were seen a number of
well-built vessels. A steam-boat called the Superior was ready to run
with fifty passengers to Erie, and thence to Detroit. There was an
amusing military spectacle. It consisted of a military parade,
consisting of thirty men, including seven officers and two cornets. They
were formed like a battalion into six divisions and performed a number
of manoeuvres.

On the following day, 21st August, the company left Buffalo for the
small village of Manchester, twenty-three miles distant, and situated on
the right bank of the Niagara, near the falls. As far as the village of
Tonawanta, the road passes along the canal. It was in a very bad
condition, cut through the forest, and the trees thrown on the road
side. On the left they had a view of the river and Grand Island. The
river is more than a mile wide below the island. On the Canada side is
the village of Chippewa. From this place, a distance of three miles,
they could already see the rising vapours of the falls. The water,
however, indicated no signs of the approach to the precipice. It is only
a short distance from Manchester, where you perceive the lofty trees on
Goat Island, with its heights situated in the midst of the falls, that
the river becomes rocky, and the rapids commence; these form a number of
small falls, which are nearly a mile long and the same in breadth,
running as far as where the two great falls are separated by Goat
Island.

At Manchester they took lodgings at the Eagle Tavern, and hastened
immediately to the Falls; their steps were guided by the mighty roaring.
In a few minutes Alida and her company stood near the precipice, and saw
before them the immense mass of water which rushes with a tremendous
noise into the frightful abyss below. It is impossible to describe the
scene, and the pen is too feeble to delineate the simultaneous feelings
of our insignificance on the one hand, with those of grandeur and
sublimity on the other, which agitate the human breast at the sight of
this stupendous work of nature, which rivals that of all other
countries, in grandeur, beauty and magnificence. We can only gaze,
admire and adore. The rocks on both sides are perpendicular, but there
is a wooden staircase which leads to the bed of the river. They
descended, but in consequence of the drizzly rain which is produced by
the foam of the water, they had by no means so fine a prospect from
below as they anticipated. On this account, therefore, they