Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, contains more than 20,000 inhabitants, and is situated between the rivers Ouche and Souzon. This city suffered greatly during the revolution; and nearly all its public buildings received more or less injury. The Church of St. Benigne fortunately escaped. Its spire is 375 Paris feet in height, and is considered the finest piece of architecture in Europe. Dijon possesses a Museum, which is open for the benefit of the inhabitants. Strangers, also, are admitted. It contains a few good paintings; but we could not be allowed time to examine them.

Soon after leaving Dijon, we occasionally came in sight of the Jura mountains, and witnessed many fine effects, upon the grandest scenery I had hitherto beheld.

On approaching the town of Genlis, we passed a chateau belonging to the family of the Countess de Genlis, the distinguished writer. The town is pretty, for its size. It is little more than a village, and contains many neat houses. The people seemed very happy.

The next town that we came to was Auxonne, where a bridge has been erected over the Soane. We were told that a battle was fought here between Napoleon Buonaparte and the Allies. The ground on which the principal part of the action took place, is pointed out to the traveller; and as much as possible is made of the circumstance.

All the way to the next post, Dóle, the road continued hilly; and, of course, afforded fine scenes for the pencil. At Dóle we had to change coaches; and there our Manchester friend left us.

On starting from Dóle, we had a contention with Monsieur le Conducteur, who had nearly filled with luggage, our places in the coupée. We thought this was in order to oblige us to take inside places: but as our intention, in riding outside, was to see the country, and as we were now about to ascend the Jura hills, we did not feel disposed to forego the pleasure of obtaining the best view of the scenery that we could have; and therefore we put up with the annoyance.

The ascent of the Jura exhibits bold, Alpine scenery;

and, as we had to walk up the hills, we had a good opportunity of viewing the country from different points. In some places there were craggy rocks, overhanging the road; and in others there were frightful precipices, without any parapet to protect the traveller from accident. To most persons, such dangerous places could not be otherwise than alarming. In some parts of the ascent, we met with patches of grass, and trees intermixed.

After ascending for a considerable way, we came to a turn in the road, and a beautiful valley, of great extent, burst upon our view. It was covered with vineyards; and in most places, as far as the eye could reach, it was cultivated even to the very summits of the adjacent hills. Having proceeded a few miles farther, we came to one of the wildest scenes imaginable;-the rocks towering to the very clouds, and impressing the mind with ideas of loneliness and desolation.

Such were our enjoyments until night closed these scenes from our view; and then we arrived at the village where dinner was waiting for us, although it might well be called supper-time.

When we were about to proceed on our journey, two gentlemen requested to have our places in the coupée, for the night; and they had bought a bottle of champagne to treat the Conducteur. Of course, we could not refuse; and we were consequently put into the rotondo, where we got a very comfortable night's sleep.

In the morning, we resumed our own places; and we soon came in sight of another fine valley, surrounded by rocks, of the most picturesque forms imaginable, and clothed with firs to their summits. This sublime scenery continued until we reached the romantic village of Maison-neve. The road from this village was, for a considerable way, pleasantly ornamented with cottages and vineyards. We occasionally drove through woods of beech and fir; and we came, every now and then, to openings that were enchantingly beautiful. Sometimes we saw spread before us, an extensive plain, surrounded by hills of different heights. Then we had a more

confined view, showing us a dreary wilderness. Some of the hills have steep declivities, as if their sides had been smoothed, or crushed flat by the rolling of some tremendous weight over them; and their summits were generally crowned with firs. As we had to walk up the hills, I occasionally took the opportunity to make a sketch of some of the interesting scenery through which we were passing.

On our way through Morez to Les Rousses, we asscended a very steep hill, of the wildest description; and down one side of the road ran a noisy brook, casting about its spray, and dashing from declivity to declivity in fine style. This part of our journey lay in the midst of Alpine desolation; and the sounds from a succession of waterfalls, gave to the ascent an interest which made it delightful. The immense rocks over-hanging our heads, and towering towards the skies, would create, in the minds of some persons, an unpleasant sensation of danger; but, if the tourist can divest himself of fear,— and there is no real danger from the rocks over-hanging the road,―he may turn his attention to the many interesting productions of nature by which he is surrounded; and enjoy, in these wild scenes, the sight of plants and flowers of the most beautiful description. Many of these, peeping out from the crevices of the rocks, will be quite new to him; and if he be a florist or botanist, these offsprings of the rugged and dreary mountain must afford a rich treat. The road is certainly too narrow for a timid person to feel quite composed upon it; and, as I have observed before, there are, in many parts of the ascent, no walls to protect the passenger from falling down the precipices, in case of an accident; so that it can scarcely be considered safe,-especially in the night.

Les Rousses is the frontier town of France. On quitting the kingdom, travellers are not subjected to search; and therefore we drove forward. Our way lay between two mountains of considerable magnitude, until we came to an abrupt turn of the road, and then the Alps burst upon us, in all their splendour. Before our

astonished gaze were the Pays de Vaud, the Lake of Geneva, and the stupendous glaciers, with Mont Blanc, whose majestic peaks were covered with clouds, and towered above them all.

It is not in my power,-language fails me,-I am utterly unable to describe,-the effect that was produced on my mind, and the feelings that arose in my breast, on witnessing this magnificent scene. The Jura hills, that we had so recently ascended, were very fine; but the first burst of the Alps was magnificent beyond description. The colouring of the mountains was so delicate, and the varieties of grey on the lower hills were so rich and full of tints, as to confuse the beholder, in settling their general harmony. The mountains, covered with snow, on which the sun was shining, had a warm glow, of a species of grey, the tone of which is indescribable. The Lake of Geneva, too,-so clear in its reflections, and of a blue-green colour, with here and there a boat skimming along, with its white sail,-made the whole scene a treat of the most touching kind, and brought to my mind those fine lines of Thomson's,

But who can paint

Like nature? Can imagination boast,

Amid its gay creation, hues like hers?

Or can it mix them with that matchless skill,
And lose them in each other, as appears

In every bud that blows?

The descent from this elevated situation to the Lake of Geneva was soon accomplished. Passing, in our way, many beautiful cottages and luxuriant woods of beech and fir, we arrived at the inn where we had to show our passports; and, while the horses were changed, we strolled down to the margin of that celebrated lake, the appearance of whose pellucid waters had afforded us so much delight, when seen from the elevated position upon which we had just travelled.

Our road from this charming spot, to the gate of Geneva, wound along the margin of the lake; and we enjoyed many fine views of the surrounding country. At the gate of the city, we had to leave our passports;

and cards were given to us, to present on our departure from the valley, and thereby entitle us to have our passports restored. Shortly afterwards, we were safely moored in our hotel. We were seventy-five hours on the road, and our journey cost us ninety-six francs each.

On the following evening, we visited the Island of J. J. Rousseau, on which there is a good statue of that celebrated a postle of French infidelity. It is the only work of art that I have seen since my arrival here; but, however excellent it may be, it is only a work of art, and it sinks into insignificance in the midst of the sublime scenery of this interesting district. Oh! it is painful to contemplate that, amidst these grand works of the Almighty Architect of the Universe, the eye of the Christian should be insulted by a monument to one who blasphemously denied the existence of that Great First Cause!

The majestic scenes through which we have recently passed, and those amongst which we are now sojourning, are of such magnitude and beauty, as to astound the beholder, and throw into the shade even the proudest monuments of human genius. The grandeur and magnificence of these mountains are unspeakable. The poet, -the painter,-yea, every man that feels within his bosom the feeblest ray of genius, must be struck with astonishment on beholding the works of that Being, who spreads before his creatures, the mighty Mont Blanc, with its ice-clad throne,-surrounded by its tributary Alps, of such a variety of hues,-and, at their feet, the clear waters of the blue lake of Geneva. Well may we exclaim, in the devout language of the first of bards,

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good!
Almighty! Thine this universal frame,

Thus wondrous fair! Thyself how wondrous then!
Unspeakable! who sitt'st above the heav'ns,

To us invisible, or dimly seen

In these thy lowliest works; yet these declare

Thy goodness, beyond thought, and power divine.

C