Wednesday August 14th, 1872

Wednesday August 14th at three in the morning we started again, passing Forests of Oak trees for 30 miles, we arrived at Pontparlier this is the boundary of the French Territory this way, when all except the English had to go through the unpleasant form of having their passports and luggage examined again, some Americans we got in company with thought it strange that such privileges should be given to the English only. 

Then commenced Switzerland the Pine Forests are indescribable the mountains covered to the top with pines, one of the Mountains called Creux du Vent is 4800 feet high, the Railroad is made for many miles on the sides of the Mountains. The Valleys below look to have nice pasture with a little Village and a Church about every ¼ of a mile about the size of Cainscross only built in a different style they don’t seem to form streets but build here and there. It is most picturesque the scenery is far superior to any we saw in France.

We got to Neuchatell (population 13,321) at 12 saw the Lake – 27 miles long 6 miles wide 600 feet in the deepest part and about 160 miles square. The town or city is very pretty built on the side of the mountain overlooking the Lake, there are three fine Hotels, it is in the form of an amphitheatre, the Quay is ½ mile long. 

The Castle on an eminence is the seat of the Government of the Canton No. 21. The College is a large building, there is a bronze statue to David de Perry, he gave to the City 4 ½ Millions of franc’s, there are several other buildings of note but our stay was not long enough to see.

The people looked clean but not industrious, the men mending the road with pebbles did sit down every time they put three in, then up for more, and not at all fast, if it was in a colder country I think they would be likely to take a chill in moving so slow, (it brings to my mind the recollections of a society that was formed in Stroud in which each member agrees never to take a days work out of any body’s hands that will do it. 

The women are more industrious, we saw many of them reaping, mowing and doing as we thought men’s work, and as they walk along the roads with a load at their backs they are knitting all the time. 

We left here about ¼ to 2 O’clock for Lusanne passing lovely scenery and Towns arrived at ¼ to 3 going on by train for Vevay 10 miles arriving here at ½ past 3 O’clock. Madame Recordon meet us, engaged a carriage and had some grapes and rolls to eat as we drove to the Hotel de Pension, Belle Vue, Chardonne sur Vevay at ½ past 4 after travelling 56 hours we did feel tired, had some tea coffee &c. and soon went to bed.