and on other correlative matters. There are no difficulties in the way
of getting up to it from the Zermatt side, tough job as it is from
Macugnaga, and we might readily rig a tent under shelter of the ridge.
That would lick old Saussure into fits. All the Zermatt guides put the
S. Theodul pass far beneath the Weissthor in point of difficulty; and
you may tell Mrs. Hooker that they think the S. Theodul easier than the
Monte Moro. The best of the joke was that I lost my way in coming down
the Riffelberg to Zermatt the same evening, so that altogether I had a
long day of it. The next day I walked from Zermatt to Visp (recovering
Baedeker by the way), but my shoes were so knocked to pieces that I got
a blister on my heel. Next day Voiture to Susten, and then over Gemmi to
Kandersteg, and on Thursday my foot was so queer I was glad to get a
retour to Interlaken. I found most interesting and complete evidences of
old moraine deposits all the way down the Leuk valley into the Rhine
valley, and I believe those little hills beyond Susten are old terminal
moraines too. On the other side I followed moraines down to Frutigen,
and great masses of glacial gravel with boulders, nearly to the Lake of
Thum.

My wife is better, but anything but strong.

Chamounix, August 16, 1857.

My wife sends me intelligence of the good news you were so kind as to
communicate to her. I need not tell you how rejoiced I am that
everything has gone on well, and that your wife is safe and well. Offer
her my warmest congratulations and good wishes. I have made one
matrimonial engagement for Noel already, otherwise I would bespeak the
hand of the young lady for him.