384 Captain Alexander's Journey in America, 



from the bottom of the fall, but I think he must have been un_ 

 der some strange delusion in making this statement. I saw no- 

 thing of the kind, and no one about the Falls, or acquainted with 

 them, ever observed such a phenomenon. I visited several In- 

 dian tribes in Upper Canada, and then proceeded up the Otta, 

 wa to the Rideau Canal. It is certainly a stupendous work, and 

 worthy of a great nation : — Dams 180 feet long by 45 in height, 

 making still water for 20 miles, where formerly there were im- 

 passable rapids; locks 145 by 3^, and all executed in the most 

 masterly and substantial manner. Steam- vessels will pass through 

 the canal from Bytown to Kingston in May next, distance about 

 170 miles. Yet I question if wooden rail-roads, with such an 

 abundant supply of materials for their construction, would not 

 have answered all the purposes of the Ridean, and might have 

 saved a considerable part of the L. 700,000 which it cost. 



Notice of an Eruption of Vesuvius last February^ and some 

 particulars in regard to the Geology of Italy. In extracts of 

 a Letter to Professor Jameson. 



I HAVE hardly yet recovered the effects of an expedition I 

 made to Vesuvius the day before yesterday ; and which, though 

 attended with considerable difficulty, owing to the particular 

 circumstances in which we were placed, was certainly one of the 

 most interesting I have hitherto made, ^r expect to make, in 

 Italy. Since the eruption of last month, the crater had been 

 nearly in a stUte of repose until last Thursday, when smoke was 

 seen issuing from its summit. After waiting in vain for a day 

 perfectly suited to our purpose, we selected Monday as the most 

 favourable ; for, though stormy, yet the atmosphere was clear. 

 The party consisted of Mr Jackson, an American geologist, Mr 

 Dulcuet his friend, and John Home, an English gentleman, and 

 myself. After reaching the top of the cone, we had considerable 

 difficulty in getting to the leeward of the crater, as the clouds of 

 muriatic acid gas blown down were very dense and suffiDcating. 

 However, we made good the circuit, and ascended to the mouth 

 of the crater ; and, as we were on the * , and as the wind 



• The word is not legible in the MS. 



