We saw no marks of smoke or fire, nor any thing like the ovens of which the historian speaks. Now then for the question. Is this the cavern mentioned by Leger1?

It answers to his description in many particulars. 1. In its situation on Mont Vandelin.

2. In being near the hamlets of Bonetti and Chabriol.

3. In its capability of sheltering a great number of people.

4. In containing a fountain.

5. In its productions, shrubs and plants. 6. In its access by a tunnel or chimney.

7. In its admitting one only to enter at a time. 8. In its being defensible by one against many. Chanforan said, that he once scrambled down the cliff from the gallery, but that it was a bravado of imminent danger, which nothing could induce him to hazard a second time, and that it was utterly impossible to ascend to it in the same direction. The arguments against its being Leger's cavern, are these:

1. There are no vestiges of its having been enlarged or improved by artificial means,-" Taillée par art."

2. It no longer answers to the description of being vaulted, and formed like an oven,-" Voutée en forme d'une four." The form, however, may

1 Liv. i, p. 9.

have been changed, from the falling in, or decomposition, of the cliff.

3. There are no chinks or loop-holes, or any thing which serve for "fenestres ou sentinelles." On one side, that which I have described as being somewhat exposed to the fire of an enemy, there is the appearance of a recent fall, and here it is possible that there may have been the "fentes dans le rocher," of which Leger makes mention.

4. There are not, and cannot have been, any chambers,-" il y a quelque chambres."

5. There are no ovens, or resemblance of ovens, "un four pour cuire du pain." But there are large blocks of rock, which may have answered the purpose, before they fell from their places.

One of the peasants incautiously set fire to some of the dry leaves, which caused a great blaze, and left traces, which future explorers of the cavern may imagine to be proofs in favour of the tradition, which ennobles it.

The only discovery we made was that of a viper's skin.

After remaining about an hour in the gallery, and inscribing our names, or initials in the rock, we ascended by the same means by which we came down and though we could not feel confident that this was the "Merveilleuse Caverne," of which

1

I transcribe Leger's description: "C'est aussi en cette même communauté, sur une pointe de la montagne de Vandelin, où se voit encore une merveilleuse trace de la retraite, que l'Auteur

we had come in search,-yet we were pleased with our performance, and felt proud of having accomplished a feat of some difficulty.

Bonjour and Revel were in high glee, and Chanforan declared that he would preserve the fivefranc piece, which I gave him to the end of his life, as a memorial of the day's achievement. We reached San Margarita on our return at one o'clock-having been occupied eight hours in the adventure.

de la Nature y avoit préparée pour mettre ses enfans à couvert de toute la rage et la furie de leurs ennemis, dans les plus grandes extrémités, et comment ces pauvres fidèles s'en sont prevalus. C'est une grande caverne en un entre-deux de la montagne, ou plutôt du rocher de Vandelin, toute taillée dans le rocher, et par la nature, et par l'art, à peu prés ronde et voutée en forme d'un four, si spacieuse qu'elle peut contenir 300 ou 400 personnes : même il y des fentes dans le rocher qui servent de fenestres et sentinelles tout ensemble: il y a quelques chambres, une grande fontaine, et mêmes quelques arbres, et un four pour cuire du pain, et de plus l'on y voit encore des pieces d'une maits à pétrir extrêmement vieilles, et des pieces d'armoire: il est absolument impossible d'y entrer que par un seul trou par le haut: on n'y peut devaler qu'une seule personne à fois, qui se coule par cette fente, par des petits degrés coupés dans ce rocher, de sorte qu'une seule personne y estant dedans seulement avec une pique ou hallebarde, se peut defendre contre une armée toute entière." Liv. i. p. 9.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Departure from the Valleys-Appointment of the Suffragan Pastors of Massel and Rodoret-Influence of the Polignac Administration felt in the Valleys-Vaudois tribute to their English benefactors during the French domination-General observations as to the Religious Spirit which prevails among the Vaudois-Establishment of the Vaudois College.

AUGUST 16-20. A few days before our departure, a large party of pastors met at La Torre. They came to take leave of us. It was upon this occasion that an address to the king, drawn up with legal nicety, was read and considered, praying his majesty to take the case of his Vaudois subjects into consideration, and to repeal those enactments which are injurious to their personal and religious rights. The petition was temperately worded, and after having been carefully discussed, and cautiously weeded of every expression, which was likely to offend, it was unanimously approved by all present. The intention was to submit it to the Officers of the Table, who were to assemble on the 19th at San Germano, and with their sanction to obtain the signatures of all the notables, and then to present it to the king of Sardinia.

On the 20th of August, we said farewell to our friends at San Margarita, and reluctantly turned our backs upon the delightful spot, where we had passed so many happy days. To M. and Madame Bert, to their three daughters, Madame Bonjour, Julia, and Nancy, and to their son Amadée, and to M. Bonjour, we owe a debt of gratitude, which can never be repaid. During the whole time of our abode with them, it seemed to be their principal anxiety to study our wishes and to anticipate them, and from every branch of the family we received attentions which will endear them to us, as long as we live. The separation was not without tears; and many a long look did we turn upon them, while they were yet in sight, watching the progress of the carriage as it conveyed us away. At Turin we experienced similar attentions from M. Bert's elder son, Eugene, who is married to an English lady of good family. I regret very much that her confinement at the time prevented my making her acquaintance. I lament also that I saw but little of M. Vertu and his son, the friends of my first visit: our stay at Turin was so short.

Just before we reached Pinerolo on our journey homewards, we met the Moderator, the Moderator adjoint, the Secretary, and the two lay members of the Table, Messrs. Brezzi and Poëtti, who had come from San Germano, to give us their parting salutations. This mark of kindness was most