New-York daily tribune., 1865-10-18

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| From Our Special Correspondent ~
| YOSEMITE VALLEY, MARfPosA Co.. California.
| Saturday, Aug. 10 1865.
| See Yosemite and die! shall not attempt
TO describe IL; the theme is too large and my capacity
too small Beside, after three months rapid trase
stated with Sightseeing have lost the keen edge Of
iish and run out Of al ectivss Yosemite should be
studied tor morths; have SCENT but I'VE says VOL ~
two letters can only group few hints ana impres'
| siOns.
tribe OF Indians. In 1851 they were hostile; the
whites pursuing them into their home ana stronghold,
discoyefed this browning wonder Of the world Find.
ing IN one lodge very aged sq1a&w & tssy ASKED % mo now
girl these mountains were hills To appreciate the
| statement one should See the mountains.
Our party Of fseventeen-the largest which ever en-
tered the yalcy-iDcades my companions OF the over
land trip. Fred MecCrel!ish Of The Alta California;
William Ashburner Of the State Geological Surrey and
Frederic Law olnsted. the well known author, srcbi'
Sanitary Commission. On Monday. after four days
lard travel from San FIancsco. we galoped forwafd
out tf the pine woods dismounted, stood upon the
rocky precipioo Of Inspiration Point and looked down
Yosemite as one from housetop looks down into the
garden or rather he would view the Interior OF some
supendous rooAess cathedral from the top OF one OF
II
mouhtains Right under Us was the narrow, winding
basin Of meadow, grove and shining river. shut In Dy
granite walls from 2O00 TO 5000 feet bighwalls with
immense turets Of bare roek-walls 80 upright and
pc feet that an expert cragsman climb out OF the
vallry Only at three or four points -.
Ensns O. pebble from the rock upon which We
stood and looking over the brink saw IL fall more
than half mile before striking. Gancing dagonaDy
across the narrow, profound chasm, surveyed an I'M
broken seamless wall Of granite, twohirds OF mile
high and more than perpendicular. the top protrudog
$50 feet over the base Turning toward the upper end
OF the valley beheld hsfdome Of rock. one mile high.
and ON its summit solitary gigantic cedar. appearing
like the merest wig. Originally vast granite noun,
tain II was ryen from top 70 bottom by some ancient
copvulsion which cleft asunder the everlasting hills
aud rent the great globe itself
he mcasureess, inc oeng walls. with these leading
towers and many other urres. gray brown. and white
rock dsrkly veined from summit to base with sreaks
and ribbons Of falling WATER hills. almost upright yet
studded with tenacious frs and ,edars and the deep.
down lev loor o grass wah lis thread OF river and
pigmy trees. all burst upon me at once. Nature had
LIED her curtain reveal the vast and the infinite.
Ii ELECTED no adlectiyes no exlamati )ns With DO.
siilerng OF divine power and human littleness
could oniy g,,le In silence Till the view strained ny
brain and PANIED my eyes compelling me 70 turn away
and rest from its oppressive magnitude.
Riding for two hours, down, down, among sharp
rocl aud dizzy zgzags, where the ave ladies Of orr
party found IL difficult ~ keep in the saddle aud
rowly escaped pitching over their horses heads, we
were In the valley. entering by the MsHposa trail.
This diagram though not rninutey accurate, will give
90 ldes Of l.s form and features: III.