Niagara Falls 



1787 channel above seven miles long and from a half to a whole mile 

 broad, and from seventy to eighty feet deep. Had it fallen in 

 such quantities as it is natural to suppose it is very strange the fall 

 should keep its present perpendicular form; it is by far more 

 natural to think had this been the case that these immense rocks, 

 reposing where they fell, would have altered the Fall from a 

 perpendicular to a strong rapid. But say the advocators for this 

 opinion, the force of the water has driven them away from its 

 foot. This may also be true in a small measure, for where it is, 

 the rocky part of the river would not break off so abruptly just 

 at the same place where the mountain ends, which is at present 

 the case, for not more than two hundred yards from the end of 

 this rocky rapid part which is the spot they say the Fall originally 

 occupied, the River expands itself and becomes deep, muddy and 

 tranquil, which course it continues for about 9 miles by the water 

 to the mouth, the outside of which is encumbered with a bar of 

 sand. 



I also when at the Fall observed another circumstance which 

 seems to be against their having been once so far down the river. 

 Below the present situation of them is a circle of more than a 

 quarter perhaps a mile or more in diameter whilst the outlet is not 

 so wide. I conceive this part has been widened by the same 

 means the Falls have retired, as when you get beyond the influ- 

 ence of the spray the river assumes its natural breadth. Speaking 

 to Mr. Birch, who lives at the mouth of the Chipaway Creek, he 

 said he had perceived a regular flux and reflux in the Creek resem- 

 bling the tide of the Sea. Mr. Hamilton who I have before 

 mentioned, says it is not a regular flux or reflux at all, but that 

 occasionally the current runs up instead of down, and what appears 

 at first more extraordinary is, that the Creek has its source to the 

 West and runs to the Eastward yet it is a Westerly or a wind 

 directly down the Creek which occasions the Current to run up it 

 to the Westward. This he accounted for in some measure to my 

 satisfaction. It is well known that Lake Erie is to the Westward 

 of this place in which a Westerly wind has great powers and 



