Niagara Falls 



1833 



Butler 



1833 

 Davison 



1833 



Shirreff 



When we were within about three miles of the falls, just before 



entering the village of Niagara, stopped the wagon, and then 



we heard distinctly, though far off, the voice of the mighty cataract. 

 Looking over the woods which appeared to overhang the course of 

 the river, we beheld one silver cloud rising slowly into the sky — 

 the everlasting incense of the waters. A perfect frenzy of impa- 

 tience seized upon me. I could have set off and run the whole 

 way, and when at length the carriage stopped at the door of the 



Niagara House, waiting neither for my father, D , nor , 



I rushed through the hall, and the garden, down the steep foot- 

 path cut in the rocks. I heard steps behind me, — was following 

 me; down, down I sprang, and along the narrow foot-path, 

 divided only by a thicket from the tumultuous rapids, I saw 

 through the boughs the white glimmer of that sea of foam — " Go 



on, go on, don't stop," shouted , and in another minute the 



thicket was passed. I stood upon Table Rock. seized me 



by the arm, and without speaking a word, dragged me to the 

 edge of the rapids, to the brink of the abyss. I saw Niagara — 

 Oh, God! who can describe that sight! ! ! 



DAVISON, G. M. Niagara Falls: the traveler's guide through the middle 

 and northern states and the provinces of Canada. Saratoga Springs: 1833. 

 Pp. 264-272. 



Shirreff, Patrick. A tour through North America; together with 

 a comprehensive view of the Canadas and United States as adapted for 

 agricultural emigration. Edinb: 1835. Pp. 88-94. 



This literary farmer gives us his general impressions of the river and 

 Falls; the hotel on the American side; an account of his trip across the 

 ferry to Canada, behind the sheet, — the air currents, eels, and toads ; the 

 beauty of the rapids; tells us the best side from which to take a first view 

 of the Falls; describes the city building on the Canadian side, and tells of 

 the agricultural state of the country around. 



Immediately after dinner we set out for the Pavilion House, a 

 celebrated hotel in Canada, a porter conveying our luggage in a 

 barrow to the ferry, which we reached by descending a wooden 

 spiral staircase. The river is 1 ,200 yards broad. The agitated 



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