Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-07-11

of the Crescent" aud American side, which
are only visible from tho western bank ot the
Niagara, and in the afternoon, seem To dimn.
i.h some " hat from the awiulness of The scene.
and to give II an aspect of rich aud mellow
grandeur, not unlike the bow of promise,
throwing its assuring radiance over the retir.
ing waters OF the dclnge.
The "rapids," which commence nearly n
mile above the cataract, and, sparkling M the
sun, spread out like sea OF diamonds. seem
admirably to give nolce Of what awaits be-
low and, when examined from position OH
Goat Island, become extremely interesting
from the dash and foam of the broken flood
the noise which, distinct from that Of the
great fall, would remind you of the murmur.
of an Alpine forest, in the rising swell Of the
coming storm. In crossing the river below
the falls, you have one Of the richest views
of the whole cascade that can possibly be
imagined, and the rising bank and mossy
rock, the lofty trees and luxurian, shrubbery
OH either side, are IN fine keeping with the
scene, and are essential to the unity and
completeness of the picture. But what most
interested me here was the tUmulluOus tossing
and whrling OF the water, where It's depth
must be now more than two hundred ieet,and
its width at least seven hundred yards. The
whole mass seems To be heavlng with lnlurl'
ate life. A thousand counter currents and
eddies meet, break and mnglc, IN the general
"torrent and whirlwind" Of the walcTs.-
Within a circumference Of two or three
hundred yards, near the American shore, this
singular action Of The element gives the wa
ter an elevation of from five To seven feet
above the ordinary level aud the strong
conflicting currents are seen tossing and
struggling with volcanic inrcc like the Adrl
allc turned up !rom the bottom by tempest.
But the most appalling combination Of won
der and awe was felt when, after descending
the spiral staircase at Table Rock, passed
under the great falling sheet. Dvesting my
self of the most burthensome part Of my
clothes, aud glrding an oil cloth mantle about
me, with hood for the protection Of the head,
! entered the hollow space, half luminous,
half obscure. between the projecting rock
aud The buundlCss mass Of water pouring ,ter
lis arch, like n sea of molten lead. In this
way | proceeded one hundred aud fifty or
sixty feet, 10 determination Rock" pun,
beyond which no human being has ever pen.
ciralcd, and here, amid tempest OF wind
and spray, almost dcprylng me OF respiration
j paused to look up and around, awed and
agllated by The stirring grandeur and sOmbrc
mystcriousncss of al! could hear or see
The edge of the prrclplcc, over which the
water falls, rs projection Of about fifty feet
over the base wherr stood. After remain.
ing here for several minutes, and selecting
some pebbles from the path at my feet, with
all Increased sense Of danger, ] effected my
retreat sincerely thankful that had not pur.
chased the qualification Of my curiosity with
the loss of my life. ] spent four days and
nights, with tho exception OF q few hours for
rest, IN The examination of the falls, and IN
solitude with the majesty of the cngroSslng
sccne-a majesty ak It's uwn-un,ypcd and
unshadowcd by aught had ever seen before;
and having surveyed the great object OF my
visit, from nearly an hundred different points
Of view, was more than satisfied that the
cataract Of Niagara is wonder IN nature,
wholly unique in It's kind, and aitOrdlng a
rich, II not an uncquallcd harvest of interest
aud observation To every behuldcr. Indeed
nature seems 20 have done her work here IN
mood ard upon scale of the mos, creative
prodigal,y; consulting alike, as the Pagan
poet would say, her own amusement and
the admiration of man"
My last look at the falls was night view
from the upper portIco of the Pavilion; the
brilliant lamps and mooncd lovelness of an
autumnal heaven adding to the spendor Of
The vision. From tins point. amid the tremu-
luus shaking ot the Garth and the heavens, in
silent Communion with the mighty cataract,
the eye takes n more extended rangc-ihc
most magnificent of prospects. The whole
scenery, diversified and yet one, is spread out
before you IN living beauty and picturesque
majesty. lou see the plains ond forests
above the cliffs and rocks,a islands around;
the dreadful prccipicc, and the bold sweep of
the walcry mass, while The fall Of the vast
pervading column strikes your car, like the
thunder. chorus ol the "vasty deep" warning
with its bounds
felt about me heart reaching, spirit
stirring influence. that detained me until
midnight; and wh.n retired, iatigucd aud
exhausted, and threw myself upon my pillow,
1t was only to feel the more intensely, the
power and expression. the oneness, the depth,
the namclcss grandeur Of the scene and ear
and thought still fingered to catch and com
munc with inr-of chdngs of the flood, as
they walled to the one the requiem of de-
parted waters, and murnurcd to the other the
melancholy dirgc Of their passing away.
Cataract of Niagara, Sepi.9, Is.