PREFACE. HE publications of the Religious Tract Society have, for some years past, contained numerous views of Swiss scenery by Mr. E. WHYMPER, who is preeminent amongst modern engravers for his knowledge of mountain forms and his power of delineating them. His intimate acquaintance with Switzerland has afforded him facilities for its pictorial illustration which few artists have enjoyed. From the great merit of his designs, it has been thought desirable to present them in a collected and permanent form, with the advantages of fine toned paper and careful printing. In order to give somewhat more of completeness to this series of views, a few additional illustrations have been introduced. The letter-press which accompanies the engravings is quite subordinate to them. The design of the Editor has been to trace, as briefly as possible, the route marked out for him by the artist, adding such occasional descriptions of scenery as may serve to render the volume available for those who have never seen the places themselves. The material for this has been gathered in a course of frequent, almost annual, visits to Switzerland during the last fifteen years. A few historical and biographical notices of the great deeds which have been wrought or the great men who have lived in the districts under review, will, it is hoped, add to the interest of the volume, and prove suggestive of profitable thought to the tourist. Notwithstanding the endless variety of grandeur and beauty which Switzerland contains, a narrative of the impressions produced by them upon a single mind must always be characterised by a certain sameness and monotony. The description of one Swiss mountain, or lake, or valley, or waterfall will, with some modifications, apply to the others. A reiteration of similar phrases, an often-repeated recital of similar emotions of awe or delight, can only produce weariness in the reader. The Editor has, therefore, aimed to give variety, by frequently introducing quotations, in poetry or prose, from some of the innumerable authors who have made Switzerland their theme. He desires especially to express his obligations to Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co.-the publishers of Mr. Ruskin's works-for permission to enrich his pages by several eloquent passages from Modern Painters, the Stones of Venice, and the Seven Lamps of Architecture. CONTENTS. NORTH-EASTERN SWITZERLAND AND THE RHINE. VARIOUS ROUTES: THAT BY BELGIUM AND THE RHINE SELECTED- PAGE 15 THE FOREST CANTONS. LUCERNE THE RIGHI-LAKE OF LUCERNE-ENGLEBERG-THE TITLIS 37 THE SIMPLON ROAD AND THE SWISS-ITALIAN LAKES. THE ROUTES INTO THE LAKE DISTRICT· THE CONSTRUCTION OF 55 83 THE BERNESE OBERLAND. PAGE ΤΟ THE OBERLAND - AND THE RHONE VALLEY THE FROM ZERMATT RHONE GLACIER AND THE GRIMSEL-HANDECK-MEYRINGEN-THE NOIRE THE MONT BLANC DISTRICT. THE TOUR OF MONT BLANC-THE COL DE BALME AND THE TÊTE 107 149 WESTERN SWITZERLAND. THE RHONE VALLEY AND THE CANTON DE VAUD CHAMPERY-THE CHAMPS-ROUGEMONT LAKE LEMAN-CASTLE OF CHILLON-GENEVA-CALVIN MADAME 175 |