The scenery which is presented to the traveller between Villeneuve and Vevay, and as far as Lausanne, is certainly the finest and the most varied in Switzerland, and we had an opportunity of viewing it in the finest weather, and at that season of the year when nature developes all her beau ties. In travelling down the Vallais along the banks of the Rhone, after passing the village of Rennaz, we first obtain a view of the lake and the Pays de Vaud. Over its blue waters appears the town of Vevay, at the bottom of a round hill, and in the distance rises the hill and town of Gourze, finely projected against the dark blue range of Jura. A little farther on, the town of Villeneuve is seen on the very margin of the lake, situated at the mouth of a fine ly wooded valley, and the lake gradually discloses itself as we approach the town. The road is now almost washed by the blue waves. The dark flanks of the Savoy hills, clothed with gloomy forests, and occasionally enlivened with smiling villages, form a fine transition from the ver dant borders of the lake to their peaked and rugged sum mits. Numbers of vessels open their white sails to the wind, and on the Swiss side, one town appears after another, disclosing a succession of the most sublime and picturesque views. The old castle of Chilton, almost immerged in the lake, and the ivy clad precipices which overhang it, next attract the notice of the traveller ; the hills on the right now retire from the lake, and open more extensive pros pects. The wooded recess which embraces the hamlet of
Vaiteau, is the commencement of this new scenery, and at the village of Montreux, both the distant and near objects are combined in forming the loveliest landscape we have ever seen. The terraced vineyards begin to diminish the picturesque effect of the woods and rocks, and the beauty of the scenery declines as we approach to Vevay. The view of the lake of Geneva from the terrace of the cathe dral of Vevay is much admired ; but we had the good for tune to be wandering along the promenade on the margin of the lake, when the sun had just begun to descend be hind the ridge ofJura. A bright glow of purely yellow light gilded the whole of the western sky. A warm tinge of red appeared at a greater altitude, and the whole expanse of the lake towards the west, shone with the liveliest purple. As the sun descended, the yellow tints of the sky gradually deepened into orange, and the purple colour of the water declined into a more sober hue. In turning the eye to the south, this lively scene became less brilliant. The moun tains of Chablais faintly reflected the red twilight, and the Alps of the Vallais, and the part of the lake which inter vened, were involved in almost impenetrable darkness.