Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-25


are from five to six feet vile, and from
two inches to half an inch in thickness.
! they hang from six to twelve inches as.
sunder, and are COMMONLY white and
transparent. As the drapcry in this q.
| partlneut is the most remarkable, tho
| it is found III every part of the Cavern,
| it may be well now once for all. to take
passing notice of two forms that most
frequently occur in every part Of the
Cavern. The explorer will see the
u 81 examples of each in the Sofa and
Gallery, presently 10 be mentioned. At
the upper edge OF the valance where
the deaendin part colnnen g, thelc
is a CorJon running around EACH
/ From this the curtain descends foot
or two, solid, but III the one indentcd by
semicircular cavities, about two inches
in cord, parallel and exactly Uniform
in the other, instead of cavities there is
recis,ly as much projection; and the
proportions in both, are as ocular and
exact. as if they had zen produced by
the chisel OF the artist.
The Tambougin or Music Room is
next. This abounds with s,alactites,
similar to the curtains in he preceding
rooms, but finer and more ,ari0leIy
toned, AMI tho room is better calculated
for effect. These tones (produced by
striking are various anu good, and
were the notes ascertaincd, which each
would produce, a skltul hand could
draw music from them. You II Nv as
cend natural and well formed stair.
case running across the passage with a
row Of banisters along il, OF proper
height for the hand to rest on; and then
defending ladder into the ball room,
which is IOG feet long and the arch 5
to 90 feet high. The floor is smooth d
level, and the sides ornamf with
curtains, colonades and various resem
bIances to household furniture. Bet
sy's Sofa is remarkable here for it's e
legance and resemblance to art. The
floor has evidently been lowered in time.
Some of the columns are discovered in
the middle OF the shaft. and do not meet
by some inches. Others have fallen & |
lie i'm ruins.
The curious explorer now comes to
t. the moss straitened passage in the
cavern, ard which was for Some time
the boundary Of the discoveries in it.
The way, though enlarged beyond its
origina' dimensions. is steep narrow Il
difficult. He must creep on all.tours,
and on account Of its descent must GO
backwards. He is covered with mud.
fa'igncd with his posture and exortions,
snd il is we'll if his head and back es
cane rude contact with the rough |
stones above him. At length lie re-
gain, his feet; looks back upon the mar
row aperture by which lie entered, nc
fleets that he is almost quarter OF
mile from the regions Of the upper air,
carries his candle with more steady
band. and feels himself entombed |
Knowing that our corpulent acquain.
lance, Mrs. 3, had visited this
cavern. asked my guide if she passed
these straits. He assured me that she
did. that she crept, and tumbled, and
slid along like an otter, and what was
more, he added, no woman ever Yet
stopped half way they always went to
the extremity
DEFENDING some steps hewn nut of
the rock, called Jacobs ladder, YOU en-
ter the Nestibule, the arch Of which is
abnu, the same Height as that Of the
temple. On you, left, as you enter. a
horizontal sheet of stone, foot thick
and 90 feet III diameter projects from
the side of the cave about midway be.
tween the flour and the ceiling called
Mary's Gallery. This is a striking
object from its rich ornaments. Con-
nccted with this Vestbule is the Saloon.
Returning and entering a passage on
the left, 4 ashing,on's Hall, the grand
est Part of the cavern is opened to your
view. You stand at the entrance; the
guides go forward, and arrange light,
at certain distances. The lnng level
floor rings beneath their tread. You
gee them at hundred PAGES distance,
and hear their voices resoAnding from
the arch that rises suJlimeiy eighty feet
over your head. Every drop Of water
thai falls rings in yoar ears. On your
right is row of marble statues. In
the centre, before the entrance Of Lady