Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-12


tator does Dot see. The magnitude. the1
strengths, and the hurry of the mighty stream,
create deep and instant CONSERVATION. Pro- |
ceeding onward, and turning little down the
stream, we come to the waters edge, at the
top of the FALL The water is even with the
bank, and we can wash our hands IN safety 10
the river. Going along, now, on the Table
Rock, we have what is generally thought the |
best view of the whole Falls.
Fronting US Is the American Fall, and the little
Cascade; further to the rgbtGoat island, and the
commencement by t Of the British FAD; and fur
ther 10 our right is the great circular Fall, or
Horseshoe, which will hardly allow the eyes to be
Withdrawn long enough 70 look at anything else
You may stand by ne water just where il falls on
and II YOUR head does not swim, you may proceed
TO the brink of Table Rock, and look down into
the gull beneath. This Is all foani and froth, and
spray. As you stand here, il looks as II all the
water OF the gob was collected round this circle,
and pouring down here into the centre ofthe earth
Az We stood to-day at noon on the projecting
point of Table Rock we looked over into this abyss,
aud far beneath our feet, arched over this tremeb-
dous aggregate Of water, foam. and vapor, we saw
perfect aud radiant rainbow. This ornament oil
heaven does not seem out Of place, in being half.
way up the sheet Of the glorious cataract. 1t
looked as II the skies themselves paid homage to
this atupcndous work OF nature. From Table Rock,
little further down, winding staircase is con
structed, down which we descend from the level Of
Table Rock. 90 icet This brings US to the bottom
OF the perpendicular rock, and from this place we
descend so 90 feet further, over large fragments
of rock aud other substance, down to the edge Of
the river. We went this afternoon little lower
down the river than the upper staircase, almost
indeed down TO the ferry, aud getting out on
rock in the edge Of the river, we thought the view
OF the whole Falls the best We had obtained. If
at the bottom of the staircase, instead OF descen-
ding further, we choose to turn TO the right, and
go up the stream, keeping close at the foot OF the
Table Rock, the perpendicular bank, we soon
get TO the foot of the Fall, and approach the edge
OF the falling mass. II is easv to go in behind, for
little distance, between the falling water and the
rock which il is preciptated; this cannot be
dore, however, without being entirely wet. From
within this cavern there issues wind, occasionally
very strong and bringing with it such showers and
torrents of spray, that soon as wet as II we
had come over the Falls with the water. AS near
to the Fall in this place you can well come, is
perhaps the spot on which the mind is most deep
ly impressed with the whole scene. Over our heads
hangs fearful rock projecting out Ike an unsup.
ported piazza. Before US is a hurry -burly OF was
ters TO deep too be fathomed, too irregular to be
described, shrOuded in too much mist to be clearly
seen. Water, VapOr, foam, and the atmosphere,
are all mixed up together, in sublime confusion.
By our side, down comes this world Of green and
white waters, and pours into the Invisible abyss.
steady, unvarying low toned roar, thuuders inces,
sanity upon our ears We look up, We think some
sudden disaster has opened the seas and that all
their floods are coming down upon US at once; but
we sOon recollect, that what see is not suda
den or violent exhibition, but the permanent and
uniform character of the object which we contem
plate. There, the grand spectacle has stood, for
centuries, from the creation, even, as far as We
know, without change. From the beginning, it has
shaken as it now does, the earth and the air. and
its unvarying thunder existed before there were
human ears to hear it, Reflections like these, on
the duration and permanency of this grand object,
naturally arise, and contribute much TO the deep
feeling which the whole scene produces We can
not help being struck with a sense of the insignlf
canoe of man and all bis works, compared with what
is before u.s.
40! vi ere it comes, like eternity
As II to sweep down all things in its track'
shall not, my dear Mrs. Blake attempt any full
description of this scene and still less to represent
its whole effect the mind. 1t must be seen; it is
something which speaks to the senses; no descrp"
ton can set it FORTH
The ferry as | believe l have already stated
leaves the British shores near half mile below
the Fall on that side, aud passes over to the Ameri
can shores just the lower edge Of the Falls there
The view of the whole Fall, from the boat is very
From the landing place on the American side, a
new and welcbut staircase brings US up, close
along by the falling water, to the top of the bank
We there walk along up the river, aud see that the
American branch is not only less wide but much
less deep than the British. The Cascades, how
ever, are beautiful on this side. About half
mile above the Fall good bridge is thrown over TO
Goat Island This is a charming place, containing
sixty or seventy acres Of ground covered with
4 - IL oil ,,,,,1
ii, and see the Rapids to great advantage, 10 both
divisions of the stream. It's lower end also pres
SCENTS some good views Of the Falls. We see here
that the American Fall is not so straight as seems
from the other SIDE but has various projections aud
indentatons The little stream, running at the east
corner Of Goat Island and 'orming it falls, the
little Cascade, is quite accessible, and might almost
be wsded over. In the morning the bow is very
fine. from this point. saw one this morning Gauss
ed by the spray from the American Fall. 1t seems
ed to spring up from the little house in which the
ferrysman lives, on the British side, and swelling
up along the flank it came down again near the
Table Rock. The depth of the water in the river
below the Falls, is very great 1t is said 10 have
been lately sounded, by public authority, where
thu ferry is and found to be more than 500 feet. 1t
would seem to be dangerous, where the boat passes
but believe !; is not so. The water is a good deal
agitated but il does not run with any current too
strong to be encountered.
The rock over which the waters of the Cataract
fall is limestone. No doubt the same sort of rock
underlies this whole country, for a great extent
The banks of the river, and the wall over which the
Fails run, show great regularity of formation. 10
building the stairs, on the American side, lately,
| the woIkmen have blown away the rock in the side
OF the bank, for some distance, to make room for
the staircase, and here the successive strata are
seen generally from six inches to three feet thick
laid up with the precision of masonry.
We have been here now the whole or a part of
three days; and although eyes are not saisf- ID
with seeing, yet some Of US complain Of weary limbs
from walking about so much, and going down aud
| climbing up the bank 40 often.
We shall leave probably Tomorrow. Il will not
| be without pain that part from the Falls
And now, my dear Mrs. Blake, let me repeat
how much we lament that you and your husband
have not been with US on this visit. Our whole
party desire their best respects to you both. Mrs
| Webster particularly sends her love to YOU, and
thinks you will deserve wel if your patience holds
| out through this long letter. However that NAV
be, assure you ! have had much pleasure in writ
ing IL, and ii | could think Of any thing more TO
say on the subject, should write still longer But
be not alarmed, am through; and have only to add
that aD, most afTectionatrly Yours, always
DAN'L WEBSTER
sE Somebody, we don't know who, has
given to the world the following
MORAL AND EXAMPLE.