The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-08-08

precipice to the other side of Goat Island,
stood on the border of tho horse shoe fall
Here the great body of the river rushcs owe
the prccpice which assumes a scmi-crculnI
form. On the edge of the fall the water it
supposed to be twenty feet deep, and the shcc
precipitated into the boiling gulf is Of
that thickness Great masses in rapid motor
present the strongest impressions of sublimity
and power and while gazing on this body of
wator three quarters of a mile in circuit and
from FIVE to twenty feet in thickness, pouring
down with immense velocity into the boiling
caldron beneath, which is continually sending
up clouds of vapor, il seems impossible TO con.
ceive an exhibition of more terrific power, OF
a scene of more sublime grandeur, Fixing
my grasp firmly in crevice of the rock
reached over and gazed down from the over
hanging shelf on which stood, until dizziness
warned me to retire, IInlfa mile below the
falls an inclined plane is constructed from the
edge ofthe prccipice to the waters edge,
down which one is lowered or hoistcd up in a
car in about two minutes. | descended and
in small skiff was transportcds across the
dark and foamng waters to the Canada side
The river here is three hundred feet deep, and
as the light skifi'was tossed about by the sur
gcs, or whirled around by the currents, it was
impossible to resist the impression of danger.
Climbing to the top of the prccipce on the
Canada side, by Il winding road, | passed a
long the edge to the Table Rock, broad
smooth rock about five feet thick projecting
over the chasm some fifteen or twenty feet
approached to the edge on my hands and
knees and looked down and under, upon the
surging pillows, bat the sensation Of crawling
and shrinking back was too great to overcome
and quickly rctrcated Again I stood under
the table rock and viewed from beneath the
masses of water as they broke and tumbIcd o.
yer the precipcc, and whirlcd the air around
in powerful gusts, which We're peculiarly re-
froshing, in the sultry day. Clad in oil-cloths
and accompanied by guide I next veaturcd
behind the great sheet of water. The spray
descended like n heavy rain, the wind blew it
in our faces; the cells at every step were wind
ing their way up the rocks, like scntucls TO
guard this palace of the winds and waters
Arriving at the termination of the path turn
ed TO survey the rude cavern Above, the
rock rose perpendcularly and then archcd o.
yer some IL or Is feet, and over the edge Of
the shelf poured down the wide sheet Of water,
striking some 90 feet below US, and boiling up
in heavy surges
On one side tie rock, and on the other the
water, completely shutting us out from the
surrounding world, with the spray dashing o..
yer MS in torrents and the roar so dcaf,ninr
that we could scarcely hear our own own vol
ccs, it would be difficult to imagine scene
more wild and exciting. About three miles be-
low we took our last look the falls as we were
passing down the Rail Road to Lcwistown.-
From this place we have full birds eye view
of the falls and surrounding scenery, and be-
ing removed from the roar fthc cataract, and
the restless agitation orthe waters not being
pcrccptablr; thas the appearance Of large
and beautiful picture, and on the whole is one
OF the most interesting points from which this
magnificent scene can be viewed.
Lake Eric is about three hundred feet high
cr thnn lake Ontario. The descent from the
table land of lake Erie to that of lake Ontario is
at Lcwistown on the American side S'Quccns-
ton on the Canada side. This is seven miles
below the fall, and the river in the lapse of a.
gcs has dug out this channel thro' the soft
limestone, and will probably in time wear it's
way upto lake Erie. In approaching the
channel on either side the country appears
perfectly level, and there is no indicaton Of
the deep chasm, until we are just on the edge
of the precipice. J.P.F.
The Way to be Happy.