The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-07-14
LAKE SUPERIOR.


From Carver's and Macken2ie's Travels.
Lake Superior Is the largest and most
magnificent body of frcsn wslcr in the world.
Ii msy be called the Caspian sea Of North
America; is sixteen hundred miles in cir
cumference, and receives the tribute Of
nearly forty rivers. II has an outlet by The
falls and s,reight of ST. Marie, eastward into
the St Lawrence, and westward with the
Mississippi, by the 81. Croix, Boisbuiel
creek, ond a portage OF half a mile between
them. The water Of the lake is clear and
transparent, Of gtea, depth, and appears TO
lie on bed of rocks. When il was calm,
and tho sun shone b,igh,, could si in my
canoe and plainly sec, where the depth was
upwards osthirty-six feet, huge piles of stones
at the bottom, of different shapes, end SO
fashioned that some oi them appeared to
be hcwn. The water a, this time was as pure
und transparent as air /; and my canoe seem.
ed as ie 1t hong suspended in that elcmenI -
TWAS impossible to look auen,iveiy through
this l,mpid medium, at the rocks below, with
out 6nding, before many minutes were clap
scd, your head swim, and you, eyes no icbges
able TO behold. the dszz,ing scene. The
lake aSpunds with a variety OF iish, of which
the most valuable is the white hsh, species
Of shad, boney, weighing from to ] 6 pounds,
extremely delicious, and found io such vast
quantities that thsy will in future form an ar.
tcc oil commerce, and be ource oi wealth
to those who inhabit the borders of tho lake.
Spectacle Of a beautiful Nigks IN the Drserfs Of
he Acw Wor.d.--From ihe French Of NJ.
dc Chafeaubriand.
An hour after sunset the moon appeared
above the trees in tho opposite horizon.
baimy breeze which abe brough, with bcr
from the east, seemed TO SO before, as her re-
frcsh,ng breath, in the forest. The queen Of
night asccnds gradually in the heavens; now
she follows silently her azure course, now re-
poses on piles OF clouds, resembling the sum
mits OF lofty mountain. crowned with snow
These gradually unfurling themselves were
spread into zones of satin whiteness, and dis
pcrsed in thin fosmy focks, or formed in the
heaven's rcspIcndent banks, so pleasant TO tho
eye, as almost to induce u persuasion tha, one
could feel their sof,ncss and elasticity.
On earth the scene was not less ravishing,
the soft and silve- light Of tho moon descend
ed among tho foliage, and projected streams
Of light into tho profouodest shades. The
river, which flowed II my feet. BY turns lost
hsct w NS WVooos ouu W t0'bo iS-opttosSNf
all brillian. with the consultations Of night,
which were multiplied upon it's undualing
bosom. In vastly extended prairie on the
other side Of tho river, the light Of the moon
slept mo,ionlcss upon tho green. Birch trees
sca,,ceed here and there through the marsh,
aud agitaied by the breeze, formed islands Of
shadows, floatiog on mo,ionless sea Of light.
Around me oil was silence and repose, save
the dropping Of the leaves, the brisk trsnsi,
cf sudden flaws, Of wind, and the occasional
hoo,ing Of the bird Of night bot afar of was
heard the rolling solemn sound Of the Ca,srscl
Of Nsgara which in the stiffness Of nigh,
rcverberated from desert TO desert, until i al
,imstely expired in the distant solitary Wild.
The grandeur aud siupendious solcnni,y
Of this scsue, are altogether ioexpsessblc.
The most beautiful nighIs In Europe can con.
vey no adequate idea Of them. In vsin ia our
cultivated 6elds, doss Imagination seskto ex.
psod itself; IL encounters on every aide the
hsbi,ations Of man bu, in the country Of de-
scrts, the niud delights 10 plunge ioto % o.
ceau OF ferests, to wander on the borders Of
bsxsSo dlsss lei A. IA hovor oVoe eSa ~ulfs ~