Mobile register and journal., 1841-12-17
t~o~VNSA,4 .SMe

RECESSION or NIAGARA FALLs.--The Inst number ofth Hingham Patriot contains the Following sketch of some of Mf, LYELLs views, expressed be- fore the Lowell Institute, the subject oi the Falls of Niagara:
 "The lecture which Mr. LYRLL gave last Saturday contained some statements very curious and interesting that l cannot iorbear gring soua little account of iheuA. His subject the Accession o Niagara Falls He presented To his audience very beautiful bird's-eyo view (soaew hat resembling the style of theatre scenerl) ot the whue couatfy nom Lake Erie, and in.liIing portion of that lake, to Lewistown and Queenstown, about hali way between the Falls and Lake Ontario. The view was designed hy Bakewell, son of the great English geOogist, and painted by Russel Smith, of Philadelphia, artist whose skill is well known to all who have visited the theatres of that city. IL gave distinct ylew oi the whole course of the Niagara river, from the lake as far down as those two Towns, including, ol course the Falls. These towns-tle latter on the CanaGa, inc former on the American si1e 0f the rlyei--are built just under precpious clil, 37O feet high, lhe scenery about which is so beautiful and grand that the ect,ger said it would he well worth le visiting, even if there were falls near, and no other atrac- lion, This cliff is seven miles from the Falls, and the learned Lecturer supposcs that its base and the whole surrounding country below, was once severed by vast inland sea, of which the present lakes are but small renans that after the removal oi tlIs sea, Niagara river poured over this cliff that then the Falls were perhaps 290 feet higher than they now are, for there is gradual descent in the river or 100 feet between the present Falls and Queens town that the Falls have been gradually wearing away this cliff underneath lhe river, until Il IS now seven miles above where il used 10 bel that the Falls are recedng and diminishing in height year by year, till in the course of time should the world last long enough, there will be no Niagara Falls at all-they having backed quite into Lake Erie! In their place there will only be irregular rapids. He said ihcre was certain and ncontroyeriible geological proof that they had receded three miles; and Il was plesnnabie, .t st,a ttan nIuftt1 lure, that they had the whole The settlement of that rcgion has been recent that of course history can shed but lic light on the matter; yet dur ing the short period that has elapsed since the wole country was wilderness of bears and savages there is historical proof of great change. The first ac- s3nn %s'aeS S m 9e as Una. ever % m % s was hundred and sxt,-ihrec years ago and there was ihen according to his description, according t0 tie engraving that accompanies il, another fall, from west to east, in front of and those existing, formed by the westerly side of the river running against Table Rock. considerable portion of the edge of this rock has since fallen away, and of course the extra cataract caused by il has gone. lie sad that persons living in that vicinity told him that they could perceive recession of about yard per year those who have lived there fifty years said he Falls had receded fifty yards in that number of years Mr. Lye said that he visited that region company with distinguished geoogis who had been there five years before, and who said he could perceive there had been Il considerable change during that perIod And who do you think that ellow-rayeller was! James Hall once Hngham boy, oi the first geologsts in America. The Falls are now 16O feel high; 760 years hence, Mr. LyclI said, computing ,ccording the past, they would be but l20 feet hgh and in gave the date q have forgotten how I,S forward he the regions of utulity it was) when they would be only 80 feet hsIr-just half their present height He referred also 10 ariical causes, cangs, mills, and factories, which turning of the water fthe lakes, and will help diminish the grandear of the Falls. "