The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-14


the reach ofiIs murmurs or lis 0ood The rocks Cor
few yards above the Bridge rise aboul $50 feet
perpendicular above The water but below the banks
gradually decline into valley, through which the
stream which is called Cedar Creek meanders IN is
course the James River. The road over the Bridge
Is very fine one, and the stage ranled on few
yards beyond 10 the tavern, where registry OF yisi-
ers Is kept. A very good path leads from The house
down through little lhicket Of arbor viln to the
stream below the Bridge and The passenger may
make his way by stepping from rock 10 rock on the
margin OF the water, TO cool and comfortable posi-,
ton under the arch The scene from below Is one
OF grandeur and sublimy, far exceeding our expec-
latons. The arch is more lofty and imposing, II
has more strength, soidy, beauty and majesty, than
we had anticipated. As Mr. Jefferson truly said, "if
The view from The top be painful and nolerabe that
from below Is delightful in equal extreme; IL is
impossible for the emotions arising from tie sublime
TO be fell beyond what they are here: so beautiful
an ARCH SO elevated, SO light, and springing il
were up to heaven the rapture Of the spectator is
really INDISPENSABLE The fssure continuing narrow,
deep and straight, for considerable distance above
and below the Bridge, opens short but very pleas
ing view of the North Mountain on one side, and
Blue Ridge on the other, at the distance each Of
them about five miles"
The Bridge is about GO feet wide in the middle,
but more at the ends, and 30 feet long. The thick
ness Of the arch and The coat of earth on its top is
about 40 feet and The rock is solid blue limestone.
The earth on The summit has given birth TO growth
OF trees and shrubbery, that traveller might pass
the scene without being aware OF IT, There Il also
natural growth OF fores trees at the bottom Of the
assure, but their tops, LOFTY they are, yainly emu
late the height Of the noble arch which Is about $50
feet Jefferson says, "he assure close by The Bridge,
sbysome admeasuremenis27 fee; deepby others 205.
The arch approaches the semi ellptical form, but
the large axis Of the ellipsis, which would be the
chord of the arch, Is many times longer Than the
transverse" We tried in, vain TO throw a stone up
TO the arch. II is said that no man has ever been
able to perform the feat but the tradition IS that
Gen Washington, who was long armed and athletic
in his youth, once cast dollar from the bottom Of
the fssure to the rocks at the top few years ago
an adventurer undertook 10 climb half way up, to
mmortalize himself by the nscrip,on Of his name.
At the heig of about forty feet he fund himself in
a hazardous position, in which be was compelled TO
sustain himself by slender hold Ia this situation
he was obliged TO remain, crying for assistance, I'M
Ill nearly .fainting with exhaustion, when he was
discovered and relieved by a rope let down to him
| from the summit. On the underside Of the arch,
which is broad and remarkably smooth there is dis
iinc,ly discenibie the figure OF an eagle with its
wings extended, and lion crouching by its side.
The stage stops about half an hour, giving passen-
gers opportunity Of seeing The bridge; and it is
well worth visit YET there are many people, il is
said, who have passed their lives within few miles
without having the curiosity TO visit this wonderful
monument Of Almighty Power.
The Natural Bridge is situated in Rockbridge
county, about thirty miles west OF Lynchburg, and
perhaps twenty from Lexington. The James River
stage route and the valley route intersect each other
at this place. Lexington is the site Of Washington
College, and the Virginia Military Institute con-
nected with ii. About twelve miles south are the
Peaks of Ouer, the highest peak Of the Blue Ridge,
which have an elevation Of 1900 feet, and afford,
from their summits the most comprehensive and
magnificent landscape views In Virginia. They
| are easily reached by private conveyance.
Fare from White Sulphur 10 Dibrells forty miles,
81 From Dibrell's 10 Lynchburg, fifty miles, IS.
The EDITOR.
VirPinia 1899 #..4s@.