will recently made, and it was by 
 compulsion annexed to France, and, during the subsequent war with Austria, 
 was cruelly overrun and oppressed. Always averse to the government, the 
 Genevese took the earliest opportunity of throwing off the yoke. On the 30th 
 of Dec. 1813, the French garrison capitulated to the Austrian general, Bubna, 
 and the same day the restoration of the republic was decreed. 
 
 On the 12th of Sept. 1814, Geneva was admitted into the Helvetic confede¬ 
 racy, and a new constitution framed; detachments of the allies remained a 
 considerable time in the neighbourhood, and at one period the republic had to 
 defray a daily expence of 40,000 francs. 
 
 Previous to the French revolution, Geneva contained above 26,000 inhabi¬ 
 tants; the number at present is about 23,000. The canton, which was origi¬ 
 nally very small, (by the accession of territory granted by the allied powers in 
 1816, was augmented to 120 square leagues,) extends about 6 miles round the 
 city, contains 25,000 inhabitants, and furnishes the confederation 600 men, 
 and about 1000/. annually. This population would place Geneva amongst 
 thi-rd or fourth rate European towns, but it has acquired a celebrity equal to 
 the first cities, and there is not perhaps another instance of a state so destitute 
 of territory having attained such commercial rank and importance; for these it 
 is indebted in some measure to its political position on the frontiers of three 
 different and often contending nations, but much more to moral causes, industry, 
 religion, learned institutions, &c. There are some few manufactories of silk, 
 woollen, muslin, porcelain, &c. but the chief trade is iu watches and mathe¬ 
 matical instruments, which are sent to all parts, and are much esteemed; 
 about 7000 persons are employed in the various branches connected with this 
 trade. The college of Geneva owes its foundation to Calvin, the great hero 
 of the Genevese. The professors are 12, and the pupils generally about 800 : 
 since it was opened in 1559, it has produced great and learned men, and il¬ 
 lustrious authors in every branch of science; from amongst the number the 
 following names will be familiar to most persons: Senehier, Vauchere, Michael 
 Ducret, the first Swiss who undertook to measure mountains, the De Lucs, 
 Saussure, father and son, Picot, Berenger, Pictet, Mallet du Pan, Rosseau, 
 Bonne t, the blind Huber, Bonet, Necker, M. and Mile, de Stael, Burlainaqui, 
 Turretin, Vernet, Prevost Tronchin, De Bossier, Sismondi, &c. &c. The public 
 library was founded by the virtuous Bonnevard, prior of St. Victor, who was 
 twice imprisoned for asserting the independence of Geneva against the Duke 
 of Savoy; the hardships he endured, and the perils he escaped, strongly en¬ 
 deared him to the citizens; he was a promoter of the reformation, and closed 
 his benefactions to his beloved city by the gift of his books and manuscripts, 
 and by bequeathing his fortune to the establishment and support of the semi¬ 
 nary. The library contains about 50,000 vols. and 200 manuscripts, many of 
 great value: amongst the curious are Homilies written by St. Augustin, on 
 papyrus, in the 61 h century; a fragment of the Day-hook of Philip the Fair, 
 c imposed of six wooden tablets, coated with wax, on which the letters are en¬ 
 graved; and 44 volumes, containing 2023 Sermons of Calvin, and his Letters to 
 Beza and Bollinger. Geneva has also to boast of a grammar-school, and seve¬ 
 ral establishments on the plan of Lancaster. The education of females is no 
 less carefully attended to, and there are few places where they appear to 
 greater advantage ; to the graces of the person they add those of the mind, in 
 a most eminent degree, and it has become almost proverbial to say, “ happy 
 the children who have a woman to instruct them.” There is a society for the 
 encouragement of the arts, founded by M. Faizan, a watch and clock maker; 
 their first meetings were held at the house of M. de Saussure, and, when they 
 became numerous, at the town-hall. A very handsome building is now’ erect¬ 
 ing tor their use near the Porte Neuve. The humane institutions of Geneva 
 are exceedingly numerous: it is calculated that above 4000 persons annually re¬ 
 ceive assistance in the hospitals, &c. The general hospital in the square 
 Bourg de Four is in a healthy situation, well administered, kept very clean, and 
 
7 
 
 will contain upwards of 200 patients; there is also an orphan establishment, 
 foundling hospital, &c. &c. 
 
 Geneva, as a city, presents but few objects to recommend it to notice: the 
 public buildings are not numerous, and are devoid of architectural beauty; the 
 houses are large and massive, irregularly built of sand-stone, and covered 
 with dark coloured 'tiles, the fortifications preventing the extension or im¬ 
 provement of the city. There are but few buildings of modern erection within 
 i be walls. The number of inhabitants, for its size, is very great, and it has 
 not inaptly been compared to a bee-hive; many families reside under the same 
 roof, each occupying, as in Scotland, a floor, or flat: amongst the lower classes, 
 one room often serves for a whole family. When the census of 1822 was 
 taken, there was an instance of twenty-two families under the same roof. 
 
 The Rhone passes through the lower part of the city in two rapid streams, 
 forming a small island, and dividing the parish of St. Gervais from the main 
 city, the communication to which is by four wooden bridges; these parts are 
 principally occupied by watch and clock makers, jewellers, enamellers, 
 tanners, chamoisseurs, and other tradesmen, more particularly the Rue Passe- 
 gere and the Rue de la Citie, which are the principal rendezvous of the mer¬ 
 chants, and are full of magazines, shops, coffee-houses, reading-rooms, &c. 
 under arcades of a peculiar construction, formed by the roofs of the houses 
 projecting on arches, supported by wooden pillars, and being wide enough to 
 contain a row of shops, and to leave ample space between them and the houses 
 for passengers. The upper and most pleasant parts of the city are occupied 
 by the more opulent, and most of the houses enjoy magnificent prospects, par¬ 
 ticularly in the Place St. Antoine and Place Tacconerie. The Place de Bel 
 Air is the rallying point of the citizens of both quarters, from which a street 
 leads to the Place de Theatre and Porte Neuve. The theatre was originally 
 projected by M. D’Alamherg, and built in 1782 ; it is small, and not much fre¬ 
 quented: the magistrates prevent as much as possible theatrical exhibitions. 
 The gate is of recent erection, and the square, which is about 60 feet above 
 the lake, contains some of the handsomest houses in the city. 
 
 Geneva is regularly and strongly fortified, particularly on the side of Savoy; 
 hut its fortifications, according to the present system of warfare, are not calcu¬ 
 lated to make any efficient resistance, being commanded by heights within 
 gun-shot, yet they would prevent a surprize, and the position of the city renders 
 it politic to preserve them : at present, they form very agreeable promenades j 
 and it is to be hoped that it will he long ere they are used for any other pur¬ 
 pose. There are only five entrances, three for the admission of carriages, and 
 two small wire suspension bridges for foot passengers only : the gates are closed 
 at an early hour; a trifling toll, however, will obtain admittance until eleven 
 o’clock, when they are finally closed for the night. 
 
 “Thygates, Geneva,swinging heavily. 
 
 Thy gates, so slow to open, swift to shut; 
 
 As on that Sabbath eve to young Rosseau, 
 
 When in his anguish—but a step too late, 
 
 He sat him down and wept—wept till the morning; 
 
 Then rose to go, a wanderer through the world.”— Rogers. 
 
 The readers of “ Rosseau’s Confessions” will remember in what affecting 
 language he describes his agony of mind at the above circumstance, which 
 threw him on the world a friendless and unprotected fugitive, and to which 
 trifling cause may be attributed the events of his future life. On the side of the 
 lake, the city is defended by strong chains, which are drawn up even with 
 the water’s edge regularly every evening. 
 
8 
 
 No. ].— Lake Leman. 
 
 “ Lake Leman woos me with its crystal face, 
 
 The mirror where the stars and mountains view 
 The stillness of their aspect in each trace, 
 
 Its clear depth yields of their far height and hue.’’— Byron. 
 
 The Lake of Geneva, or “Lncus Lemanus” of the ancients, occupies the 
 lowest part of the valley, which separates the Alps from the Jura mountains, 
 and extends, in the form of a crescent, between the canton de Vaud and Savoy. 
 Its length, on the Swiss shore, is eighteen leagues ; on the Savoy, fourteen 
 leagues. Its greatest breadth, which is between Rolle andThonon, is three and 
 a quarter leagues; in the neighbourhood of Geneva it is not very deep; but in 
 some places, particularly opposite Mellerie, it is 190 fathoms, which is seventy- 
 five deeper than the Baltic.* According to M. de Luc, it is 1126 feet above 
 the level of the sea.f Besides the Rhone, there are lorty-one small streams 
 empty themselves into the lake, and when they are swoln by the thawing of the 
 Alpine snow during the summer months, occasion it to rise five or six feet 
 above its ordinary level. Lake Leman has long passed for one of the finest 
 lakes in the South of Europe, and is perhaps only equalled by that of Con¬ 
 stance. Voltaire gives the preference to it above all others. 
 
 “ Clue le chantre flateur du tyran des Romains, 
 
 L’Auteur barmonieux des douces Georgiques, 
 
 Ne vante plus ces Lacset leurs bords magnifiques, 
 
 Ces Lacs que la Nature a creusfis de ses mains 
 Dans les campagnes Italiques 
 
 Mon Lacestle premier. Epitre a Geneve. 
 
 The water, excepting at the influx of the Rhone, is as pure as crystal, and— 
 “ Deeply darkly beautifully blue;” it seldom freezes more than a few paces from 
 the shore, and between Geneva and the great sand bank. During the summer 
 months, the Bise, or regular north-east wind, occasions a gentle and agreeable 
 agitation in the water; but, when the wind is east or west, the most sudden 
 and destructive tempests frequently occur. 
 
 “The sky is changed ! and such a change 1 oh night. 
 
 And storm, and darkness, ye are wondrous strong. 
 
 Yet lovely in your strength, as is the light 
 Of a dark eye in woman ! Far along. 
 
 From peak to peak, the rattling crags among, 
 
 Leaps thelive thunder! not from one lone cloud, 
 
 But every mountain now hath found a tongue, 
 
 And Jura answers, through her misty shroud, 
 
 Back to the joyous Alps, who call to her aloud.”— Byron. 
 
 Excursions of pleasure on the lake, and to the numerous villages and towns 
 upon its borders, form the principal amusement of the Genevese; and, towards 
 evening, the water is studded with small pleasure and fishing boats from various 
 parts. The author of an agreeable work, (“ Alpine Sketches,”) describes an ex¬ 
 cursion of the kind in the following glowing terms:—“In the evening we hired 
 a gondola, and rowed upon the lake; the water was so perfectly transparent, that 
 the smallest object was discernible at the bottom, and the air possessed a balmy 
 sweetness peculiar to these climates. The terraces of numerous chateaus, 
 intermixed with luxuriant vineyards, reach along each edge; while beyond, the 
 trees, rising in amphitheatre one above another, darkened with the deep foliage 
 of the pine and cedar, break at once upon the glittering snow-clad mountains 
 and glaciers, which, through sixty miles distant, seem impending in dazzling 
 splendour over the smooth surface of the waters, in which they are beautifully 
 reflected. Of all the scenes in nature, none can exceed this charming spot, 
 where, though an eternal winter reigns within your view, you are enjoying, 
 under a cloudless sky, the warmest beams of a southern sun, tempered by a 
 refreshing breeze, which almost always plays upon the lake; and which, coming 
 from the distant mountains, brings with it the fragrance of ten thousand 
 aromatic shrubs, over which it passes, and meets you with a balmy sweetness 
 gratifying to every sense.”—There are twenty-nine species of fish found in the 
 lake; of these, the salmon-trout is often from forty to sixty pounds in weight; 
 the largest trout on record was caught in 1663, weighed sixty-two pounds, and 
 
 * Dr. Goldsmith states the depth of the Baltic at 115 fathoms, 
 
 ■{• Mr, Shuckburgh, 1152. M . Pictet, 1134. 
 
 2 
 
9 
 
 was sent to Amsterdam,—“ cachee dans les profondeurs d’une enorme pat6 ;” 
 the perch and carp weigh often thirty pounds. 
 
 No. 2. — Boats . 
 
 “ And soon a passage boat came sweeping by, 
 
 Laden witli farmers’ wives, and fruits and flowers, 
 
 And many a chanticleer, and partlet caged. 
 
 For Vevay’s market place,—a motly group 
 Seen thro’ the silvery haze.”— Rogers. 
 
 The two large vessels are traders laden with wine, &c. and the figures in the 
 small boat are in the costume of Berne; at some distance beyond, is the steam¬ 
 boat ‘ Leman,’ from Geneva to Vevay, at the opposite extremity of the lake. 
 
 No. 5. — Nion. 
 
 One of the four principal towns of the Canton de Vaud; it is situated partly 
 on the border of the lake, and partly on a hill, and contains about 2000 inha¬ 
 bitants. It was anciently called Colonia Equestris Noviodunum; and an old 
 tower, one of the gates, and various statues, inscriptions, mosaic pavements, &c. 
 remnants of its ancient splendour under the Romans, are still to be seen. The 
 Castle commands a fine view, on the. one side to Geneva, on the other to 
 Vevay. At a short distance is the Chateau de Prangin, belonging to Joseph 
 Buonaparte. In this part the lake forms the beautiful curve alluded to by Lucan, 
 where he mentions the army of Julius Caesar striking their tents, which were on 
 
 its border. ... 
 
 “Deseruere Cavo Tentona fixa Lemano.” 
 
 The distance from Geneva to Nion is four leagues and a half; the road lies 
 through Pregni, Versoi, Genthod, and Copet, but the projecting of “Les 
 Paquis” prevents any of these places being seen. Near Pregni is the Cha¬ 
 teau de Panthe, the residence of the Empress Josephine at the time of her 
 divorce. Versoi was called Choiseul’s folly : during the troubles of 1768, that 
 minister formed a plan to ruin Geneva, and monopolize its trade to Versoi; he 
 planned a city, commenced a harbour, and sent a vast quantity of stone for 
 building; yet, when the government had expended 125,000/., the scheme 
 was relinquished. Versoi, at that time, belonged to France, and was ceded to 
 Geneva in 1815. At Genthod, the eminent naturalist, Charles Bonet, resided, 
 and near it is the celebrated Chateau of Ferney. Copet, a small bourg, was 
 the residence for two years of Bayle, the author of the “ Historical Dictionary ;” 
 the chateau, which 'is beautifully situated, was occupied for fourteen years 
 by the celebrated M. Necker, whose remains are buried in the garden. 
 
 No. 6. — Rolle, 
 
 A charming place, near the widest part of the lake, six leagues and three- 
 quarters from Geneva ; having neither walls nor gates, it is denied the title of 
 town ; it owes its foundation to the Barons des Monts, who built the first houses 
 in 1261. The castle, which is large, is now used as a poor and school-house: 
 the mineral waters of Rolle are in great repute, and make it the resort of a 
 number of strangers; it was the residence for some time of Louis Buonaparte; 
 the vineyards in the neighbourhood produce the celebrated Vin de Cote. 
 
 No. 8 . — Colonges. 
 
 Noted for an action between the French and Austrians, Feb. 27, 1814. 
 
 No. 12 .— Dents du Midi. 
 
 At the foot of these mountains, the Rhone, in its way to the lake, issues 
 through a gorge so very narrow, that the gate on an ancient Roman bridge of 
 one arch at St. Maurice, shuts up the whole of the lower Valais. The moun¬ 
 tain consists of seven rugged points, 8396 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 13.— Cologni, 
 
 A pretty village, about two miles from Geneva; Lord Byron had a seat here 
 during his residence in Switzerland. 
 
 No. 14.— Dents d’Oches, 
 
 A steep mountain of Savoy, with two lofty peaks resembling teeth, 5517 Eng¬ 
 lish feet in height above the lake. 
 
10 
 
 No. 18 .—La Voirons, 
 
 3340 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 19 *—Aiguille de Taninge , 
 
 7117 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 20 . —Le Buet, 
 
 8883 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 22. —Aiguille Verte. 
 
 The Aiguille Verte nearly rivals Mont Blanc in height, and presents a very 
 striking escarpment of bare green granite, 12,198 English feet in height above 
 the lake. 
 
 No. 23. —Le Mole. 
 
 The only access to the top of the Mole is from Bonneville, five leagues from 
 Geneva, 4864 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 24 .—Porte du Luc. 
 
 The house a.t the entrance contains the machinery for drawing up the chains 
 which defend the lake. 
 
 No. 25. — Bastion de Hesse, 
 
 Part of the fortifications. 
 
 No. 2 6.—Le Breson , 
 
 4832 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 29 .—Aiguille du Midi, 
 
 11654 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 31 . —Mont Blanc. 
 
 “—;-Triumphantly, 
 
 Prince of the whirlwind—monarch of the scene— 
 
 Mightiest where all are mighty, fromthe eye 
 Of mortal man, half hidden by the screen 
 Of mists that moat his base from Arve’s dark deep ravine, 
 stands the magnificent Mont Blanc! His brow 
 Scarred with ten thousand thunders;—most sublime, 
 
 Even as though risen from the world below, 
 
 To mark the progress of decay; by clime, 
 
 Storm, blight, fire, earthquake, injured not: like time, 
 
 Stern chronicler of centuries gone by, 
 
 Doomed by a heavenly fiat still to climb, 
 
 Swell and increase with years incessantly, 
 
 Then yield at length to the most dread eternity V’—A. A. Watts. 
 
 Mont Blanc is about fifty miles from Geneva; and is, according to the mea¬ 
 surement of M. de Luc, 15,304 English feet above the level of the sea; M. 
 Shuck borough makes it 358 feet more. It is composed of three summits, Le 
 Dome de Goute, the Tucal.and MontBlanc, which are encompassed by a chain 
 
 ,7^ yr r idlCal r0cks ° r needles * The first attempt to ascend to the summit of 
 lhe Monarch of the Mountains,” was made on the 13th of July, 1776, by 
 M. Gouteran, and three guides of Chamouni ; who, after fourteen hours' inces¬ 
 sant labour, abandoned the attempt. Sir G. Shuckborough calculated, that they 
 attained the height of 13,000 feet above the sea. The second attempt was not 
 made until the 11th of Sept. 1784, when M. Bourrit, and six guides, ascended 
 and reached the Dome de Gout£, where the intenseness of the cold compelled 
 tiem to return. On the 4th of Sept, in the following year, Marie Coutet and 
 James Lambat, having passed the night on the mountain, reached the dome at 
 an early hour, and were proceeding with every prospect of success, when a 
 violent storm of had rendered farther advance impossible. On the 13th of the 
 same month, Messrs. Saussure and Bourrit, with twelve guides, ascended to the 
 height of 7808 feet, where they passed the night; and, on the following morn- 
 ing, reached the dome, which was again the boundary of their attempt, a fjesh 
 tall of snow making it dangerous to advance. In July, 1786, six guides made 
 another unsuccessful attempt; one of the number, James Balma, having missed 
 jis way, passed the night on the dome; and the following morning, after making 
 observations as to the practicability of a further ascent, returned to Chamouni, 
 where he was afflicted with a severe illness. In gratitude for the attentions of 
 
11 
 
 Dr. Paccard, he offered his lervices to attend him in an attempt which lie fek 
 certain would be successful. They started on the 7th of August, and having 
 passed the night on the mountain, at length arrived at the ridge of rocks, which, 
 seen from Geneva, form the left shoulders of Mont Blanc: here the cold being 
 intolerable, the Doctor wished to return; but Balma, by persuasion and example, 
 encouraged him to proceed, and at seven in the evening they reached the sum- 
 mit of the mountain, and stood on a spot never before visited by the foot of man. 
 On the 13th of August, 1787, M. de Saussure and twelve guides, after being 
 two nights on the mountain, also accomplished their object; since which, the 
 ascent has been several times attempted, often successfully, recently (Aug. 26, 
 1825,) by Dr. Clarke and Capt. Sherwill : a very interesting account of their 
 proceedings will be found in the New Monthly Magazines of 1826. 
 
 No. 32 .—Be Reposoir. 
 
 The highest pointof the chain ofLe Reposoir is 7104 English feet above the lake. 
 
 Nos. 33 and 35 .— Les Saleves. 
 
 The Saleves are about half a league from Geneva, and extend nearly ten miles 
 in length; the base towards the Alps is cultivated ; on the upper part a great 
 variety of petrifactions, plants, and fossils, are found, which are interesting 
 to naturalists: in various parts of the slope, the greatest height of which is 2713 
 English feet, are blocks of granite of thirty and forty feet in length. M. de 
 Saussure supposes these blocks to have formed part of the Alps forty miles dis¬ 
 tant, detached in some violent convulsion of nature, the Saleves being entirely 
 composed of horizontal strata of white calcareous stone. 
 
 No. 34 .—Bastion de Longemale. 
 
 On the Bastion de Longemale is the Dock-yard, also the Fuel-yards, and the 
 public Slaughter-houses, which are kept remarkably clean ; this, and the other 
 ports in the Rue Derrier la Rhone, are the resort of the Genevese, Swiss, 
 Valaisan, and other trading vessels, fishing and pleasure boats. 
 
 No. 36.—Mont Sion , 
 
 1382 English feet in height above the lake. 
 
 No. 37 .— Cathedral. 
 
 St. Pierre, in the Place Taconnerie, originally a pagan temple, supposed to 
 have been dedicated to Apollo or the sun, from a large figure of the sun being 
 carved on one of the outer walls: the front is towards the west; the peristyle, sup¬ 
 ported by lofty columns of white marble, is modern, and copied from the Pan¬ 
 theon of ancient Rome ; the fine houses, trees, &c. which surround the square, 
 with its commanding situation, render it one of the most pleasant parts of the 
 city. The church contains many Roman inscriptions, the tombs of the Duke 
 de Rohan, (exiled by Cardinal Richelieu, which the French nearly destroyed,) 
 his son Tancred, Agrippa Aubignier, the favourite of Henry IV. and grand¬ 
 father of Madame de Maintenon, Amelia de Nassau, Princess of Orange, &c. 
 and some fine stained glass windows ; one of which, in the choir, contains a full- 
 length of Charlemagne, who was supposed to have erected the present building. 
 Near the cathedral is the Hotel de Ville, a large ancient building, containing 
 the apartments of the senate, council of 200, and other offices of state. The 
 ascent to the upper apartments is by an inclined plane, sufficiently wide to 
 admit a carriage. In former times, at the election of syndics, there was a pro¬ 
 cession through the street, in which the four syndics were mounted on asses; on 
 arriving at the Hotel de Ville, they did not alight, but ascended in the same state 
 to the council chamber. 
 
 No. 41 . — Chambre de Bled. 
 
 The Magazine of Corn is under the direction of the government, and always 
 contains an ample supply of good wheat; the price of bread is fixed by the 
 Grand Council, and the bakers are obliged to purchase all they use from this 
 establishment, at an uniform price; to ensure the sale of good bread, the 
 government has also a shop in each quarter. 
 
 No. 48 .— Blancherie. 
 
 General Washing Establishment. 
 
 i 
 
12 
 
 No. 49 .—Le Rhone. 
 
 The Rhone rises in Mount Furca, in Switzerland, and after traversing the 
 Vale of Vallais, enters the lake at Bouveret; and, having purified its waters, 
 leaves it again at Geneva, darting through the city with a velocity on which the 
 eye can scarcely dwell; at a short distance it is joined by the Arve, and the two 
 rivers flow some distance together, each preserving its separate colour distinctly 
 marked,—the former of the pure azure of the lake; the latter, which rises 
 in the glaciers of Savoy, of a dingy grey. Above the spot where the rivers 
 unite, stands the beautiful retreat of Voltaire, Les Delices, which he mentions as 
 “ O Maison d’Aristipe, 6 Jardins d’Epicure, 
 
 Vous qui me pr£seatez, dans vos enclos divers 
 Ce qui sou vent manque a mes vers, 
 
 Le mlrite de l’art soumis a la nature; 
 
 Empire de Pomone et de Flore sa sceur, 
 
 Recevez votre possesseur.” 
 
 The Rhone divides Savoy from Bresse, and flows west to Lyons in its way to the 
 Mediterranean. 
 
 No. 50.— Passage de I’Ecluse. 
 
 About twelve miles from Geneva, in this pass above the river, stands the Fort 
 de l'Ecluse, recently re-erected, which may be said to be the key to this part 
 of France. 
 
 No. 51 .—La Machine Hydraulique. 
 
 The wheel of this useful and ingenious machine is twenty-four feet in diame¬ 
 ter ; and, being protected from frost, raises at all seasons 500 quarts of water 
 per minute to two reservoirs, one which supplies the lower parts of the city at 
 an elevation of seventy, and the other 126 feet above the river; from the public 
 fountains and pumps, the water is carried to the houses in wooden vessels, 
 which affords employment to a number of persons, chiefly Savoyards: many of 
 the houses in the upper part have staircases sufficiently wide to admit an ass, 
 who, until within the last fifty years, used to ascend to the upper apartments 
 with water, &c. 
 
 No. 52.— Tour de l’Isle. 
 
 An old tower, which at present serves for a clock tower, built on the founda¬ 
 tion of one erected by Cassar, to defend the passage of the river against the 
 Helvetians. 
 
 No. 55.— Les Juras. 
 
 The chain of the Jura extends from Mount Vonache, in Savoy, to the canton 
 of Schaffhausen, a distance of 100 miles in a line, varying from fifteen to 
 eighteen miles in breadth, and from 3000 to 3500 feet in height above the 
 lake; the nearest part is about twelve miles from Geneva. Although the out¬ 
 line is too straight for picturesque effect, yet the sides present many bold pro¬ 
 jections and deep indentations, which, from various accidents of light and 
 shade, have frequently a very imposing appearance. It is known that these 
 mountains have been shaken by many earthquakes; but the deep chasms, and 
 shifting of immense masses in the interior, bear testimony to far mightier revo¬ 
 lutions anterior to all record. Their composition is calcareous, but they are 
 thickly strewn with immense blocks of granite, of precisely the same nature as 
 that of the High Alps on the other side of Switzerland. 
 
 No. 56.—St. Gervais. 
 
 In this church, a monument is erected to the memory of those citizens, 
 seventeen in number, who sacrificed their lives in the preservation of their city, 
 in the memorable assault of 1602. 
 
 No. 58 .—Passage de Gex. 
 
 The village of Gex, at the foot of Mount St. Claude, ten miles from Geneva, 
 is the route to Paris. 
 
 No. 59.— M. Gaud in’s Panorama. 
 
 M. Gaudin’s exquisite u Model of Switzerland,which was exhibited at the 
 Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, a few years back. Near are some seats erected 
 for the purpose of viewing the grand mountain scene on the opposite side of 
 the lake. 
 
 J. and C. Adlan), Printers, Bartholomew Close.