The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-09-13
AMUSING MISCELLANY.
+s-ey--. FROM THEsANTHoLoeY.
Original Letters, from an Anaericdn Traveller
90 -obst IN - -. a.. ~, yb,a
-ff LETTER SEVENTEENTH.
Name, Dec. /, 1904.
NY DEAR SISTER,

ON our route to Rome, We made a small detour
TO the celebrated remains Of amagniiccnt bridge,
built by Augustus over the river Ncra. Whether 1t
designed merely for bridge, or for rsn aqucduct
il not apparent from its present state but for what
ever purpose intended, it bears the characteristics
stamp of grandeur, which in imprinted all the la
bours OF the Romans. The river flows between two
lofty hills, and, not content with enabling you to
pass the stream, they have chosen to spare you the
iabour OF ascent and descent, and have carried the
bridge across upon level with the tops OF the hills
Nothing is mere striking than comparison of this
rccIs Of antiquity, with tocraby respectable mod
crn bridge, which has been erected to supply its
place. There remains cntirc arch OF the ancient
bridge, and the abutments OF the others. The width
of the arches is very great, the height stupendous
but the most interesting part OF the structure, is the
solidty and beauty Of the masonry. 1t consists of
vast blocks Of stoc well hewn nobly arranged, and
not connected by any cement whatever. All the
huildngs Of the Romans, designed for durabity,arc
constructed in this manner. Nothing but earthquakes
or some calamity independent of the ordinary eforts
Of time could destroy them. Why then has this
bridge fallen Because It's foundation treacher
ons the bottom Is sand, the river rapid torrent,
anJ the stream undermined the foundation It still
rests an august monument Of Roman industry, irgc.
naty, and taste and lasting proof of the degcncr-
acy of their descendens in their pblick works of
When at Tcrni, we paid visi. to Tic very Justly
celebrated cascade, situate upon the yelino, about
miles from that city, fhc road 10 this celebrated
cataract, winds along the Monte Efarmorc, one Of
the Appcnnines and gives a continued succession of
romantick and wild scenery. The fall itself, taken
in connection with its scenery, and its perfect pe,pen
dicular descent may be fairly rated among the great.
est wonders Of nature, If Il cannot be placed at tho
head Of them. Our Niagara, to ba sure, is more
grand and sublime, on account of the volume and
immense force Of its water bat it yslds to the cas-
cade Dele Nlarmorc, at Tcrn, in beauty of suroun-
ding rand IN heighth. The falls of the Rhine
exceed that of 1ern, in quantity of water but arc
vastly infcriour in every other point Accident has
led me to see As iunyof these beautiful objects of
nature, AZ any man, perhaps, in the world Few, at
least am persuaded, can boast of having seen the
most renarlablc watcrfas of both hcmisphercs.
Extrayagantly attached to the beauties Of natureI
have always classc the catacts and cascades among
the most interesting. It may not be w,cntettaning
to you, then, to have n comparative statcucnt, rs
ns ry as can brake IL, of the respcctivs heigsss,
volumes of water, and local beauties of the most ccl
eArated cataracts OF every country have visited.
10 make the comparison more clear, VIC will ex-
anime each of these points by itself The cascade at
qcrr FAR as know, is the highest IN the world Its
prrpendicuar descent Is 800 feet, and the difference
Of Level between the vclno above, and the Ncrainto
fair level OF both rivers, Is 1864 feet Some people
nav think, that il dimnishcs from tho responsibility
c..i:s wcal,to learn that il IS intact artificial To
nv lraaa il adds interest to its history II was. in
sct. r.cscccd by a canal cut from the lake yel;no
~ Marcus Annis Citrus Dcntatus towards the war
, b. Eomc 45o, for the purpose Of drnining snmc
lands, Which were ovsriown BY the lake. The cansI
IS o..i &z-ssredibc distance through solid noun.