not account for, and I said, en badinant,
that a volcano had burst out on the Saleve ;
but it was soon known at Geneva, that the
light proceeded from the conflagration of
Monetier.
The Genevese, who are ever ready to
assist their ancient enemies the Savoyards,
when in distress, could not send engines in
time to be of use, owing to the long circuit
by the carriage road, nor would the engines
have availed much to stop the flames, as
there is no water in the village, except a
small spring, barely sufficient for the daily
supply of the inhabitants : their cattle are
watered at a distance. The weather, which
for many weeks had been delightfully clear
and serene, that evening suddenly changed,
and the most tremendous peals of thunder,
with lightning, hail, and violent gusts
of wind, added to the horrors of the
poor villagers, who seeing, as they thought,
the wrath of Heaven manifested against
them, were overwhelmed with despair,
and suffered their houses, stables, and
cattle to perish, without making the
smallest effort to save them, except by
offering up prayers to the Virgin. An
English gentleman, who had gone from
Geneva by the shortest route, arrived at
Monetier at this juncture, and with great
difficulty he roused a few of the Savoyards
from their stupor, and persuaded them to aid
him in rescuino; what could be saved from
destruction. By covering the roofs of four
or five houses and stables with wet blankets,
he prevented them from taking fire ; these
five houses, with the church and cross and
some bare walls, were all that remained of
Monetier after the fire. The poor inhabitants,
deprived of , all their little property,
and without shelter for the night,
were in the most deplorable situation, and
the Savoyards in the neighbouring villages
were unable to afford them much assistance.
The Genevese, however, lost no time in
sending them relief. Carts, with food and
blankets, were despatched the next morning,
and many of the gentlemen and ladies
in the city formed themselves into separate
committees, for aiding the inhabitants
of Monetier ; one to receive subscriptions
for the purchase of food, another to
receive articles of clothing, old or new, and
a third inserted an advertisement in the
Feuilles d’Avis, appointing a place of reception
for old furniture, requesting the
VOL. II. F