RIVERS. 



1151 



g;reat variety ot rich tints which are suffused over 

 the leaves of the oaks, poplars, and other trees, and 

 which are equalled in no other country, blended with 

 the sombre green of the lofty pihes, have a most 

 pleasing effect. 



As we approach towards Philadelphia, the banks 

 of the river become more elevated ; and on the left 

 hand side, where they are much cleared, they are 

 interspersed with numberless neat farm-houses, 

 with villages and towns ; and are in some parts cul- 

 tivated down to the very edge of the water. The 

 New Jersey shore, on the right hand side, is thickly 

 wooded even as far as the city. The river flows 

 about four miles in an hour. Its width near the city- 

 is about one mile. 



The Lehigh is navigable 30 miles from its mouth. 

 But this river being the drain of a hilly country, from 

 which the waters pour in mighty torrents, has its bed 

 widely extended in proportion to the quantity of wa- 

 ter issuing from the regular spring of thecountry, and 

 consequently the water, when not increased by rains 

 or melting snow, is shallow. But no channel can ex- 

 ceed, in regularity, the bottom of this river, both as 

 its equal rise and smooth surface, throughout the 

 whole space. Bowman's falls excepted, which are 

 above the Blue mountains. A company is incorpo- 

 rated to remove the impediments to the navigation, 

 with the view chiefly of enabling them to bring down 

 the excellent coal, which abounds near its banks. 



Bridges have lately been erected over the Dela- 

 ware at Easton, and opposite to Trenton, which, toge« 

 ther with the passage of the river Lehigh throu^ 

 the Blue mountains, shall be notieed hereafter. 



