Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-31
Correspondence of the Parfot.I

well enough for those who like ii, bat there
was nothing cougenial in it or its for me, so !
took the first opportunity to leave it. This
event took place at II P. NJ. I crossed over
into the dominions of her gracious Majesty at |
Windsor-one mile. On the Ferry Boat, |
(Which for size and capacity would answer on
the line contemplated across the Atlantic, oy |
Mr.. Dudley Mann, and some others, who seem |
to have an idea that ships can be built aud
sustained by the mere power of judicious re-
solves, and pretty speeches made and passed
by Convention,) drank a tip-top cup of cof-
fee, and obtained ticket to this place en- the
Great Western Canada Railway. This is foe
road, six feet gauge wide and cornmOdious
cars, and easy seats. It had all the earmarks
of John Bull, and was as good as that gentle
man could desire for his American provinces
There were from five to seven hundred pas
sengers-a very respectable turnout for bit
of a iibustering party, had it been resolved
into that character OF expedition. We left
Windsor just at dark, and running 229 miles,
reached the Suspension Bridge at daylight
the next morning. This bridge is 800 feet be-
tween the pillars, and is a work of great mag
ntude. Il has two floors, one above the 9TH
er, about 20 feet apart. The lower floor serves
for the ordinary travel of carriages, horsemen,
and footmen; the uppe: one for the cars.
Many of the passengers got out on the other
side, fearing to risk the bridge-I kept my
seat, feeling in perfect safety. AS the train
passed slowly over, got first glimpse of the
Falls abov,, distance of about TWO miles. l
] lopka5 inctapflv of tbo ruchiuO W.
Immediately beneath me-reserving all tbs
full reality of the spectacle, for fresh and IN
alleged view unfettered and unmarried by any
partial impression. l drove Immediately to
the International Hotel, very near to the Falls,
and took a room, and rested from the fatigues
of travel till o'clock. Then breakfasting, l
was ready to go ont to the Falls.
Niagara Falls have suffered much from at
tempts at descriptions OF them. They are in
capable of a perfect description--they have
suffered from artists, who have essayed to
transfer them to canvass-and from the mise
rab!e, paltry etchings of photographers. No
one has ever yet conveyed, in any form, sn
impression of their greatness at all approach
ing the reality. They can be Typographical
that is all. We can say that the river nearly
north to the brink of the great Falls, and there
turns to the Northeast; that above the river
is separated into two parts by an Island, called
by some Goat Island, by some Iris Island,
which contains an area of 60 to rs acres-the
greater flow of the waters goes to the left Of
this; that there Is a rapid decline in the bed
of the river, on both sides, filed with rocks,
which causes the waters to run rapidly, splash
ing and dashiDg along till they reach the Prec-
ipice, where they pour over distance of ITO
feet more or less; that the bulk of these wa
ters are as great perhaps that of the Ohio
river. But what does that amount too Rocks
and islands, the turbulence of water, their
roar, their foam, their splashing and dashing,
and even their fall, are all commonplace ide-
as. These, simply, are not Niagara Falls. 1t
takes a combination of these in their largest
sense, in their very highest grandeur and sub
Unity, to make Niagara. The words we use
in talking and writing of these Falls, are eve
ry day applied to minor objects-and when we
talk and write of these scenes here, we make
our description ridiculous, not TO say foolish.
Daniel Webster, many years ago, in writing to
female friend, Typographical Niagara Falls in
fnitely better than any of the guide books, or
travel books, or correspondents of Newspa
pers, have done, and if this were to be done
again, l should commend that letter to your
readers-I should be very far from attempting
it myself.
AS to the impressions created upon my poor
heart and soul, I should feel that had done
them and myself great Injustice by making
l., 8 rD- 81
ance to others. These Falls ought not to be
written about, they ought to be seen. could
say that l viewed them in all their great as
= poets, from Prospect place-from Goat Island
from Bath Island-from the Twin Sister Is
ands-from the tower-from the Suspension
, Bridegroom the ferry-from the towns O.
Niagara Falls and Niagara, ElgIn, and Clifton
from Table Rock (only a small part of which
now remains)-from the Museum-from Cliff
ton House-from the Observatory at Lundy':
Lane-that on board OF the Maid Of the Mist,
all mufled and hooded in oil-cloth, passed
4 along quite nearly to the foot Of the American
= Falls-passed above che Tower on this side
5 driving into the mids: of the foam, aud mist
+ and rainbows, and thunders, face to face witt
. the stupendous Crescent or Horseshoe Falls
= then turning and sweeping down the Canals
side. Nay, l might say that l went down IN
der the Table Rock, passed behind the mighty
cataract, and have been overwhelmed wifi
+ the wonderful scene on every hand, aud OF
S every side, and at every successive view. AnC
!, vet, what would you or your reasons know aUG
feel Of Niagara Fslls2 / shall not refer L
these impressions and these scenes further.
e There are other objects of interest here
i The cave of the Winds The Whirlpool-th
= Devils Hole-the battle ground of Lundy'
Lane-the Burning Springs, &c. But they ar
c swallowed up by the other great and indescri
-. bable charm of the place. have visited then
= all but shall not now speak of them. l ha,
rather preserve and cherish the recollection
o and impressions here, as a whole-and canno
ID consent to divide them up, ard dole them out
u in these brief and hasty lines.
g, The company at Niagara is very large, lar
ger perhaps than before during this or an
other season. The international has the "ruu,
&c and no place presents wider feld for soci,
- enjoyment. The day is spent in looking at h
~ Falls-the night, in the gay and crowded bal
room-and il is thus every day and night.
leave here this afternoon, at 2 o'clock, an
aE you will probably hear from me again.
on NJ