Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-10-20
From the Philad. Amer. Daily Adsertise
NIAGARA FALLS.

The public have been gratified with
numerous descriptions of this celebrated
Cataract. Charlevoix, Liancourt, Weld,
and many others, not professedly b0ok-ma
kerS, have given us some account Of this
unparalleled wonder of nature. 1t has,
during the present season, from the unusual
number Of visitors, been frequently spoken
Of in the public journals, aud the journey
to it is now considered fashionable route
1t is, however, one of those stupendous
phenomena, which repays the fatigue, and
gratifies the curiosity of all. 1t realizes
the expectation, though raised to an inor-
dinate degree, and the contemplation oft
has this salutary effect: to impress every
one with an idea of has o,va inSignifcance.
What could the entire concentration of
human power, oppose here, to the opera
ton of solitary law Of nature--GrnUitys
but absolute nothingness A thcughtless
observer. il such an one ever heheld the
Falls, could not possibly be fully impress
ed with the sublimity of the spectacle.
II Is one Of those tremendous exhibitions
OF the power Of nature, which command
reflection, and he who has reflected the
NEST profoundly and the most accurately,
will feelthe greatest degree of establishment.
To the vulgar observer, who contemplates
the rising sun without the just ideas Of
magnitude, &c. which science furnishes,
how trifling an object does it appear, COM
pared with what it is to the eye of the
astronomer So to give full effect Of the
Falls of Niagara, the spectator should
have some idea Of the quantity of waters
decending the precipice, and its astonish-
Ing physical power. A world Of waters
6nrnish never failing supply. Lakes
Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and
Erie, are conducted like tributary vassals
to heighten the magnifcence of the Falls.
The outlet of Lake Erie, according TO
Mr.. Weld, whose description is one of the
best ever published on the subject, is %
miles wide, feet deep, and runs at the
rate of two miles an hour, and that by cal
culatioa, it has been ascertained about
255, 900 tons Of water decend the preci-
pice every inmate. Imagination herself
will acknowledge, that her powers, va
grant and boundless as they are, are in
competent to form an adequate cOncep'
ton of the physical power exerted here.
Nature has undisputed dominion, nothing
daring to contest it with her, nor question
her supremacy.
After fatiguing journey Of five days
in the stage, you arrive at Lewistown
from AIbany-the distance upwards OF
800 miles. The villages on this road,
and the country generally through which
it passes, have been described by SO many,
that to decend TO particulars would be tire
some. From Schenectady to Utica, a
distance Of 80 miles, the road passes along
the banks Of the Mohawk. Much as
the scenery on the Hudson is admired,
that of the Mohawk is entitled to deci-
ded preference, in point Of richness and
beauty. The neighbourhood OF the httte
falls is indescribably romantic. II fable
had located the wars of the giants here, a
view of the rocks, rude and irregularly
situated as they are, would give PLAUSIBLE
ity to that imposition. The great falls Of
the Gennessee river, have perpendicular
descent Of 90 feet, and the ledge Of rocks
over which the waters pass, appear as II
Nature had condescended to accept the
humble limitations Of Art; it resembles
very closely semicircular Notification.
The natural turnpike, extending dis
lance of 80 miles to Lewistown, impresses
the mind with the conviction that great