American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-04-23
PICTURED ROCKS OF LAKE SUPERIOR.
From Gop Cass's Journal

From GoU CaSs's journal.
"Upon the southern coast of Lake Superior,
about fifty miles from the falls of st. Mary's, are
the immense precpitous cliffs, called by the voya-
geurs, lie Portal, and the "Rcsured Rocks " This
name has been given TO them, in consequence of
the different appearances which they present 10 the
traveller, as he passes their base in his Ii
requires little aid from the imagination, to discern
in them the castelated tower, the lofty dome, spires
and pinnacies, and every sublime, grotesque, or
fantastic shape. which the genius of architecture
has ever invented. These cliffs are an unbroken
mass of rocks, rising an elevation OF three hun.
dred feet above the level OF the Lake, and stretching
along the coast for fifteen miles. The yoyageurs
never pass this coast except IN The most profound
calm; and the Indians before they make he attempt
offe, their accustomed oblations, to proptate the
favor OF the Manious The eye Bstinctiyely seart h.
les along this eternal rampant for single place OF
security: But the search is vain With AZ impas-
sable barrier of rocks on one side, and an mterm-
nable expanse water on the other, sudden Storm
upon the lake would as inevitably insure destruc-
ton to the passenger in his trail canoe, il he
were the brink oil the cataract OF Niagara. The
rock itself is sandstone which is disntegrsted by
the continued action of The water with comparative
facility There no broken masses upon which
the eye can rest and find relief The lake is so
ldeep that these masses they torn from the
precipices are concealed beneath its waters until
they are reduced TO sand. The action of the waves
has undermined every projecting point and thee,
the immense precIpce rests upon arches, and the
foundation is intersected by caverns extendng in
every direction. When we passed this mighty
fabric of nature, the wind was still and the lakes
calm. But the slight motion of the waves,
which in the most profound calm agitaes these in-
Iternal seas, swept through The deep caveIns with
the noise of distant thunder, and died upon the
as it rolled forward in the dark recesses inaccessible
II to human observation no sound more melancholy
or more awiully ever vibrated upon human nerves.
1t has left impression which neither time nor dis
lance can ever rfface. Resting in trail bark canoe
upon the l;mpid waters of the lake, we seemed al
most suspended in air-so pellucid is the element
upon which we f1oated In gazing upon the tower
ling battlements which impended US, and from
which the smallest fragment would have destroyed
us, felt and cit intensely, own inslgnihcance.
No situation can be imagined, more appalling TO
the courage or more humblng to the pride OF man.
We appeared like a small speck upon the surface
of creation. Our whole party, Indians and voya-
geurs and soldiers and officers and Swans contem-
plated in mute astonshment the awful display of
creative power, at whose base we hung and no
sound brote upon the ear, to interrupt the cease
/ less roaring ofthe waters. No splendid cathedral,
no temple built with human hands, no poInp OF
Worship could ever impress the spectator with such
deep humility, and so strong conviction, OF the
immense distance betweeu him and the Almighty
Architect"
| Cockneu Sagacity.--An account published some
months since, in the American papers, OF the I'M
human conduct of the pirates off Cuba. mentioned
that they pointed certain dead bodies along side,
saying in diabolical style Of sarcasm. 'see The
turtles" The London Courier takes this literally,
;, and declares, that the furftes were seen manglng
the dead bodies Of the crew. and gravely remarks,
that this is pheasant subject of reflection the
llovers of turtle !''-sait. Pat.
! Messrs. Quiacy and Otis have both withdrawn
as candidates for the office OF Mayor OF Boston
RI The City Council of Savannah have taken off
the euHrantipe restrictions on all vessels