No. 161.] 
103 
tide water is not far from 2,109; making the whole fall of the 
north branch of the Hudson, from its source in the Notch to tide 
water, 3,239 feet. 
These results are given rather as approximations, and are not as 
exact as those which may be obtained by levelling. They show 
conclusively, however, that the mountainous region of the north 
is quite elevated, far more so than has been stated in any publica- 
tion of the day. According to our observation, Whiteface is 1,051 
feet higher than Round Top of the Catskill; but as there are se- 
veral mountains higher than Whiteface which have never been vi- 
sited or measured, it is highly probable that some of them will ap- 
proximate in height to the White Hills of New-Hampshire. ' 
Another fact, which goes to show the great height of these 
mountains, is their Alpine vegetation. The trees are dwarfish, or 
but few feet high, with stiff rigid branches, on which a person 
might walk. Among the plants of Whiteface, we observed the 
Salix herbacea, Empetrum nigrum, Arenaria glabra, Lycopodium 
selago. The lateness of the season, however, prevented our 
search for plants, though we were satisfied that its Flora is much 
the same as that of the White Hills. There is still another fact, 
which has the same bearing as the one stated above, viz: that this 
region is not free from snow three months in the year, and twice 
in the month of August last, the highest summits were covered 
with snow. This is spoken of as rather unusual. It is not, how- 
ever, the absolute height of a mountain which gives it all its in- 
terest. There are often additional circumstances worthy of atten- 
tion, such as deep gorges and high precipices; and this leads us to 
speak of a precipice five miles from the Iron Works at Newcomb. 
It is just at the source of the north branch of the Hudson and Au 
Sable rivers. The precipice which we measured, and over which 
we looked, is from one station 1,200 feet high. Taking its height 
from another station it is 1,000, This precipice extends about a 
mile, though it does not preserve this great elevation the whole 
distance. 
This is probably the greatest natural curiosity in the State ex- 
cept the falls of Niagara; it is well worthy a visit by the lovers 
of magnificent scenery. Even the fragments of rock lying in the 
notch are wonderful for size; one, which we measured, is 43 feet 
long and 41 wide, and about 35 high; it is of a quadrangular form 
and will weigh about 10,026,931 pounds or 5,000 tons, and this is 
