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the British side, opposite to the falls are two taverns, in the 
larger of which, Forsyth’s Hotel, we took lodgings until the next 
day, when we intended to pay a visit to the governor of Upper 
Canada, Sir Peregrine Maitland, who resides at his country 
seat within a few miles of the falls. During the late war a bridge 
was thrown over the river about one mile above this tavern, 
which, together with a mill, was burnt by the Americans on 
their retreat from the battle of Lundy’s Lane. A few years ago 
a burning spring was discovered here, several of which are said 
to occur in different parts of the United States. It is surrounded 
by a cask, and contains a cold water of a blackish, slimy ap¬ 
pearance, and of a sulphurous taste. Within this cask is a small 
vessel which is open at the bottom, and has a pipe at its upper 
end. If a lighted candle be held within a foot of the mouth of 
this pipe, it will instantly produce a strong flame, similar to a 
gas-light If the vessel be taken out, and the candle be held over 
the surface of the water, it will produce the same effect, but the 
flame will soon disappear. In the neighbourhood of Forsyth’s 
Hotel is the only point from which you have a full view of both 
falls at the same time, which, however, is often interrupted by 
the ascending vapour. 
On our return to the American shore, we examined a camera 
obscura which is situated at the head of the American staircase, 
and was built by a Swiss. This gives a tolerably good view of 
the falls. Afterwards we took a ride to the Whirlpool, which 
is three miles down the Niagara, and is formed by a kind of 
rocky basin where the river runs between narrow rocky banks. 
It is singular to see this confusion of the water, whose appearance 
cannot be better described than by comparing it with the flowing 
of melted lead. The lofty rocks which form the banks of this 
river, are beautifully covered with wood and present a stately, 
majestic appearance. In the evening I again went to Goat-Isl- 
andTn order to view the falls by bright moonlight: in this light 
they produce a very peculiarly beautiful effect, which is greatly 
heightened by a moon-rainbow. 
The following day, 23d August, all our company departed; my 
friend Tromp and myself alone remained. We went to the other 
side of the river, and took lodgings at Forsyth’s Hotel, where 
we found Sir Michael and Lady Clare, from Jamaica, where 
Sir Michael is a member of parliament: he was making a tour of 
pleasure, with his lady, through the United States. I also became 
acquainted with a Mr. Grymes, of Virginia, who was formerly 
attorney general of the state of Louisiana, and is married to the 
widow of the late Governor Claiborne, a beautiful and wealthy 
creole. As this family were also going on a tour to Canada, 
I hoped to travel with them. Mrs. Grymes spoke French, 
