etter view
of the falls than on the American, for you see both falls at the same
time. There is on the Canada side a covered wooden staircase, which they
ascended, and approached the falls, amidst a constant drizzling caused
by the falling water. The sun threw his rays upon the thick mist and
formed a beautiful rainbow. Another winding stair-case leads down the
rocks near the falls, under which you may walk to the distance of one
hundred and twenty feet; several of the gentlemen went in, but according
to their report, they could not see any thing. They were contented,
therefore, to behold the falls from Table rock, which almost overhangs
them. A part of this rock gave way several years ago and fell down the
precipice, and the remaining part is so much undermined by the water,
that it will probably soon follow. The whole distance from the American
to the British shore is fourteen hundred yards, of which three hundred
and eighty belong to the American falls, three hundred and thirty to
Goat-Island, and seven hundred to the Canada or Horse-shoe falls. On the
British side, opposite to the falls, are two taverns, in the larger of
which, Forsyth's Hotel, they took lodgings until the next day. 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. It is surrounded by a cask, and contains
cold water of a blackish appearance, and of a sulphurous taste. Within
this cask is a small vessel which has a pipe at the 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. 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 their return to the American shore, they examined a camera obscura,
which is situated at the head of the American stair-case, and was built
by a Swiss. This gives a tolerably good view of the falls. Afterwards
they 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
water, whose appearance cannot be better described than by comparing it
with the flowing of melted