The English Period 



they form innumerable rainbows, but the sun was not in a situa- 1789 

 tion to show this effect when we were there. owe 



One thing I could find nobody to explain to me, which is, the 

 stillness of the water at the bottom of the Falls; it is as smooth 

 as a lake, for half a mile, deep and narrow, the banks very high 

 and steep, with trees hanging over them. I was never before 

 sensible of the power of scenery, nor did I suppose the eye could 

 carry to the mind such strange emotions of pleasure, wonder and 

 solemnity. 



For a time every other impression was erased from my mem- 

 ory! Had I been left to myself, I am convinced I should not 

 have thought of moving whilst there was light to distinguish 



objects. 



« 



Ellicott, Andrew. Description of the Falls of Niagara. (Colum- 17S9 

 bian mag., June, 1 790. 4:331-332.) Ellico!t 



The description in question occurs in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush 

 of Philadelphia, under date of December 1 0, 1 789. It was widely 

 printed in American and European magazines. Its importance as a con- 

 tribution to the literature of the Falls in the eighteenth century is well 

 indicated in the following quotation from General Charles B. Stewart's 

 biographical sketch of Ellicott: " It was while making the transverse of 

 the Canadian side of the Niagara River in 1 790, that Andrew, Joseph 

 and Benjamin Ellicott first saw the Falls of Niagara; and that Joseph 

 and Benjamin, as the assistants of Andrew Ellicott, made the first 

 actual measurement of the entire length of Niagara River, the respective 

 falls of the river from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, the height of the Great 

 Falls, and the descent of the Rapids. Andrew Ellicott, in making his 

 report of the survey of the boundary line, makes mention of these measure- 

 ments of the river, which have ever since been the acknowledged authorities 

 in all books giving an account of Niagara Falls." 



Dear Sir, 



Among the many natural curiosities which this country affords, 

 the cataract of Niagara is infinitely the greatest. In order to have 

 a tolerable idea of this stupendous fall of water, it will be neces- 

 sary to conceive that part of the country in which lake Erie is 

 situated, to be elevated above that which contains lake Ontario, 



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