thro' the Plain, we arrived at the Place which they call La Cave, where the late Duke of Savoy, in the Year 70, ftruck out a Paffage thro' a rocky Mountain, that had always been before impaffable; performing that by the Force of Gun-Powder, which Thunderbolts or Earthquakes could fcarce have effected. This Paffage is a Quarter of an English Mile, made with incredible Labour, and the Expence of four Millions of Livres. At the Entrance into it, is the following pompous Infcription. Carolus Emanuel Secundus, Subaudia Dux, Pedemontani Princeps, Cypri. Rex, publicâ felicitate parta, fingulorum commodis intentus, breviorem, fecurioremque hanc viam regiam, a natura occulfam, Romanis intentatem, ceteris defparatam, everfis fcopolorum repagulis, æquata Montium iniquitate, quæ cervicibus impendebant præcipitia pedibus fubfternens, aternis populorum commercris patefecit.. At Chamberry we dined, the capital Town of Savoy. In our Way from thence to Montmelian, Nature feem'd quite to have chang❜d her Face. There cragged Rocks look'd horrid to the Eye, and Hills appear'd on every Side of fo ftupendious an Height, that the Company was divided, at a Diftance, whether they should believe them to be funny Clouds, or the fnowy Tops of Mountains. There appear'd a Hill with its Top quite hid in black Clouds; and beyond that Hill above these Clouds, fome higher Mountain fhew'd its hoary Head. With this ftrange Entertainment by the Way, we came at Night to Montmelian. On On the 22d, we fet forward in the Morning.. The Mountains appear'd to grow ftill more lofty. We dined that Day at Aiguebelle. In the Afternoon we proceeded on our Way fometimes through the Plain, and fometimes on the Side of the Alps, with which we were hemmed in on all Sides. We then began that Day to have the additional Diverfion of a Torrent, that ranfometimes with Fury beneath us, and of the Noise of the Cascades, or the Downfal of Waters, which fometimes came tumbling amain from the Precipices. We lay that Night at La Chambre. On the 23d, the Morning was very cold, which made us have difmal Apprehenfions of Mount Cenis, fince we felt its Influence fo feverely at fo great a Distance. We arrived by Noon at St. Michael; in the Afternoon we concontinued our Journey moftly upon the Sides of the Mountains, which were fometimes all covered with Pines, and fometimes cultivated, even in Places where one would fwear the thing were impoffible, for they were only not perpendicular.. We lay that Night at Modane. October 24. Madane is within a dozen Miles of Mount Cenis, and therefore the next Morning we felt the Cold more feverely. We went to Dinner at Laneburg, fituated at the Foot of Mount Cenis. As foon as we had dined, we fent our Horfes about, and getting upon Mules, began to afcend the Mountain. I could not forbear looking back now and then to contemplate the Town and the Vale beneath me. When I was arrived within a. hundred Yards of the Top, I could ftill difcern Laneburg at the Bottom, diftant three tedious Miles from me. What an amazing Distance! Think Think what an Impreffion a Place must make upon you, which you should fee as far under you, as it is from your Houfe to Hampficad. And here I wish I had Force to do Right to this renown'd Paffage of the Alps. 'Tis an eafy thing to defcribe Rome or Naples to you, because you have seen something yourself that holds, at leaft, fome Refemblance with them; but impoffible to fet a Mountain before your Eyes that is inacceffible almost to the Sight, and wearies the very Eye to climb it: for when I tell you that we were arriv'd within a hundred Yards of the Top, I mean only the Plain, thro' which we afterwards paffed, but there is another vaft Mountain ftill upon that. If thefe Hills were firft made with the World (as has been a long time thought) and Nature defign'd them only as a Mound, to inclofe her Garden, Italy, then we may well fay of her, what fome affirm of great Wits, that her carelefs, irregular and boldeft Strokes, are moft admirable; for the Alps are Works which she feems to have defign'd, and executed too, in Fury; yet fhe moves us lefs, where the studies to please us more. I am delighted, 'tis true, with the Profpect of Hills and Vallies, of flowry Meads and murmuring Streams; yet it is a Delight that is confiftent with Reafon, a Delight that creates and improves Meditation. But tranfporting Pleasure follow'd the Sight of the Alps; and what unusual Transports, think you, were thofe, that were mingled with Horrors, and fometimes almost with Defpair? But if thefe Mountains were not a Creation, but form'd by univerfal Deftruction, when the Arch, with a mighty Flaw, diffolved, and fell into the vaft Abyss (which furely is the best Opinion) then are thefe Ruins of the old World the greatest Wonders of the new; for they are not only vaft, but horrid, hideous, ghaftly Ruins. After we had galloped a League over the Plain, and came at laft to defcend, through the very Bowels, as it were, of the Mountain ; (for we feem'd to be inclosed on all Sides) what an aftonishing Profpect was there! Ruins upon Ruins in monftrous Heaps, and Heaven and Earth confounded. The uncouth Rocks that were above us, Rocks that were void of all Form, but what they had received from Ruin, the frightful View of the Precipices, and the foaming Waters that threw themselves headlong down from them, made up fuch a Concert for the Eye, as that fort of Mufic does for the Ear, in which Horror can be join'd with Harmony. I am afraid that you will think I have faid too much; yet if you had but seen what I have done, you would furely think that I have faid too little: however, Hyperboles might eafily here be forgiven. The Alps appear to be Nature's Extravagances, and who fhould blush to be guilty of Extravagances in Words that make mention of hers? But 'tis time to proceed. We defcended in Chairs. The Defcent was four English Miles. We paffed thro' Novalefe, fituate at the Foot of Mount Cenis on the Side of Italy, and lay that Night at Sufe. We dined the next Day at Villane, and thro' a pleasant Valley came that Night to this Place. Turin, I am, &c. LET CIII. LETTER Mr. Locke to the Reverend Mr. King.. Sir, YOURS of the 4th Inftant I received; and: though I am confcious I do not deferve thofe advantageous things which your Civility fays of me in it, give me leave to affure you, that the Offer of my Service to you, which you are pleased to take notice of, is that Part which I fhall not fail to make good on all Occafions. You afk me, What is the shortest and fureft Way for a young Gentlemen to attain a true Knowledge of the Chriftian Religion, in the full and just Extent of it? For fo I understand your Queftion; if I have mistaken it, you must fet me right. And to this I have a fhort and plain Answer. Let him fudy the holy Scripture, efpecially the New Teftament, wherein are contained the Words of eternal Life; it has God for its Author, Salvation for its End, and Truth, without any Mixture of Error, for its Matter. So that it is a Wonder to me, how any one, profeffing Chriftianity, that would ferioufly fet himself to know his Religion, fhould be in any Doubt where to employ his Search, and lay out his Pains for his Information, when he knows a Book, wherein all is contained pure and intire, and whither,. at last, every one muft have recourse, to verify that of it which he finds any where else. The other Queftion, which I think I may call two or three, will require a larger Answer. As to Morality, which, I take it, is the first in thofe things which you inquire after, that is beft. |