stone particularly curious. To these I could with ease subjoin the description of many
others of similar species, every one of which presents a variety of modifications, both in
form and structure; and which at the same time tend to show, that though these
points, or needles, be not of granite, it does not follow that they do not owe their
origin to the effect of crystallisation, though their crystallisation may indeed be considered
as having been more interrupted or retarded than the one by which the primitive
or first mountains were formed; for all the species of molecules, which constitute the
granite, are most assuredly found inclosed in the rock which composes those spiry tops.
(For the names of the peaks, see Oie Index to the Plates.)
At the basis of one of those pyramidical needles, situate on the north-eastern side of
the convent, there exist some veins of a kind of crystallised lamellated iron, of a darkish
hue, similar to the mineraferri specvlaris lamellosa oi WallenMS, spec. 257, intermixed
with copperas pyrites. These veins are, as it were, wedged in between thin strata of
argil, of which the direction is nearly vertical, containing particles of quart z and mica.
Father Murrith, the canon of St. Bernard, before alluded to, has likewise discovered
others, of different species, near the peak of the Drome, rendered extremely curious
from their situation, and which I was truly sorry for not having time to visit; but
which, from the samples that have been shown to me, seem to contain some valuable
ne, or molybdate of lead, which might merit the trouble and expense of
being worked for pencils, and would, I should suppose, be capable of being rendered
very little, if at all, inferior to the lead-mines at Keswick, in Cumber land; though the
greatest impediment that would arise, and which indeed cannot be removed, is, that
e months in tlie year they are entirely covered with s
The convent, more commonly called hospice, from indiscriminately giving refuge
and shelter to every individual who travels that way, when overtaken by want, fatigue,
or stress of weather, is of free-stone, containing a number of apartments and beds, to
which is annexed a handsome chapel, where the service is regulariy performed by the
friars. This building appears, from Simlar, the historian, to have been founded in the
tenth century, by one St. Bernard de Manthon, at that time a regular canon, and archdeacon
of Aosta. Animated by sentiments of humanity, that worthy character, who
was a descendent of one of the most ancient families of Savoy, caused this convent to
be erected, at his own expense, on the summit of the mountain, till then called Joux,
or Jovis, for the assistance and reception of travelers, who might be forced to cross
that frozen region of the Alps ; and at the same time annexed to it funds sufficient for
the completion of the establishment. He at first began by fixing only a certain number
of August ine friars ; but soon after retired there himself, in order to superintend, watch,
and encourage by his example, the execution of the rules he had planned for the relief
of the poor, as well as to afford a comfortable asylum to those who might need assistance.
For this pious act, the pontif Alexander II. conferred on him the dignity of
prévôt, with the privilege of being crosiered and mitred as a bishop. This acknowledgement
of the virtue of the founder, and of the merit of the undertaking, soon inspired
several of the European princes and grandees, who, sensible of the great use of
the institution, vied with each other in donations, in order to maintain it according to
the original plan ; so that , in fact, it so insensibly and rapidly increased in wealth, that
in 1460 it had not less than fourscore livings in its possession, besides landed property
in Piedmont, Savoy, Switzerland, Sicily, Germany, and even England.
Unfortunately, however, we see in this institution, far removed, as might be supposed,
from the vices of the world, that neither soil nor region is proof against the corrupting
influence of riches, that bane of virtue, and consequently of happiness,—properly terrfied
by the poet irrUamenta maionm ; for, from the arid summits of the frozen Alps to the
fruitful smiling plains of Europe, all are alike ! and how many are to be found whom
even profusion cannot satisfy ! Such was the case here ; for, in consequence of the
abundance of wealth and high degree of power which this institution had acquired, ambition,
wi th its disquieting train, jealousy and contentions for pre-eminence, soon began
to distract the community, and had nearly proved fatal to the establishment itself. To
this may be added, as an accumulation of misfortunes, and by which their existence
seemed threatened, that the pope, having once granted to the prévôt the title or dignity of
commandatory, he, forsooth, thought himself authorised to desert the convent, and take
up his residence in a large city,—where, from dissipation, negligence, and donations to
his family, which were of course imitated by his followers, the immense property
belonging to the institution was soon found to be ahnost expended. Nor was it till the
year 1589 that the friars were roused from their stupor, who, in consequence of long
and warm debates, compelled the prévôts in future, on pain of forfeiting their appointment,
to reside continually at the convent.
This measure, though excellent in itself, and at that time extremely necessary, could
not however retrieve the landed property, and vast sums of money, heretofore alienated
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