The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1818-11-04


The public have been gra,Ifed with num-
etous descriptions Of this celebrated cataract.
Chu'Ievoix, Liancoufi, Weld, and many 9th.
ers, not psofcssediy book makers, have given
us sosps sccouni of this unparalleled wonder
OF nature. I, hss,do'ing the present season,
from tho unusual number Of visitors, beea
frequently spoken Of in the public journals,
and the journey 90 IL is now considered q
fashionable route. II -, however, one Of
those stupendous phenomena, which repays
the fatigue, and gra,i6s, the curiosity Of all.
II realizes the expectation, though rnised to
an inof diratc degree, and the contemplation
OF u has this saiutary eject; TO Impress ev.
e,y one with an idea Of ms osOn insignjfesnee.
What could tho entire ~concen alIon of hu.
man pcwer, oppose here, TO the operation Of
solitary Law Of 0atose---Grauby, but abso
loto nolhingnesss A though,les. observer, il
such an ono over bchcId the Falls, could moi
POSSIBLY be fully impressed with the sublimi-
~ OF The spectacle. II Is one of those ire.
mendous exhibitions of the power Of mai urc,
whicn command election, and he who has
reflected The most profoundly and the most
accurately, will feel the greatest degree OF
nstonishment. 10 the vulgar observer, Who
contempiates the rising sun without the Just
ideas of magnitude, &c. which science fur
nishes, how T. 'hDg an object does IL appear,
compared with what it IS TO the eye OF the
astronomer! So 10 give full effect to the
Eai OF Niagara. the spectator should have
some idea OF the quantity OF water descending
the precipice, and It's astonishing physical
power A world of waters furnish never
failing supply. Lskes Superior, Michigan,
Hu'o0, ST. Clsir, and X 10, are conducted
Like tributary vassala 10 heishten tho nsgn'h-
cehce Of the Falls. The outlet Of Lake Erie,
(sccordIng to Mr.. Weld, whose description
Is one OF the best ever published on The sub-
ject)S . ~ miles wide, feet deep, and
runs at tho iats OF two miles an hour, and
that BY calculation, II has been sscertsined a.
bout ass 900 tons of water descend tho pre-.
cipice every minute. Imagination herself
will acknowledge, that her powers. vagran'
and boundless as hey are, are incompetent TO
form on adequate conception Of the physical
powers excfted hero. Nature has undispu,.
cd dominion, nothing daring TO contest It
with her, nor qurs ion be- supremacy.
After faiguing journey Of FIVE days In
Tho stage, You arrive Lrwistown from AL
baoy--the distance upwards of $40 miles
Tne villages on 'his rood, aOa The country
generally through wl,ch II passes, have been
described by so macy, that to descend 10 par.
ticulars would be iiresome From Schenec.
tsdy 10 y lea, distance OF 90 miles, The TOAD
passes along tho banks oi the Mohawk.
Mucn 20 tho sceocsyo on he Hodson is ad-,
rniied, that Of the Mohawk Is entitled 10 de
cid d preference, IN point oi richness beaH.
sy The neighborhood OF tire Htfie /aiis IS
hide scribsbly romsn,ic, II fable had located
the wats of the giants here, q view Of the
70 X. rOle, and i'teguiariy situated ss they
ar, would give plsnsib,liy 10 that imposi,ien
The greaf ./als Of the Gennessec river, have
. perpendic0lar descen, Of 96 feet, and the
ledge Of rocks over which the waters pass,
appear as If nature had condcscendsd to ac-
cept the hunSle imitation Of art; Il resc~-
blcs very cioscly " a sc,ni-circular fortiicstion
The natuvsi u op,ke, extending q, distance
OF % niles to Lewistown, imprcsses the
mind with the conviction that great and i'm
poriAni changes have taken place 10 the face
OF aature, with revolving ages. Biologists
have inferred, from the materials which CON-
tose this rosd, that at some former period II
was the southern bounda y of Lake Ontario.
Every snbluns,y thing has the Impression OF
mutabhi,y Rome was once . mistress OF
che world
Nol hing can exceed the Excitement which
exis,s in the mind when approaching. the
Fails, after leaving Lcwistowu ,h'y arc
heard sometimes previously 10 storm a, 20
miles distance, though they are not seen un.
I'll you active Al tho spot. Before you have a
view OF ihom, however, tho vapors are seen
ascending above tho treos and forming clouds,
and rcse oabe successive volumes OF smoke.
As you penetrate the woody margin OF the
Yiver, the great wonder presents itself The
immense mass Of waters passing over the
precipice, the fearful rapids above rushing
over fragments Of socks with the haste OF
fugitive, tho tremendous roar Of tho cataract,
the ohhoress shsoking Of tho earth, oil com.
prise TO produce on tho mind, an overwhelm-
Ing and indcsc ribsble effect. The rainbow
formed by the spray and vapor and the ener-
aid green, unbrokcn wave, ct the horse. shoe
pnch, inpsrt features Of beauty TO the terrible
scene. Beauty and te'ro, so united, produce
q mingled sensation to which analysis can
no, easily to applied. All travellers acknowl
edge ths, description canno, possibly do JUS
siee to the subject, aod tia, no waterfall IN
che world will bear q cOunaf;sou with that of