After a continual ascent of between two and three hours, we were advised to send back our mules to wait our return in the valley, and to continue our way on foot, which we did accordingly, being provided with long sticks, pointed with iron, to assist us in climbing the remainder of the ascent.  Our arrival on the summit amply repaid us for the toil which it had cost us:  the view is not to be described;—­before us lay the Mer de Glace (sea of ice) extending to the length of four leagues, and being about three quarters of a league in width; which is one of the most sublime spectacles in nature.—­Around us were mountains much more elevated than those which cost us so much trouble in ascending, which consisting of granite, dispersed in the most majestic forms, and being the perpetual abode of frosts, storms, and tempests, leave a most awful impression on the mind.  It is impossible to behold these stupendous scenes without, in the language of the Psalmist, ’ascribing unto the Lord worship and power.’

Although we had ascended not less than 3000 feet, yet, to our astonishment, Mont Blanc appeared nearly as elevated as when we viewed it from the Galley.  It is unquestionably the highest mountain in the three old quarters of the world (being exceeded in height only by the Andes); and I shall insert here the calculations of its elevation, and of that of some other mountains: 

English feet.

Chimboraco, the highest of the
Cordilleras 20,608

Mont Blanc, above the level of
the Mediterranean, according
to Sir G. Shuckburgh 15,662

Ditto, according to M. de Luc 15,302 1/3

    Mount Caucasus 15,000

    Etna, according to M, de Saussure 10,700

    Teneriffe 10,954

The highest mountain in Scotland is Ben-Nevis, 4,337 feet.  In Wales, Snowdon, 3,555.  In England, Ingleborough, 3,200 feet.  In Ireland, Croagh Patrick, 2,666.

Mont Blanc is easily distinguished from amongst the other mountains (of which Mont Buet; of 9984 feet in height, approaches the nearest to it) when Steen on this side, by the astonishing altitude to which it rises, and by the vast body of snow with which its top and sides are covered to the perpendicular height of above 4000 feet, without the intervention of any rock, to take off from that extreme whiteness that gives name to this mountain, uniting in the circular form of its summit all the majesty that can possibly be imagined.  We partook of some refreshment in an apartment on the summit of Montanvert, which the extreme cold of the atmosphere rendered very acceptable.  Having enrolled our names in a book kept here for that purpose, which abounds with the praises of all travellers who have viewed these scenes, we descended to the Mer de Glace, which is appropriately