Personal narrative of an excursion to the hospice of the Great St. Bernard / By R. Hibbert Taylor.

  • Taylor, R. Hibbert.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Personal narrative of an excursion to the hospice of the Great St. Bernard / By R. Hibbert Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / At the period of Saussure’s visit to the Hospice he was cure of Liddes, and frequently accompanied that distinguished naturalist in his excursions. In the cabinet are also deposited many interesting relics, obtained from the an¬ cient Temple of Jupiter on this mountain, such as votive tablets, and figures in bronze and other metals, arms, and coins. Among the latter is a gold coin of Lysimachus (King of Thrace, 332, B. C.) in fine preservation. From the museum we proceeded to the library, which contains a good collection of books, chiefly theological. I noticed several English works upon various sub¬ jects ; and among the theological, a good copy of Augustine’s works in Latin, in 16 vols., 4to., printed at Venice. We next visited the chapel, which pre¬ sents nothing worthy of notice, except a monument to Dessaix, who fell at the battle of Marengo. It was erected by order of Napoleon, and he laid the first stone himself. In conducting us through the chapel, the monk took care that we should pass the treasury box, in which we deposited a votive offering to their hospitality. It is a delicate mode of reminding one of their necessities, as no recompense is ever demanded. Before quitting the Hospice I paid a visit to the Morgue, which is a low building, with an open grated window, situated at a little distance from the eastern extremity of the convent. In it are deposited the remains of those who have perished on the mountain, as interment would be impracticable in the frozen and rocky soil. The bodies speedily wither and dry up, from the rapid evaporation which takes place at this elevation, and are thus preserved for years, retaining the posture, and sometimes the dress, in which they have been found. On looking in I observed a great quantity of bones, white and broken, probably the accumulation of centuries. There were about a dozen bodies, all of them dried like mummies. Two of them I particularly re¬ marked. One was placed upright in a corner; his glazed eyes still beamed with a wild glare, and he seemed to be looking anxiously forward ; a piece of white garment half covered his head, and was drawn round the body by one arm ; his brow was contracted, and the whole appearance suggested the idea of a man perishing from intense cold; the other arm supported a figure which seemed to be kneeling, whether male or female I could not determine; the head was thrown back, and the attitude was expressive of hopeless despair. It was a horrible sight, and conveyed more forcibly than words could do, a tale of suffering and woe. What a fine subject it would have afforded to a painter of imaginative genius, and how striking the effect, if these ghastly lineaments had been pourtrayed upon canvas ! At half-past eight, a. m. we bade adieu to the good brethren of St. Bernard, and set out for Martigny, which we reached at five in the evening, thinking ourselves well repaid for the fatigue of the journey, and bearing away a most pleasing remembrance of the Hospice and its inmates. PRINTED BY J. ROSE, SOUTH CASTLE STREET.
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