Litchfield enquirer., 1835-10-01
Correspondence ofTthe Portiand Advertiser. < MEYERS CAVE.

1 Of all the attractions that this most won- derfuI State offers, to induce travellers to visit and explore her curiosities, abound ing as they do at every rood of ground you traverse in seeking them out,-by far the strongest and most richly repaying the seeker after instruction and amusement is the Cave, lying seventeen miles N. K. of Stann'on, on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge, with which it runs parallel about six hundred yards. It is near Madison's Cave,' SO celebrated in Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, but has entirely thrown that into the shade, since it has become generally known. It was discovered in 1904 by one Weyer. who had lost trap set for hedge hog. which he searched for at the mouth l of what he supposed to be the hole of the animal, but which proved to be the en- trance to this magnificent cave. He found his trap, and the most splendid natural cu- riosity in this hemisphere, if not indeed in the known world.
 1 ! will not attempt to describe a wonder so vast in its extent, so grand in its propor- tions, and so various in its minutest, as well as in it's most stupendous beauties, { with much peculiarity. The efforts were sure to be crowned with defeat. But I must yield tO the impulse feel to say something on the subject, which shall ex- press in some degree the emotions felt in the interesting exploration in which have been all this day delightfully."- engaged, and to endeavour to induce those of your read- CTS who love to study nature, and through that study to make progress in their appre- hensions of the character and attributes of Natures God, to examine, if possible, for 1 themselves, this most wonderful of all his works. e..s.
 All this section of Virginia abounds with 1 limestone, whole mountains and ranges of mountains being full of it, and indeed en- tirely formed of it. This cave,. like the 1 others that have been discovered in the neighborhood, is filled with stalactitic aud stalagmatic concretions, formed by the falling of the limestone in solvid or liquid state from the rocks that lie irregularly piled tn huge masses on each other. A stalactite is the concretion formed by tho dripping of the solvent, in pendent or hanging form-a sfalagmite is that formed by the failing of the liquid limestone upon the ground. forming gradually an upright column or pillar. This cave is full of sim- liar concretions, ofall shapes, figures, forms. sizes, proportions, semblances, appearan- ces and varieties of construction. Some 0t them arc inexpressibly and indescribably-- I may add inconceivably beautiful. Do not fear that shall be too enthusiastic, in my description, for there is no degree of enthusiasm too high for the reach of the human soul, upon view of this grea test oi nature's prodigies. Do not bid me to steer clear of exaggeration, for that IS not consist ent with the poverty oflanguage to convey an adequate idea of what you may see up- on entering Weyer's Cave.
 You enter an antc-room, at first ten feet high, narrowing down to an enclosed neck or orifce through which you reach the Dragons Room, and the Devils Gallery where are few huge rough stalactites, o no great beauty. Next you enter an i'm mense area. easy of access, descending by flight of stairs about IS feet perpendicu larly, called the temple of Solomon. This room is full of concretions of the most bril- liant and wonderful fortified shapes. There is perfect representation in this room 0 large white marble throne, incrusted will diamonds, glittering in the light of ou torches. Next to this apartment is one, t which after careful examination of thu whole cave am compelled to avow my decided preference. The Vandals wht have given names in the rooms and the
 contents call it the Radish Room! But i should be called the Jewel Room of Nature The roof is studded with ten thousand va rious formed stalac.ites. of every conceiva ble shape and every possible conception o beau.y-some colOred like the lip of thu rose sea shell, end others white like the pu rest drift of the new fallen snow. Chrys tals glisten on some, and reflect resplen denlly the light thrown upon them by tho traveller who gazes upon them with tireles. scrutiny. and breathless admiration.
 But cannot describe, severally, the diff. ferent apartments, and their various con. tents--the rooms or sections already de- signated on the plan of the Cave, ar. thirty four and some of these contain nu merous individual curiosi,ies, to all whicl the ingenuity of visitors has very aptly fur nished sppellaiion founded on fancied re- semblances to objects of Nature or Art.- Some of them are indeed singularly felici tous. Such are the Pyramids. PomPeyi Pillar, the Statues of LacooD, the Madonna Niobe, the Crane. the Parrot, &c. &c. sc all of which arc stalactites. or stalagmites wrought entirely by tho hand Ofnature.- Sometimes these two concretions meet in the centre of the cavern, and form c0l- | .... .~~no.e;ur cha rnnf vvhirh is alua vs