Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-08-01

THE CHASM OF THE AUSABLE.

A description Of this truly grand and beautiful work
Of Nature cannot fail TO be interesting TO the lovers Of
the sublime, the awful and the majestic 1t is form
ed by the passage Of the Ausabe, in its wandering
from the eastern declivty of the Adirondack
mountains to the western shore of Lake Champlan,
through vast stratum of rock which at period
of time seems to have been rent asunder by some
mighty convulson of Nature, there forming the more
imposing feature of Chasm we are about to describe.
There is in this spot beautiful combination of the
sublime, the majestic and the lovely which is not
ceeded If even equaled by the far-famed Falls of Nj
agara. The Chasm commences at the small village
of Birmingham. The river here changes its course
from east to norh and rushes headong down de-
clivy Of so feet irregular and delvng rocks, in
to the stupendous Chnsm below, the spray rising in
curling wreaths aud losing itself in the groves of pine
and cedar which adorn its banks. 1t then passes on
in deep and boiling, yet almost noiseless current for
more than a mile through this wonderful natural
pass, which varies in width from 30 TO so feet, and
which through the whole of its course rises like two
mighty walls perpendicuary from the bed of the riv
er, the heighth of 100 feet The to this rich
and lime scene is by a rude staircase. descending
nearly 100 feet, parallel to The line of the Chasm,
through deep rent in the rock, feet wide which
leads 10 large fiat rock at the level of high water
here tne scene WIFI all lis majesty ana gran
dcur upon the enraptured beholder. The deep anc
rapid river, eddyne and boiling in its onward course
and the mighty wall which rises on either side ia
above the asonlshed spectator here utng in crage!
grandeur his head, and there descending perpen
dicularly to the bottom, beauted by the appropiial
drapery of Nature, the evergreens which have take
root in the crevces Of the rocks, the whole crowne
by the majestic cedars which lnterlock their branche
from the opposite sides of the Chasm almost exclu
ding the light Of the sum- forms rich subject for tn
pen of the author and the cravon of the painter. Ye
It impossible for either do justice 10 the scent
it is for the most skepca to look upon it withot
feelings Of reverence and awe; and the stoutes heat
here ,renbles and invokes the protection of supren
power. Such scene is certainly better worth sc
miles journey than the magnificent scenery of Ii
Hudson is worth voyage across the Atlantic; an
u although not extensively known, it is the favorl,e r.
g Sort during the season, Of Pic Mics and pa
ties OF pleasure from many parts Of Eastern Ne
York, and even from Vermont. 1t has of late becom
c more interesting from the melancholy association
e connected with it in the fate of the Rev. p. Dyer
-, Whitehall, who, while visit TO the Chasm in q
tempting TO cross a narrow part, on very precal
e Gus support, was precipiaed from the level of hig
j. water and drowned. This interesting spot is situa
is near Of the routes from Port Kent to keesevi
and the traveller, as he passes through the vicnit
pauses in his journey 10 visit the Chasm ofhe Aus
n, BILE, c.