Niagara Falls 



1829 more than 140 feet, afforded a prospect sufficiently interesting 

 to render the senses keenly alive to the more sublime and glorious 

 spectacle that was to come. Arrived at Table Rock, we were 

 struck silent and breathless for some moments, with wonder and 

 dread admiration of this stupendous monument of almighty 

 power. It seemed, indeed (to borrow the metaphor of my 

 lamented friend, Brainard), as though 



" God poured the waters from his hollow hand! " 



And the evident ravages which the heavy and resistless torrent 

 has made in the crumbling rocks, at once illustrated the fitness 

 of the other figure of the same beautiful bard, where he speaks 

 of these waters as 



" Notching the centuries in the eternal rocks." 



I spent the greater part of three days in viewing this wonderful 

 curiosity from different points of observation — above and below, 

 on both sides of the river, upon Goat Island, and at its base, and 

 from the Terrapin rocks on the northern side of the island, at the 

 brink of the proemption; and each moment so occupied was of 

 still more thrilling interest — of more special wonder — of higher 

 and more elevated enjoyment. And when at last I had the last, 

 and yet another, and still another last look — my desire for 

 another visit was far stronger than for the first. 



It was during this sixth of October, that the landlords, on 

 both sides of the river got up a variety of shows, by attempting 

 to add such interest to the natural glories of the place, as it was 

 supposed would collect a multitude of people together upon both 

 shores, and thus give them some additional business in the way 

 of their vocation. For this purpose several rocks were blasted 

 off at various points of the rocks overhanging the gulf. But it 

 was a sorry affair. The gun-powder explosions, in comparison 

 with the majestic roar of the waters, might be likened to the 

 report of so many pop-guns mingling with the thunders of Jove — 

 the tumbling fragments like pebbles cast into the valley from 



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