FALLS OF NIAGARA. 305 



and fathers. York, has a very inconsiderable 

 appearance for its name, as the capital of Upper 

 Canada, consisting of little more than one, not 

 very lengthened street, running parallel to Lake 

 Ontario : but the garrison, situated at a short 

 distance from the town, has rather an im- 

 posing appearance, particularly from the water. 

 Taking the steam boat, we crossed the Lake, 

 which is nearly one hundred and seventy 

 miles long, but not more than about sixty 

 miles broad at the widest part ; and landed 

 the same day at Niagara, a small town on the 

 British side .of the river, near to which is an 

 mtrenchment called Fort George. On the 

 opposite bank of the river is the American 

 garrison of Fort Niagara, a stone fortification 

 of considerable strength. Coaches were wait- 

 ing to take us from the steam boat, to the 

 Falls ; and in visiting again the stupendous 

 cataracts, the impression was heightened by 

 a second view of the sublime scenery. It 

 is not perhaps difficult to account for the 

 disappointment which is sometimes felt at 

 the first sight of the Falls. The surrounding 

 country is level, and without variation to a 

 perfect deadness ; and the first view will fre- 

 quently lead those who hastily pass by, to be 

 dissatisfied, and to wonder that the wonders 



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