The Ascent of the Matterhorn

In the year 1860, shortly before leaving England for a loncontinental tour, the late Mr. William Longman requested me to make for him some sketches of the great Alpine peaks. At this time I had only a literary acquaintance with mountaineering, and had even not seen--much less set foot upon--a mountain. Amongst the peaks which were upon my list was Mont Pelvoux, in Dauphine. The sketches that were required of it were to celebrate the triumph of some Englishmen who intended to make its ascent. They came--they saw--but they did not conquer. By a mere chance I fell in with a very agreeable Frenchman who accompanied this party, and was pressed by him to return to the assault. In 186we did so, with my friend Macdonald--and we conquered. This was the origin of my scrambles amongst the Alps.