The Grxcian Alps pines Gr.ecte) continue to follow a northerly direction, forming an irregular chain of moun tains, between Mount Cenis, and the Great St Bernard, having Savoy and the Tarentaise to the west, and Pied mont, with the dutchy of Aosta, to the cast. It is now usually called the Little St Bernard. Its ancient name, according to Pliny, was derived from Hercules, who, with his Grecian followers, traversed this chain of the Alps in his way home from Spain. (Plitiy,lib. iii. p. 67.) ',ivy, however, rejects this story as fabulous. But whatever may be the origin of the name, it is certain, that at the time when the Romans invaded Gaul, this portion of the Alps was distinguished by the name of Graix; and that the people who inhabited the country to the west, were called Centrones, while those on the north east of this chain took the name of Scllasses, or Salassi.
The Alps now assume a new direction, running from south-west to north-east, and are divided into two great ridges, usually called the Helvetian and Pennine chains; the former constituting the boundary of the Vallais on the north, the other separating it from Italy on the south. Both these ridges consist of a number of mountains, which have received distinct appellations. The northern chain, which commences at Mount Sa netz, and terminates in St Gothard, presents the follow ing conspicuous summits: viz. the Blumlis-alp, the Geishorn, the Gemmi, the Tungfrau, or Virgin horn, the interior and exterior Eiger, the Schreckhorn, or Peak of Terror, the Grimsel, the Furca, and the St Gothard, to which we may add the Badur on the north east of St Gothard, and the Glaciers to the north of the further Rhine.
The Pennine Alps begin with some eminenres on west of Mont Blanc, and extend eastward to the grew St Gotha] d, where they join the lit:halal, chain. southern branch comprehends the following lolty moun tains, viz. Mont Blanc, Great St Bernard, Mont Maudii, Combin, Cervin, and Mont Rosa. From an incidental resemblance between the words Pomi and Pennini, some have been led to conjecture, that Hannibal passed this part of the Alps, and gave to this lofty chain the name of Pennini, in honour of his followers. supposi tion, homier, is inconsistent with the common opinion of historians, and is rendered quite unnecessary, When we reflect that the word lien in the Celtic language sig nifies a head, or elevated summit, a more obvious and sim ple method of accounting for the on gin of the name. The eastern part of this chain, comprehending the mountains from Mont Rosa to St Gothard, is sometimes denominated the Lepontine Alps, from the name of a people who inhabited the country near the sources of the Rhone and the 're sino.
After the union of the two great central chains near Adula or St (irothard, the Alps proceed in an easterly direction through the smith part of the country of the Grisons, assuming the general name of Rmetian Alps. The same appellation is usually given to the mountains of the Tyrol, and that part of the chain which bounded the ancient Venetian territory on the north, though some choose to distinguish them by the names of Tridentine and Noric Alps.
To the Rh.ctian succeed the Carmic and Julian Alps. the former extending to the springs of the Sas e, and the latter to the source of the Knipe. This part of the Alps is sometimes called .4111(.8 renet c and .1Ipcs Pan nonicte• Here the great Alpine chain terminates, after haying traversed a space Of nearly 600 miles. Some authors arc disposed to lengthen the chain considerably at both extremities, by connecting the Julian Alps with the mountains of Dalmatia, Macedonia, and Thrace ; and by tracing the western branch of the Maritime Alps through the south of France, till it terminates in the Pyrenees. As we are unqualified to judge respecting the ex pediency of this arrangement, we shall content our selves with this short sketch of the geographical posi tion of those mountains which arc commonly known by the name of Alps.
After having given a general outline of this great range of mountains, and pointed out the relative po sition of their different subdivisions, we shall now intro duce our readers to sonic of the more remarkable phxnomena exhibited on the different parts of their stir face. As any general description would convey but a very imperfect idea of those interesting scenes, while a minute detail would be inconsistent. w ith the limits pre scribed to this article, we propose to select a particular subdivision, and to conduct our readers, by such a route, as will enable them to form some general idea of Alpine scenery. We need scarcely observe, that the great cen tral chain seems the best calculated for our purpose. We shall therefore follow the common route from the lake of Lucerne to St Gothard, cross the Furca and Grimsel, view the Helvetian chain on the north side, descend into the Vallais by the pass of Gemmi. examine the neighbourhood of Mont Blanc, and the Great St Bernard, and finish with Mont Rosa, one of the most remarkable mountains in the Pennine Alps.