The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-25

ExtrNa Of alsftertsS-om a gentle,aan, noqv ira
ceiling for The. pu;16oJs Of ziezving the natural
2 en7oEfie5'iHfb tie Ws7eyn Parts Of this State, to
I bis frfenam Pefe,I6nrg, dated Lee Com1-bOue,
2stb Jfuly, 1904.
&C j accomplished on Monday lalf the moi la
POROUS job ever undertook: this was, the
meafiriDS the Natural Bridge in this county,
6 the mott lublime of nature's works" This
bridge is l34 feet higher than the Natural Bridge
IN Rockbridge county; being 33s feet in per-
Pendicuar height, its furnmit projects 81 feet
over its baie, it fronts 10 the foutl-weft, and is
arched as regular as could be by the hand of
art; the arch in front is about 200 feet high,
and Hopes off to go feet at the difance of 100
feet from the entgauce-from its mouth in a
ftraight direction meaiures 4o6 feet-theDce at
right angles 500 feet; thence croiIing the fecond
line at so feet from the wall to the other end
$40 feet; the roof IS regularly arched, and gra-
duaiiy defends 10 l8 feet, which is the Ioweft
part at the inter1e6tion of the fecond angle it
then rites to 90, 80, do, and rs feet, which is
the height OF the north-eaft entrance. The itream
OF water which runs under this bridge is from
$50, to IS feet wide, at its common height
The head Of this ftream (Stock creek is from
three to four miles above the bridge, rffng out
of knob or fpur of Clinch Mountain, and
emptes itfclf three miles below into Clinch river
times to 10 and 12 feet perpendicular, but is
foon run out. There is a Wagon road over the
bridge, which is only ufed in time of frefhes,
and that is the only part that can be croned-
on approaching it to the fouth-weft front, it
produces the mott pleafing, awful fenfations
the front isaioidrock of imeitone, the furfaceve-
yimoothandregular, fornedi afemi-circle, the
rock Of bright yellow colour, which colour is
heightened by the rays of the fun, the arch is
partly obfcured by fpur of the ridge which
runs down to the edge OF the creek in front of
the arch. Acrofs the creek ftand feyeral beau
tItnl trees ;-the mott elegant and luxuriant is
a Cmamber Tree, teeming with fruit the leaves
are from to 9 feet in length, and one foot
in width--this, with two white cedars, and
two white walnut trees, adds very much to the
beauty of the icene-to deicribe it, would be
VAN attempt, and can only be done by the
hillful Inner.
g If the fcene below creates fuch pleaGng fen
fationS, what mutt that from above be ? II fills
the mind with horror. From the level of the
iummlt of the ridge where the road paHes to the
verge or the hilure, the mountain defends a.
bout 45 degrees Of an angle, and is from IS 20
so feet perpendicular hcight--you Involuntary
Hide down feet foremoit, holding on 20 every
twIg you pats, until you reach The verge, which
is tor 6 or feet lefs feep; The rock ic covered
with a thick nratum of earth, which gives
growth to many large trees from this landing
place to the verge is defcent of feet. 70 aeep
that It cannot be approached near enough TO
look oyer--to the wen of the arch about 400
yards, the afceut to The verge is much leveler,
where you may look into the abyfs below. NY
guide was an cid hunter who had for many years
been accuitomed to clambering over the feepe(}
mouutaiDs--on approaching the verge, the
horror ofthe icene below ntimidated him for a
few moments, but he could prefenty walk A.
long the verge with compof,ire. This bridge
may be pafed by thoufauds, without a know
ledge Oft, unIsis attracted by the roaring of
the water bslow."--E Pei. Laf.