of the Rhone at length reaches the Mediterranean.  This singularity proves the facility with which the Lakes of Neufchatel and Geneva might be made to communicate with each other.  Accordingly, a canal has long since been commenced; but its projectors have made little progress in their undertaking.  The little town of Orbe, is nearly surrounded by a river of the same name; it bears evident marks of antiquity, and from its position, must have been in former times a place of considerable strength.  The ancient kings of Burgundy had a residence here.

This part of the country is highly varied, and presents a most picturesque appearance.

Land in the Pays de Vaud, I found, generally sells for about twenty-five years purchase; and 31/2 or 4 per cent, is thought sufficient interest for money invested in it.  Travelling and living are much dearer in this country than in France, as although the inhabitants have few superfluities, yet they have to fetch them from a distance, Switzerland not affording a sufficient supply of food for the support of its inhabitants.

Yverdun was our next stage; it is after Lausanne and Vevay the most considerable town in the canton.  It is situated close to the Lake of Neufchatel, and is surrounded by water.  It consists of three parallel streets, terminating in a square, in which are the church and townhouse, both neat structures.  The population is about 5000.  The castle is flanked by numerous turrets, and has a venerable appearance.  The promenade presents a sort of sea view, as the extremity of the lake (which is about nine leagues in length, by two in breadth) is hid from the eye by the convexity of its waters, and the view is terminated by the sky.  At a little distance from the town, is a mineral spring, with a large building containing baths and a pump-room.

I found the waters were strongly impregnated with sulphur.  Here is a celebrated school, containing about 250 boys; the annual expense for each boarder is not less than fifty louis.

We proceeded in the diligence to Neufchatel, through the towns of Granson, St. Aubin, and Boudri.  The banks of the lake present a continued succession of vineyards, which afford the best red wine in Switzerland.  The conductor of our voiture amused us a good deal by his eccentricity.  He seemed thoroughly happy and contented; and when an old gentleman of the party wished for a bag of crowns that were put into the carriage, to be conveyed to Berne, the conductor declared, he was not like Napoleon, and wished for nothing he had not.  We found that the establishment of a game licence had occasioned some discontent in this country.  The quantity of game is said to have greatly diminished.  One gentleman told me, they sometimes hunted wild boars on the mountains near France.  The roads here have been much shortened by a new line of communication which has been lately opened, and the bridge at Serrier of a single arch over a deep valley, (which formerly obliged travellers to make a considerable circuit) has a very handsome as well as useful effect.  The town of Neufchatel contains between 4 and 5,000 inhabitants; it is partly built on a hill, where stand the church and castle, and partly on a plain near the lake, on the borders of which are handsome public walks and further improvements are carrying on.  The elegant appearance of many of the private houses proves the wealth of their owners.