grand hôtel de la paix genève

Geneva 1^st October

My Dear Constance

My journey has hitherto been prosperous. Two miles before reaching Fribourg the railroad crosses the river Sarine over a lofty viaduct, the view there is very grand. I stayed 4 hours at Fribourg. I went to the Zähringer Hof hotel which is very good & in the best situation. It is very reasonable in charges, my coffee cost only ½ a franc, which would have been 1½ francs at the other hotels we have been at. True I had no bread, which may have made some difference. The Z. Hof omnibus has 4 fine horses, which shows its preeminence; and the low steep hill requires them. When you cross the bridge You come to the remarkable pebble bank I remembered & spoke of the other day. The workmen are now employed in breaking them up for road material, and there are immense heaps already piled up for use, but they will never be able to use the 100^th part of what the hill contains. It is very convenient for the geologist to find so many pebbles broken for him, so that he can examine their structure – They were once rolled about by the waves on some ancient seashore – I could not find one granite pebble, while at Thun granite pebbles were abundant. The bridge crosses the valley of Gotteron (I think it is calld) – There is a good carriage road in this valley, shady in the afternoon, it is a deep gorge & stops after 2 miles, without leading anywhere. I took a walk to the Bellevue – If you like to go there the directions will help you to find it. Take a little carriage, cross the bridge & then cross the Second bridge (a new suspension one), then the road goes up hill about a mile, till you come to a church and the hotel des Trois Tours standing together. There a road turns off to the left with a direction post “à Bellevue” in about ½ a mile you get there. It is a rural seat among parks & woods with a fine view of Fribourg – Beyond the Bellevue a scrambling path continues which would please the girls to explore among Beech and Pine woods & probably extending to a great distance –

I left Fribourg by the train at 4 P.M. after going a mile or two the view suddenly becomes magnificent extending over many ranges of hills and vallies – The solitary mountain of Molesson is a conspicuous object. The road continues generally on a sort of terrace, on the edge of an elevated tableland or plateau. You pass the pretty town of Romont situated on a hill with 2 or 3 towers. A mile or two after passing Romant we suddenly came in sight of M^t Blanc – It was very distant, but the weather being remarkably clear was well seen and recognized – It only lasted 3 minutes & then we plunged into a long dreary tunnel where everything was pitchdark (economy preventing lamps in the Carriage) – When after getting clear of the woods & neighbouring hills, several miles further on, we came in sight of M^t Blanc again the rosy light of sunset was upon it. Soon afterward we began to skirt the lake of Geneva at a great height above the water. The sun was set, but the glowing evening skies & crescent moon over the waters, made a beautiful picture! I slept at Lausanne – I don’t think the hotels there, or here, are at all full. I came on here this morning before breakfast. I propose to go on to Macon at 4 P.M. & to Paris tomorrow, I hope to find a letter at Paris saying you are much better. Love to all

Your aff^te

Henry

Tell Bayer the luggage sent from Lucerne 6 articles, is safe in the magazine at this Hotel.