Niagara Falls 



1818-19 at the distance of a century, with the present aspect of the cata- 

 racts. Goat Island is correctly delineated according to its pres- 

 ent condition; for to this day, as then, it exactly coincides with 

 the edge of the precipice over which the water on each side 

 descends. Weld indeed, who visited the falls in 1796, speaks 

 in decided terms of a change in the features of the Horse Shoe 

 fall, but apart from the consideration that this writer is some- 

 what addicted to the marvelous, his account is not consistent with 

 itself. He says, that " within the memory of many of the 

 present inhabitants of the country, the falls have receded several 

 yards" and " tradition tells us that the Great Fall instead of 

 having been in the form of a horse shoe, once projected in the 

 middle." Among whom this tradition prevails he does not men- 

 tion, but immediately adds — " for a century past however it 

 has remained nearly in the present form." That the falls had 

 receded several yards, in the recollection of those who were then 

 alive, is sufficiently disproved by the consideration, that if so, 

 Goat Island must have projected so many yards below them, 

 while in point of fact it does not to this day project a single foot; 

 and how their receding several yards in one generation, can be 

 reconciled with the concession that the Great Fall has preserved 

 its present form for nearly a century, would puzzle a geologist to 

 tell. The fact is, there is nothing known of the falls beyond the 

 specified century, and those who are disposed to invent marvellous 

 stories respecting their youthful days, are completely unfettered 

 either by historical or traditional record. 



At Queenston the navigation of the river is resumed, and a 

 canal has long been talked of, to save the land carriage, which 

 is at present necessary between this and Chippewa. Probably 

 as the country increases in population, and its inhabitants in capi- 

 tal and enterprise, this may be accomplished, but in its present 

 condition the idea is hopeless. 



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