Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-06-28

which anans II. surviving in rocky strength the
violent convulsion which must have rent the siaes
of he mountain asunder, the scence Is aftogeui-
or as peculiar as it is sublime.
The twilight had deepened when, DESCENDING
into the rayine BY steep winding path, we stocu
in front of the other aud lower side OF the oridSe
Tn, arch from this point of view has SO iitte
cnrve os TO seem almost rectInear, resembling
some huge Egyptian portal. and giving the same
impression of massiyeness and strength. "a.
no!nt farther on, and just at the entrance OF the
Vault. the farther opening of the arch swels into
lofty irregular curve. Arriving, again, under
this opening, and turning your eye back on that
which Won have left, you find the Lures grown
more regular, and running up into the proportions
of pointed Gothic arch. This majestic Plie
takes vet another aspect when, clearing II aito-
cether on the upper side and going few PAGES
up the ravihe, you turn to survey IL al oil ans,e
convenient for the eve; it has then become wac
semicircular arch, Roman IN its proportions nut
gigantic in dimension. This variety OF forms Is
as unexpected as it is pleasing, nor can any QUO
be prepared for il by the usual cescsipuohs or
views of the scene. But the resemblance "nich
il most forcibly suggests, is to the vauted rooi
some lofty cathedral. The spectator, piaCeu I'M
mediatelv under the centre OF this naturai vault
painfully strains his eye to embrace It's helsu''
and ITS roof, now become indistinct to our eye In
the grey mist of evening seemed to swell up
ward in still more lofty proportions: WINE We
contemplated the fabric thus magnihcehtly con-
structed bv Nature, we remembered with admi-
ration that human labor had upheaved piles not on
" emulating but surpassingit The nave OF 81
Peters springs nearly two hundred feet from me
nayement: its dome nearly four hundred. ne
thickness of the arch of the Natural Bridge,
at the ton. is forty feet, which subtracted from
two hundred and seventy. leaves two hundred
and thirty for the elevation of this vault, when
il Greater indeed than that of the nave OF ST. Pc
ter's. but vastly less than that of its dome. As
we were leaving the bridge for the nlsht,and turn
ed to take last glance, the lingering g low OF the
western sky. visible above the woody summit
of the mountain. family illuminated the roof OF
the farther opening of the ARCH which, as ITS a6n'-
ments and lower portion were now buried III
deem shadow. seemed thus to hang unsupported
hiob in the air. The Thrown horror OF the
scene, which was changing into blackness' ana
tne deep stiffness, communicated to our feelings
that strange awe, nearly allied to the suDihe,
which is always felt amidst these solemn recesses
of Nature.
find an The hin. on either side, a wood
Of Jlackening pines, aye todring 10 ana fro'
Sent forth a Sleepy horror through me 6food'
We passed the night in hut so rude and
omen TO the night air. made more chill! by thick
foo. that ONLY our picturesque ardor, and sundry
appliances IF spare blankets and great coats to
the chinks, rendered it tolerable. "A litter of
puppies at the corner Of the hfs, close to the head
of our pallet, seemed ne, betterl LODGED than our