ALLEGHANIES. 85 



If, for the difficulty of the ascents between 

 Erie and Pittsburgh, the traveller is recom 

 pensed by the views from their summits, much 

 greater must be his gratification on accom 

 plishing the more toilsome task of surmount 

 ing the Alleghanies. Placed there on a ridge 

 of the earth, upheaved hundreds of yards 

 above the general surface, and extending to 

 nearly 1000 miles in length, and from 100 to 

 200 miles in breadth, he experiences an exal 

 tation of mind befitting the contemplation of 

 the boundless regions encompassing him 

 but yesterday composing inhospitable wilds, 

 peopled by ruthless savages, to-day possessed 

 by an enlightened and powerful nation, under 

 whom majestic rivers, wending their far jour 

 neys among primeval forests, have become sub 

 servient to the purposes of wide-spreading 

 commerce, while every where appear splendid 

 cities, handsome towns, and cultivated fields, 

 with all that for utility or for ornament civili 

 zation brings in its train. 



On Friday the 18th, in the morning, we 

 descended from the mountains, and arrived at 



