Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-07-30

so feet and whom it reaches Cumberland its length
will be $50 miles; . tunnel 10 new being formed
through mountain Of some extent, and its passage
30 far a. been made along tremendous mountains
and through masses Of solid rock that must astonsh
every who looks at II, and that every one must
have pronounced impossible who had seen the ground
before the canal was commenced. Ii has been
cavated about 100 miles, andis expected to be carried
10 Cumberland in the course of couple of years.
When this accomplished, II isbslleved bylts friends
that the mineral wealth he country contains In those
all the Atlantic cities and that the whole nation will
be supplied at cheap rate and IN the greatest abun-
dance, with coal Of the finest kind. IL has cost so
far absu seven millions of dollars, and million and
half more will be required to complete " 10 Camoer,
land. Ii is certainly a stupendous work, and VIII
reflect great honor the industry and enterprise OF
our country shoad the dreams of its enthusiastic
friends, even prove visionary and extravaganL Inc
locks are constructed of the best and most durable
materials, and with great skill, and the inns and lock
keepers houses, built by the company, are neat and
substantial. A packet boat runs from Georgetown
TO Harper's Ferry in one day and would recon-
mend TO every one who admires the beauty and sub
Unity of nature in her widest freaks, 10 take trip
up this canal.
How can convey to you proper dea OF this mag
ncent spot No pictorial skill can give just delinea-
ton of il, and no power of description can convey
a correct image of its supendousDess and grandeur.
The theory of Jefferson that the Potomac and Shan
andoch rivers, had by the force OF their united waters
burst passage through the Blue Ridge, and thus
blended, parsued their meanderng course TO the
Chesapeake Bay, IS not satisfactory to my mind.
II would rather appear to have been produced by
some convulsien of nature, which had rent the
mountain in twain, and buried its debris in the
bowels OF the earth, for scarcely any of these are
now visible.
On the Maryland side, the Blue Ridge terminates
abruptly and towers above the river in an almost per-
pendicular elevation, TO an immense height. On the
Virginia side the mountain again continues It's course
far 10 the south, and rises from both rivers precp-
tame mi c,hs I'D opfth md he mn n
tans of great elevation steep rugged, and covered
with trees which conceal in some degree, their pre-
clptous rocks. The town IS situated at the bottom
of one Of these and like most Virginia towns, IS ex-
ceedingy dirty Houses of different sizes and shapes
dot the mountain side, along which the road is seen
wind till it disappears in the distance Jefersons
famous rock still hangs in the air, considerably be-
low the mountain top, but from which most spen-
did and magnificent prospect is presented 10 the eye.
Below you are the Potomac and Shenandoah, broken
by noisy rapids, projecting rocks and studded with
little islands, diminished to specks by the distance;
the vista formed by the passage of the two rivers, I'M
IN the foreground, studded with farmstyerdant
slopes-and beautiful landscapes-while' the Co.
toctent
"Blue fading into mist"
the svery line of the river, and the deep cerulean
sky form q scene beautiful as any the eye could
desire to repose on. But every pleasure mas It's
pain, and the grand sublime and beautiful objects
around you do not lesson the intensity of the heat,
but rather increase its power; for il is certainly the
hottest hole in this country, and all its grandeur and
beauty cannot csuntcrbalance the annoyance suf
fers from the united miseres of musquos, heas, dirt
and heat. Ifu be not worth voyage across the At
lantc, Jefferson asserts, it is, nevertheless, well
worth journey from the most distant parts Of the
United States Van Burens on his way to the White
Sulphur, and other springs in Virginia, with the for
lorn hope Of recovering that State. He thinks his
presence will have wonderful effect upon the people
Of the "ancient dominion" who have, of late, been
unaccustomed TO the presence Of President-but he
will be disappointed. HORACE.