New-York daily tribune., 1842-09-03

been e1plored-some to their termination. or I'LL
they branched off in various directions but of the
majority which have been entered there has been
10 end discovered, and they Will furnish an ample
field for the curious. About half mile further
there is large room called the Cotton Factory.
A stream of considerable size runs along here,
and the roar of much larger one, about half a
mile distant, in one Of the side passages, is dis
tinc,ly heard, like continued and incessant peal
of thunder. The reyerberations through these
apartments are truly grand, and the murmur of one
stream. and the thunder of the other, so impressed
the whole party that we moved onward in silent
awe.
The remaining passage for great distance is
along the smaller stream, (,he course of the ether
is unexplored,) y and abounds in cuyiosities; innu-
merable stalacttcs and stalagmites. some ot the
latter of such dimensions wholly to obstruet
the passage, and render it difficult 70 Chamber over
them. Some of the stalactites are many feet IN
length, extending from the roof TO the floor, re-
sembling columns, futed and admirably polished.
Most of these formations, however, are beyond
reach, bar sone of the larger enes come down
within few feet of the gropsd. When struck
these give a clear, silvery, musical sound, and a
good singer BY regulating his strokes with regard
TO place and force, could accompany himself most
admiratly-far better than with all the complica-
ted artificial instruments the world ever produced.
1t would be utterly impossible to ensmerate the
rooms or their dimensions, even to give the
shador of an idea of the really solemn magnii-
cence of these subterraaeous chambers. 1t may
truly be said " night and day are here unknown y
and s the rising Of the sun is not marked" Every
step throughout the whole extent as far as ex-
plored, served to give the visiter more extended
ideas of the mysteries and wonders of nature. and
TO impress his mind with more adequate sense OF
his own littleness.
So rapidly had time passed. that we were hard
ly of its passage, and it was nearly sun-down
BY our time-pieces, before we turned back. The
absolute necessity of our return to Albany by the
next mornings stages, whose nearest route was ten
miles distant alone prevented our further progress
We returned by the same route we came through
the " Gallery" and giving last look at the altar
in the /" Church not made with hands and open
ing into this wondrous arcana, as if to warn all
intrudcrs to first become pure before passing its
sacred precincts, we in shor: time emerged into
the open cir. Here we experienced the same SEN
sation as at our exit from Balls Cave, an almost
insuiferable sultriness No bad effects need be
feared from visit to this cave. which though wet
and damp is thoroughly ventilated by current of
air coming from-where! The nitre too in which
this cave abounds, and with which the earth, as
well as the water, is thoroughly impregnatcd, is
conducive to health, and Of great benefit to those
predisposed to consumption. We certainly expc-
renced i'll effect from visit, the contrary
felt much nyiSorated, after the momeatury feeling
above mentioned had passed.
We cannot conclude without bearing testimony
to the extreme kindness of Mr.. Howe, and giving
word Of advice to all who anticipate making q
with an old suit Of some kind, complete, before
you leave hume, and even then, though you may
put on one of Mr.. HIS court dresses over that,
you will find bath necessary your return.
However, it is not far to the creek. We say thus
much because we-hut no matter.
With this hurried and imperfect account, re-
main, dear sir, yours truly,
E. GEORGE sQUIER.
P.S. had almost forgotten to state that the
cave must have been known before the country
was settled by the whites, from the fact that human
bones, as well as pieces ofcharcoal, incrusted with
solid coating of carbonate of lime of two or three
inches in thickness, have been found at the dis
tance of more than mile from the entrance. Il
is impossible to give in this short aceount an emu
meration Of the many curiosilies within the cave
/ n1nch less speculate any theory respecting
its origin. That the action of water has done
much in opening this extraordinary cavern canno,
be doubted, but the stupendous masses of rock
that have fallen from the roof, as well as many
other circumstances, render it equally certain that
some powerful and tremendous convulsion must
have rended the solid rock in the first place. The
geologist will have ample room for speculation.