GENEVA.

Lake Leman woos me with its crystal face,

The mirror where the stars and mountains view
The stillness of their aspect in each trace

Its clear depth yields of their far height and hue.

BYRON.

THE city of Geneva claims the distinction of high antiquity. It is frequently mentioned by the name it now bears in the Commentaries of Julius Cæsar.

It became a republic in the year 1535, and by degrees acquired the form of government which is maintained to the present day. Its earlier history, however, is involved in unusual obscurity; and notwithstanding the ingenious speculations of many who have endeavoured to reconcile the conflicting testimony of ancient writers, none have hitherto succeeded in removing the veil with which tradition and ignorance have so long obscured it. These tenebræ seculorum will be a sufficient excuse for not pursuing such an inquiry, more especially as Geneva presents us with subjects far more interesting than the investigation of remote tradition.

The

The city is built at the head of the Leman lake, which is considered the finest piece of water in Europe. waters abound with fish, and are famous for trout, which are often found of a prodigious size. At the opposite end the Rhone falls into the lake, which at some distance separates into two rapid streams, forming a small island in

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the town, and then re-uniting pursues its course into France. The lake is bordered on one side by the Pays de Vaud, a country which was formerly conquered by the Canton of Bern from the Dukes of Savoy. This may, indeed, be considered one of the most enchanting spots in Europe. As far as the eye can reach it is studded with towns, hamlets, gardens, and vineyards, and is bounded by the hills of Mount Jura. The Savoy side has a wilder and more romantic appearance, presenting a pleasing contrast to the Pays de Vaud. Huge mountains and tremendous precipices meet the eye on all sides, rising behind each other in every wild and fantastic form with which the imagination may choose to invest them. On the one side Nature is displayed in her most sublime and awful form, while on the other she exhibits her gayest and most attractive attire. Thus, by a happy combination of the softest imagery with the grander and more majestic scenery, the neighbourhood of Geneva abounds with objects of surpassing interest. The hand of Nature has indeed marked the scene as one of her happiest labours. Every material is here combined that the poet or the painter could desire to excite the imagination or to stimulate a lingering fancy. The silver lake, which extends like a huge mirror from shore to shore, reflecting from its bright and polished surface the numberless beauties that adorn its banks, the lofty mountains that rear on every side their majestic heads, some clothed with eternal snows, and others delighting the eye with freshness and verdure, and the city itself, embosomed in its woods and waters, present a scene which, for harmonious combination and variety of imagery, must stand unrivalled, even