TALBOT931

Kandersteg,

Wednesday Ev^g
July 18^th 1821

We have had the finest day since we have been in Switzerland. The Alps were quite clear all day, I have no doubt you had a magnificent sunset at Berne. We came a romantic and beautiful drive all the way from Thun, eight leagues, round the base of the Niesen, & thro’ the valleys of Frutigen & Kander. We came over a bridge suspended very high over the river Kander where a young lady in love threw herself over some years ago, but she was not killed. This is not the natural channel of the river, it used to flow into the Aar near Berne, but it did so much mischief by floods that the government turned it into another channel & it now falls into the lake of Thun. I have got another guide, an old man, I like him very much. <Sturi?> was not in the way, unluckily he went to the mountains yesterday – From the inn here you have a magnificent view of the snowy peak which my guide calls the Aletsch Gletscher, but I don’t think it can be that. Its dazzling whiteness on the dark blue sky produced an effect finer than can be described. It lies at the head of the little valley of Öschinen, vide the Map. N.B. I could not find Keller’s map, ¹ so have taken my own, with me. We ascended part of this valley in the evening, as far as a fine waterfall which I think not much inferior to the Staubbach; ² – It is in that style, about as much water, & falls at least six hundred feet; – We would have gone on but our watches warned us to return; so we sat down & watched the rosy hue of sunset fade on the peak of snow – We were very lucky: the mountain was quite clear at sunset, & soon after it was enveloped in clouds – We put about 25 napoleons in our pockets, which we intended should last nearly as many days, but we find we spend 3 napoleons a day instead of 1; so you will soon see us back again; –

Your Aff^te Son

W.H.F. Talbot

½ past 9.

It is a serene & lovely night, the mountains are all clear again, but hardly to be seen as the Moon is not yet risen –

Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Poste Restante
Bern