Travelers' Original Accounts Since 1840 



The record of visits made in 1827, 1845, and 1852. Especially inter- j 852 

 esting are the letters to G. T. Curtis under date of July 23, 1 845 , Ticknor 

 and July 29, 1852, from which we quote. 



There — the other side of the river — we found Ole Bull and 

 Egidius, his shadow, which seems in no likelihood to grow less. 

 Of course we had a concert, and there was much visiting of 

 wonders, and much enjoyment of lunar bows, and walks by 

 moonlight on Goat Island, and adventurous rowing up to the 

 foot of the falls. So passed three days. 



Then we all came over here, where there is a very good, quiet 

 house; and right before our windows and along the piazzas, 

 where we chiefly live, is, according to my notion, the finest view 

 of the two falls united. . . . Tomorrow, having completed 

 three days on this side of the river, and pretty much used it up, 

 we propose to remove to the other side, where we shall bivouac 

 a longer or shorter time according to our humors, the fates, the 

 sisters three, and such odd branches of learning. 



The finest thing we have seen yet — and one of the grandest 

 I ever saw — was a thunder-storm among the waters, as it 

 seemed to be, the other night, which lighted up the two cascades, 

 as seen from our piazzas, with most magnificent effect. They had 

 a spectral look, as they came out of the darkness and were again 

 swallowed up in it, that defies all description and all imagination. 



I received, some days ago, your note written at Newport. We 

 were then on the other [American] side of the river, where we 

 stayed ten days, our rooms — or at least the balcony before them 

 — overhanging the Rapids, right opposite Goat Island, . . . 

 making the island our great resort, seeing the sunset there daily, 

 and passing two evenings of superb moonlight there. Five days 

 ago we came over here, and established ourselves in a neat, cheer- 

 ful little cottage, with a large garden before it; the only thing 

 there is between us and the excellent hotel where we get our 

 meals. We have it all to ourselves, and live in great quiet, with 



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