sobriety, modesty, chastity, and temperance; and their aversion to taverns, balls, vanity, anger, scurrility, detraction, levity, swearing, and falsehood." It is further recorded of them, that "a boy could scarcely be found among them, but, if questioned on his religion, could, with readiness, give a reason for his faith. Tribute they paid with the utmost punctuality; and if prevented for a time by civil war, they discharged this debt on the return of peace." Here, then, we have a race of men upon whom judgment has been pronounced by their enemies and persecutors. Of what have they been guilty? Verily of this: They have been from the first corruption of the Church down to the present day, witnesses against error, and upholders of Apostolic doctrine; they have testified to their faith by works that are its natural result; they have delighted to make Christianity known, and to impress its requirements upon their youth as a reasonable service; and they have ever been obedient to the civil power, giving constantly unto Cæsar that which is Cæsar's, and to God that which is God's. But how were these Christian graces regarded by those who could not deny their existence? Rejection of error was accounted obstinate heresy; deep, fervent piety was branded as mere enthusiasm; holiness of life, as a cunning pretence; and the spread of truth, as an unhallowed warfare against the head of the church. Crusade upon crusade was sent forth against these unoffending people, and Rome did all that lay in her power to extirpate to the very roots the name and doctrines of the Waldenses, but a remnant was ever left to bear faithful witness; often cast down, but never destroyed, the Waldenses continue, to this day, to exhibit all the grandeur of truth and all the beauty of holiness. The persecution of the Waldenses has ever exhibited on the part of their oppressors a ruthless vengeance and a brutal ferocity; whilst their own defensive operations are marked by magnanimity, and if we may use the expression-the very chivalry of the Cross. Cold and unsympathizing must that heart be, that does not glow at the remembrance of their expatriation, and their subsequent "glorious return" to the valleys they loved, under the guidance of Arnaud, their pastor and leader. It is satisfactory now to think that after enduring through so many ages an almost uninterrupted series of persecutions, the religious and political rights of this interesting community have at last come to be fully recognized by the state authorities. Subsequent to the accession of Charles Albert, in 1831, the restrictions and disabilities affecting the Waldenses had been gradually removed; and, on 17th February, 1848, a royal edict was issued, admitting them to a full participation in all civil and political privileges enjoyed by the other subjects of the Sardinian monarchy. This event was celebrated by rejoicings throughout all the Vaudois valleys, and by a grand demonstration in the city of Turin itself.

The Waldensian College at La Torre originated in a munificent donation entrusted to Dr. Gilly, an English clergyman. Before its erection, the Waldensian clergy were educated at Geneva. Dr. Gilly thought that the donation could not be better employed than in the building and endowment of an institution in which the Waldensian youth might receive a sound classical education, combined with orthodox theological instruction. In connection with the College, a branch institution has been established at Pomaretto, in the valley of St. Martin. The educational staff consists of four professors, and a rector, who also acts as a professor, a sixth professor conducting the Latin school at Pomaretto. The salary of each professor is 1500 francs per annum.

FORT BARD, VAL D'AOSTA.

ORT BARD is a citadel of great strength, seated on Mont Albaredo, a stupendous mass of rock which rises in one of the narrow gorges of the Val d'Aosta, the defile through which Italy is entered by the passes of St. Bernard. A position so strong by nature was obviously fitted for a point of defence; and we meet with early mention of the locality as an arena of contest in which a handful of men disputed the passage of a numerous host. According to tradition, Hannibal entered Italy by the Val d'Aosta, and there is evidence to show that this was the probable route of his descent. About 134 B.C., the Salassi, who then inhabited the valley, repulsed a Roman army, and compelled the legions to retreat with the loss of ten thousand men. These people were reduced in the time of Augustus, when the Romans built Augusta Prætoria (now Aosta) on the site of Cordele, the Sallasian city. On the fall of the empire, Aosta was taken and sacked by the Lombards, who, in turn, were expelled by Charlemagne. In the tenth century the fortress was built to command all ingress and egress to and from the valley. After a protracted siege, this citadel was taken by Amadeus IV., in 1252; and since that period it has been in the possession of the Dukes of Savoy, or of the Kings of Sardinia.

The most interesting incident in the history of Fort Bard is connected with Napoleon's descent into Italy. In May, 1800, the French army, having passed the Great St. Bernard, attempted a passage through the Val d'Aosta. The reduction of Fort Bard had been represented to Napoleon as an easy affair; and great was his chagrin to find so serious an obstacle interrupting his path. He had already learned that the Austrian general was hastening to enclose him in the valley; and his soldiers were provided only with rations for a few days, with no possibility of receiving fresh supplies in their present position. Two days were lost in devising means for effecting the passage, when at length Berthier suggested that they should find or make a passage up the precipitous sides of Mont Albaredo. This was undertaken and accomplished in an incredibly short time, and a safe passage procured for the men; but the path was impracticable for the cannon and artillery waggons. Another assault was attempted, but with no better success than former ones. Marmont now proposed to strew the road with straw and manure, and after binding the wheels of the cannon with hay-bands, to take them at night under the guns of the Fort through the village of Bard. This manœuvre succeeded, not without discovery by the Austrian in command of the Fort, but without any serious loss. In less than a month after this bold exploit, the battle of Marengo was won, and the eagle of Napoleon spread its wings over Italy.