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vate individuals like ourselves, if it had not been a very timely succour and certainly the circumstance never could have appeared in print, but with the object of drawing attention to the wants of a people, who have been too much overlooked by those who have the means of aiding them.

Who knows but, as the flood of time rolls on, some successor of the primate of England may be reduced to the same condition; that the archiepiscopal chair of Canterbury may no longer be filled by a mitred prelate, that the functions and arduous duties may outlive the well appointed dignity of the sacred office, and that some humble pastor, like Rodolphe Peyrani, with the empty title of Bishop, may be obliged to the compassion of strangers for temporary relief. I am only imagining a fatal recurrence of what may happen again. The visible and Episcopal Church of England was once dwindled down to a few faithful adherents of Charles the Second, who formed his little court, and more than shared his need. May heaven avert a second such blow, and may the honoured members of the English hierarchy continue to exert themselves, as some of them have hitherto done, to preserve the remnant of a Church, from which their own pure Establishment derives most of its doctrines!

Reader, the sufferings of Rodolphe Peyrani are at an end. He died about three months after our interview with him. His spirit could no longer bear up against a complication of maladies and sorrows, and now, all that I remember of him is literally like a dream that is past, or a tale that is told. His death was communicated to me in a letter from one of my Vaudois friends, M. Bert, the pastor of La Torre. Its simple eulogy does honour both to the writer, and to him of whom it was written.

"Dans la supposition que vous n'avez pas entretenir de relation avec d'autres personnes de ce pays, c'est à moi un

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triste devoir de vous annoncer que nous avons perdu M. Peyrani, Modérateur, depuis le fin d'Avril. C'est dans son genre une perte irréparable."

The father is happily gone to his rest, but it is painful to speak of his son, of that excellent young man whom we were all so disposed to esteem. He is now studying, preparatory to taking orders, at Lausanne, and existing upon a pittance which is not enough for the necessaries of life. I heard of him lately. He was invited to the house of an English family, but his garb was so indifferent that he could not accept the invitation, until a fellow-student had the kindness to lend him his clothes for the day.

An anecdote, in illustration of the talents of the late Moderator Peyrani, of his useful application of them, and the obscurity in which they were buried, must conclude my melancholy narrative.

Haud facile emergunt, quorum virtutibus obstat

Res angusta domi.

A few years ago a Roman Catholic Curè, of Geneva, wrote a pamphlet in defence of the adoration of saints, and image worship. It was much admired, had a great sale, and was thought by the friends of the Curè to be unanswerable. The Protestants of Geneva were burning to see a reply to

The author is most happy in having the opportunity of reporting, that several unsolicited donations have been remitted to him, to enable this good young man to pursue his studies more comfortably at Lausanne. He has written his acknowledgements of this succour, which, however, is only temporary, in a strain of piety worthy of his venerable father. "Je me bornerai donc à vous assurer, que je regard mes nouveaux Bienfaiteurs, comme des moyens dont la bonne Providence se sert pour me tirer de la situation pénible où je me trouve. Cette grande considération sera pour moi un nouveau motif de la bénir sans cesse, et de m'attacher de plus en plus au service de notre bon Sauveur." Until he received this assistance, the poor youth was indebted to the charity of the benevolent M. Monastier, a professor of the University, for his daily dinner. M. Monastier himself has but a very contracted income, and a large family. Note to Second Edition.

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this able tract, but none appeared, to the disappointment and mortification of every good Lutheran and Calvinist. Just at the crisis of its popularity, Mr. Lowther, the author of "Brief Observations on the present State of the Waldenses," happened to be on his visit to the Valleys, and in an interview with M. Peyrani, expressed his regret that no answer had been made to this redoubtable pamphlet. The moderator drew some papers from his desk, and shewed Mr. Lowther that he himself had drawn up a reply.

"But why have you not published it?" it was asked. "Because I have not the means. I cannot print it at my own expence, and know of nobody who will undertake it."

Mr. Lowther begged, and obtained consent to take charge of the MS. and to send it to the press.

It was printed, had a rapid run, and was so admirably well written, was so convincing, so keen and cutting, that the Popish polemic bought up all the remaining unsold pamphlets of his own, out of shame. Mr. Lowther assured me that he was unable to buy a single impression, though he offered a louis for one, when he wanted to have it inserted in a volume of miscellaneous articles, and that he was obliged to borrow one, and to have it written out in the place of a printed copya.

"Lettre de Ferrari à M. Cellerier," was the title of the first pamphlet, and "Réponse à la Lettre de M. Ferrari, Curè du Grand Sacconex, par un Protestant," was the title of the second.

CHAPTER V.

Leave Pomaretto-Alpine scenery-Pinerolo-Ancient inn-Excursion to the Valley of Luzerna-Mount Viso-IntoleranceAnecdote-Vaudois Heroism-Anecdote-Patriarchal Simplicity-Church of San Giovanni-Ludicrous Bigotry-Lovely vale of San Giovanni-Beautiful Landscape-La Torre-Too frequent intermarriages-Church of La Torre-Its romantic situation-M. Bert-Attended service in the Church-Monumental inscriptions-Peasantry-Village inn and accommodation-Murderous plot against the Protestants-M. OdettiThe plot-Fanaticism-Rendezvous of conspirators-General Godin-March of the Vaudois soldiers for the preservation of their families-Threatened by the torrents-Vespers bell, signal of destruction-Work of assassination-The assassins-Retribution-Injustice-General Zimmerman-Immunities and privileges granted to Vaudois-Grievances of the Vaudois-Absurd restrictions-Imposts-Disqualifications- AgricultureTrade-Laughable mistake.

AFTER our most interesting visit to Pomaretto, we returned to Perosa in that serious and meditative mood, which the nature of our enquiries was calculated to produce. The obscurity of evening was increased by the masses of rock that projected above and around, and every object corresponded with the dreariness of the scenery, and the gloom that affected us.

* "At every step,

Solemn and slow, the shadows blacker fell,
And all was awful listening gloom around."

As we passed one of the insecure bridges that are thrown across the torrent, we met a string of mules, whose cautious

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steps reminded us, that it is not inconvenience only which attends a traveller in this wild and rugged region, but that perils also wait upon his path, and that nature is too sparing of her bounty, in the valley of the Clusone, to suffer its inhabitants to provide against more than the absolute necessities of the hour. A few loose planks formed the largest of the bridges which connect Pomaretto and Perosa. Before next winter they will most likely be washed away. The furnace of a smelting house was blazing as we passed it: its strong glare in the darkness of the night served to discover, and to set off some of the savage features of this rude glen, and seeing them, as we did, to perfection, we could not feel surprised that the Alps should furnish materials for so many tales and romances, when they present such outlines to the eye, which the imagination may fill up with all that can inspire wonder or terror.

We returned to and slept at Pinerolo, at an inn or hotel which must once have been the residence of some bold baron, but has been long since converted into one of an humbler designation. A large court-yard serves now for the receptacle of carts and other vehicles, a gallery runs round the building, and opens into several corridors, which communicate with large and dreary apartments; some gilded wainscoting, and the remains of what were once ornamental cornices, proclaim the departed grandeur of other days. The kitchen is an immense and vaulted chamber, the ceiling and walls of which have not been whitened for years; it resounded when we walked across it, as if it were constructed over a range of subterraneous passages. We had a capital supper, and among other things a large dish of the very small fish, a minute species of the eel, which is considered so delicious in Piemont, and some of the muscat wine, which pleased us so much at Perosa; but this good cheer did not reconcile us to what followed. Upon asking for our bed-rooms, we were told that we were to sleep where we had supped. There were but two beds, and these it was thought

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