“Beyond, in the midst of the sea, arises 400 feet above the surface of the water, the majestic rock of Mount St. Michael, and near it another, but smaller rock, called the Tombalaine.  In the distant and blue horizon appears the long and extending land of Britanny, mingling with the surrounding atmosphere, from which it is alone distinguished by a faint and uncertain line, that, like the prospect of our future years, impresses the mind with a deeper interest from its distant and impenetrable form.  Mount St. Michael is a league in circumference; in some parts of the rock is perpendicular; it is flooded entirely at high water, but when the tide is out, the rock may be approached by the sands; some danger, however, attends the passage to those who are not perfectly well acquainted with the track, as many quicksands intercept, where travellers have frequently been lost.

“There is a small town on Mount St. Michael.  The castle, which stands at the top, is accessible by steps cut in the solid rock.  In the year 708, St. Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, here first created the chapel dedicated to St. Michael; in 966, Richard the first Duke of Normandy, established a convent of monks of the order of St. Benoit, and in 1024, Richard the second Duke of Normandy, built the church, which still exists.  The provisions that supply the fortress, are sent up in a basket drawn by a machine.  Tradition says, that there was in this castle an obligatory, or concealed trap-door, where, in feudal times, persons were taken, whom the state directed should be secretly put out of the way.  Under pretext, of showing them the castle, they were conducted into a remote chamber, there they soon met their destined fate, for chancing to step upon the concealed door, they were precipitated into the abyss, many hundred feet below.  They still exhibit at this fortress the sword and shield of St. Michael, and some cannon left by the English, when they made a fruitless attempt to take possession of the rock.  Here it was that in former times, the Kings of France and the Dukes of Britanny made frequent pilgrimages, and performed penance at the shrine of St. Michael.”

The lofty situation of the church appears to be peculiar to the churches dedicated to St. Michael.  In many parts of the world they are built on very lofty eminences, in allusion, it is said, to St. Michael’s having been the highest of the heavenly host.  St. Michael’s, in Cornwall, is another confirmation of this remark.

We have the pleasure of acknowledging the original of our Engraving from an elegant Print Scrap Book, now in course of publication by Mr. H. Dawe.  It consists of well executed mezzotinto prints which are worthy of the album of any fair subscriber.

    [1] Primary rocks are supposed by geologists to constitute the
        foundation on which rocks of all the other classes are laid;
        and if we take an enlarged view of the structure of the globe,
        we may admit this to be the fact,—­but the admission requires
        certain limitations.—­Bakewell.