To stand before such scenes impresses upon the mind a solemn feeling of reverential awe for Him "who wills and it is done;" and at the same time, who may not say, with the Psalmist, "How terrible art thou in thy works ?'

I am, Dear Sir, yours truly,

J. H.

LETTER III.

AUBONNE. FERNEY.-VOLTAIRE.-GENEVA.PICTURE GALLERY.-ROUTE TO CHAMOUNI.— BONNEVILLE.-CEREMONIES OF THE ROMISH CHURCH.-MONT VERANS.-NANT D'ARPENAS. ST. MARTIN'S.-MONT BLANC.-PONT PELLISEUR. THE GLACIER OF BOSSONS.COLERIDGE.-CHAMOUNI.

To the Editor of the Halifax Express.

Geneva, Sept. 14, 1840.

Dear Sir,-I closed my last letter with an account of our arrival in this city, and our visit to the Island of Rousseau. Since then, we have made several pleasant excursions to other places in the neighbourhood.

We spent two days at Aubonne, a small town, about twenty miles from Geneva. My companion has a friend there. He is a son of the Prefect of the place; and he took us to see the chateau where the Court of Judicature holds its sittings. The ceiling and the walls are painted, and divided into pannels. On one wall there are three pannels, one of which, that in the centre, has upon it a landscape, a view of the residence of the present Judge of the Court; and the other two are not filled up. On the wall behind the prisoner's dock there are two pannels, and the same number on that opposite. The twelve chairs for the jury are covered with crimson damask. The arrangements, throughout the building, are very complete; and its motto is "Liberty and Country." On leaving the hall, we ascended the tower, and had a fine view of the Alps. Mont Blanc was surrounded with clouds and storms. We afterwards walked in the grounds of a neighbouring chateau which was to be let. A more beautiful place could scarcely be wished for.

The walks, amongst trees, shrubberies, and waterfalls, are extensive; and the views, from different points, are very fine. There are seats, in different parts of the grounds, for the accommodation of visitors. We walked to the highest part of the hill, and thence we had a view of the opposite Alps.

The next day we went to Ferney, and visited the house formerly occupied by Voltaire, -the man who boasted that he would, by his single exertions, overturn our holy religion, and prove to the world that one man could undo what the Saviour and His Apostles had established. We saw a bust of the Arch-Infidel, and a few paintings that are hung on the walls, but which are only copies from originals in the Louvre. There are, also, a few portraits of celebrated men; but they are very indifferently executed. A piece of needle-work, by Catharine the Second, of Russia, hangs in the bed-room; and many persons admire it, because it is the work of a great personage. The bed has a plain wooden head and foot-board, with a French top. A few tattered curtains, of blue figured damask, still remain; but they have been so cut to pieces by visitors, that the little which is left has a very forlorn appearance. The furniture is good; and the walls of the sitting room are hung with crimson figured velvet, which gives the apartment an air of richness. In this room, the chairs are upholstered, and covered with needle-work. From the grounds at Ferney there are many fine views of the surrounding country; and, during our visit, Mont Blanc was free from clouds, which added greatly to the splendour of the scenery.

Geneva is said to contain more than 25,000 inhabitants. The city is delightfully situated on the banks of the lake, and may boast of having, in its vicinity, more lovely prospects than any other city in Europe. The number of handsome villas which surround the lake, add to the interest and animation of the scenery; and the places usually visited by strangers, are numerous.

Here is a Museum of Natural History; but it is not very extensive. We expected that it was much larger, and more choice in its collection.

The Picture Gallery does not contain many works of first-rate character; but there are a few worth attention. Two by Salvator Rosa are very fine; and there is a very good one, by Dominichino, of David carrying the head of Goliah, and girls dancing before him.

Several paintings by Swiss artists attracted our notice; the best were by Horning, Ordie, and Dilcy. There was, also,ja picture by Angelica Kauffman; and another by Danby, A. R. A. I saw Danby, when I was in Paris. His picture is a fine rocky scene, with trees. There is great richness in its colouring; and the effect is very bold and powerful.

The Death of Calvin, by a Swiss artist, whose name we did not learn, is a very good painting. The Genevese Reformer is surrounded by many persons; and as the figures are on the same level in the plane of delineation, the artist must have had great difficulty in arranging the composition. He has, however, succeeded in producing a fine picture, which, as a work of art, does him honour.

Two ladies were copying, in the Gallery. The rooms underneath are appropriated to Sculptures and Casts from the Antique, which are arranged with great care and attention, so as to give to artists every facility in pursuing their studies.

We afterwards saw the confluence of the Rhone and the Arve. The two streams run parallel to each other, without mingling, for a considerable distance, after they have come into the same channel. The Rhone is very rapid, and of a clear blue colour. The Arve has a whiteish appearance, and comes from the glaciers, through the valley of Chamouni.

On our return to the inn, we passed the house in which Rousseau was born, in 1712. The external appearance of the building has been altered, and it is now occupied by a clock-maker.

On the 8th instant, we made an excursion to Chamouni. We soon passed the Sardinian frontier, where we had to show our passports; and, after proceeding but a very short distance, we had to stop again, to get them signed.

The country through which we travelled is composed of hill and dale, and studded with corn-fields and vineyards. The summits of the hills are crowned with woods, which mostly consist of beech and fir. We crossed the river Menoge, which rises at the base of the Voirons, and falls into the Arve, after having passed the villages of Nangy and Contamine. We saw the Castle of Fossigny; it is situated on a hill, which commands the valley.

The road kept parallel with the river Arve until we reached the town of Bonneville; and there we had to stop nearly two hours, partly in consequence of a festival, or holiday, on which a procession took place, to commemorate, we were told, the deliverance of Milan from the enemy; but from what enemy we could not learn.

We witnessed the ceremony, and were much pleased with it. The procession was headed by young girls, neatly dressed, and with white veils over their heads. The matrons followed, two abreast; next came the priests, and afterwards the laymen. The procession was closed by the military, whose band was very well dressed, and gave us most delightful music.

There is something very imposing in the religious ceremonies of the Roman Church; and, when accompanied by good music, they have a wonderful influence upon the feelings. Their harmonious strains soothe the mind; and, in many cases, their powers are so great as to absorb the whole soul. Such ceremonies may not accord with our ideas; but still every person pretending to common civility should pay proper respect to the insti tutions of the country in which he is sojourning, and should endeavour to conform to its customs,-at least, so far as to give no offence to its inhabitants. He ought, at all times, to let the people see that he is possessed of good manners. A gentleman in appearance, standing not far from us, did not take off his hat, when the cross was passing. One of the clergy saw it, and was coming to the place where he stood, when some one, perceiving the neglect, uncovered him. The priest, on seeing this, returned to the line; and all passed off quietly.

Beyond Bonneville, the road crosses the river Arve,