I l l (
il
a"
heartily tired, we returned to Chamberry,
to examine some of the most interesting objects
in its vicinity, particularly tbe remains
of the fall of Mont Grenier, one of the most
awful events of the kind on record, or, at
least, one which has left the most distinct
traces of its extent and magnitude, after
the lapse of nearly six centuries. From
Chamberry we proposed going back again
to L ’Hopital, in order to ascend the upper
valley of the Isere, and visit the district
called the Tarantaise, which has hitherto
been scarcely noticed by Fnglish travellers.
My principal inducement for taking this
route was to examine some thermal mineral
waters, which had been recently discovered
at Brida. After this, it was my intention
to repass the Lake of Annecy, to ascertain
some circumstances respecting the structure
of the mountains in its vicinity, in
consequence of observations I had made on
similar mountains since I left Duing. — We
also proposed going to Chamouny before
quitting Savoy.
In taking my leave of Aix, it is but justice
to state, that we found the people of
the place obliging and honest, and we heard
11
no complaints of them from any of the
other visitors.
We left Aix on the 24th of July in a
char-à-côté. About four miles from Aix,
I noticed in the valley a mass of alluvial
soil and boulders of great depth, over which
the road passes. This mass was probably
brought there when the whole valley was
a lake. Just before arriving at Chamberry,
I stopped to examine some quarries on the
east side of the road, the stone of which
bears a strong resemblance to our grey lias
limestone ; but there were no fossils in any
part of it which I saw. The city of Chamberry
has often been described, as it lies in
the high road from Lyons to Turin. The
walls are at present removed, and the space
they occupied is planted and laid out in
gardens : the streets are dull and narrow ;
and none of the public buildings are particularly
worthy of notice, except the hospital
of L ’Hotel Dieu, the cassern for the
soldiers, and the manufactory for silk
gauzes, for which Chamberry has long been
celebrated. The city contains about 10,000
inhabitants. The country round Chamberry
is extremely fertile, and is embellished
with numerous villas and gardens.
L 4
; . v
p