Falls of the Niagara. 1 



superb view of the Falls above and the dark river below. The 

 current is not very rapid, and near the American side actually 

 sets up toward the Falls; by the help of which eddy the boat 

 regains what it had lost in the middle of the stream. We 

 land almost directly at the feet of the American Fall, and by 

 walking a little way to the right, may place ourselves in its 

 spray. Now look up, and the height will not disappoint you. 

 Now attend to the voice of the cataract, and it will fill 

 your soul with awe. It seems as if the 'waters which are 

 above the firmament' were descending from the heights of 

 heaven, and as if 'the fountains of the great deep were 

 broken up' from below. The noise, which permits free con- 

 versation to those who are on the bank above, is here impera- 

 tive and deafening. It resembles the perpetual rolling of 

 near thunder, or the uninterrupted discharge of a battery of 

 heavy ordnance, mingled with a strange crashing and break- 

 ing sound. This resemblance to the roar of artillery is 

 heightened by the sight of the large bodies of spray which 

 are continually and with immense force exploded from the 

 abyss. The impression of superior height is gained, not so 

 much from the fact that the American Fall is actually ten or 

 twelve feet higher than the British, as from your having a 

 complete profile view of the one, from brink to base, which 

 you cannot well obtain of the other. 



Flights of secure wooden steps bring us to the top of the 

 bank,* where we again stand on a level with the descending 

 Falls. We soon found that the greatest variety of interest 

 was on this, the American side. The village of Manchester is 

 situated on the rapid, just above the Fall. A bridge is thrown 

 boldly over the rushing and ' arrowy' rapid to a small island, 

 called Bath Island, where there are one or two dwellings and 

 a paper-mill ; and from this spot another bridge runs with 

 equal boldness to Goat Island. The whole breadth of the 

 space thus traversed is one thousand and seventy-two feet. 



Goat Island is a paradise. I do not believe that there is 

 a spot in the world, which, within the same space, comprises 

 so much grandeur and beauty. It is but about a mile in cir- 



* On this bank, near the ferry-house, there is a stone embedded in the 

 ground, rudely carved on which there has lately been discovered, by 

 removing tiie moss which had grown over it, the following inscription — 

 'I. V. 1747.' This is by far the most ancient date to be found in the 

 vicinity. I. V. whoever he was, when he looked upon the Falls must 

 have been surrounded by a perfect wilderness. What poet will speak in 

 his name, and describe his feelings, and record his thoughts, as he stood 

 here alone with God ? 



