The narrative of a journey undertaken in the years 1819, 1820 and 1821 through France, Italy, Savoy, Switzerland, parts of Germany bordering on the Rhine, Holland and the Netherlands : $b comprising incidents that occurred to the author, who has long suffered under a total deprivation of sight; with various points of information collected on his tourHolman, James
History
The narrative of a journey undertaken in the years 1819, 1820 and 1821 through France, Italy, Savoy, Switzerland, parts of Germany bordering on the Rhine, Holland and the Netherlands : $b comprising incidents that occurred to the author, who has long suffered under a total deprivation of sight; with various points of information collected on his tour
Holman, James
Europe -- Description and travel
We arrived at Aix les Baignes for breakfast, after which we took a
cursory view of the town and baths, which were built by the Emperor
Gratian, and with both of which we were much pleased. I attempted in
vain, to ascertain the nature of the waters; they referred me to a
book-seller, who shewed me a treatise in praise of their virtues, but all
the information I could gain respecting the point in question, was, that
they contained sulphur; which we had previously detected by the test of
our noses.
After leaving Aix, we proceeded to Ramilly; about midway between these
places is a waterfall on the right, but at a distance from the road,
which is visited by most of the strangers who take the waters at Aix.
In the evening we reached Frangy, where, notwithstanding we had travelled
by ourselves in the voiture, we were not without a supper party, for we
were favoured with the company of no less than four vitturenos. They were
so far pleasant company, that they treated us with respect, and amused us
with their conversation respecting the number of their passengers, fares,
&c.
On Friday, the 20th of July, we set off in great spirits, in the prospect
of reaching Geneva for breakfast; soon after leaving Frangy, which lies
in a deep galley, we began to ascend a steep mountain, the top of which,
it took us four hours to arrive at; this accomplished, we descended
again, and shortly afterwards entered Switzerland, that country—
“Where rougher climes a nobler race display;
Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread,
And force a churlish soil for scanty bread.”
At eleven o’clock we made our entry into the city of Geneva.
CHAP. XXVI.
GENEVA.—LAUSANNE.
On arriving at Geneva, we took up our residence at the Hotel de Corona,
and discharged our vittureno, a little dark-looking Savoyard, but with a
great oddity of temper, being either in the extreme of sulkiness, or good
humour; he was, however, so quietly disposed, that he slept the greater
part of the way, either on his horses or in the cabriolet. The manner
in which he took his leave of us was singular enough; after inquiring
whether we were satisfied with his attentions, and being answered in the
affirmative, he proceeded to say that he did not ask for a buona-mana, as
he knew such a donative was excluded by our agreement, but that he hoped
we would give something, no matter whether a franc or a Napoleon, to
_prove_ that we were satisfied with him.
When at Edinburgh, I had formed an acquaintance with a gentleman of this
place, Dr. P⸺; one of my first objects was to find him out, and I had
the pleasure of succeeding: after expressing much surprise, he kindly
offered me his services during our stay at Geneva.
The short time we remained at this interesting place, made it impossible
that we could enjoy all the gratifications which it was capable of
affording; we determined, however, to make the most of the little time
which we could afford.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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