44 Description of the Falls of Niagara. 



Falls is exactly the same as described and delineated 

 by the French artists, 160 years ago. Besides, ac- 

 cording to the laws of motion, the principal pressure 

 of the water here must be in the direction in which 

 it moves, and consequently not against the rocks it 

 merely flows over, and where it meets with no oppo- 

 sition. There is less probability of the bottom wear- 

 ing away here than in any other river of equal depth, 

 where there are no such falls : for where the current 

 is so very strong, the pressure downwards must 

 thereby be very considerably diminished. And, for 

 the same reason, the water being ejected far beyond 

 the precipice, acts with little force against its edge. 

 How then can it wear or bear it away for miles, even 

 in the greatest length of time ? If the solid stone at 

 the Falls had been carried away at so monstrous a 

 rate as is supposed by some, it might be expected 

 that the Rapids would, in length of time, become 

 smooth, or vary their appearance, which has not been 

 observed to be the case. 



That the perpendicular descent of such a vast body 

 of water, has produced an immense chasm below, is 

 more than probable ; and that where the greatest 

 quantity of it falls, the surface of the rocks may, in 

 great length of time, have become more hollow, is 

 very credible. But it appears difficult for us to con- 

 ceive, that, in any known period, an immense bed of 

 rocks should have been so completely worn away, 

 for nine miles, that no vestige should be left of them; 

 and the Falls exhibit, at length, their present appear- 

 ance. An old Indian told us, that many years since 



