But  do  not  suppose  that  we  grew  peevish  at  the  sight  of  the
blots  upon  the  landscape  to  which  I  have  alluded,  and  departed
in  wrath  and  disgust.  We  soon  found  that  there  is  that  in  and
about  Niagara  which  was  not  to  be  marred  by  busy  man  and
all  his  petty  schemes  for  convenience  and  aggrandisement;  and
I  may  truly  say,  with  regard  to  both  our  first  and  second  visit,
and  stay  within  its  precincts,  that  we  were  under  the  influence  of
its  spell.  While  v^thin  the  sound  of  its  waters,  I  will  not  say
that  you  become  part  and  parcel  of  the  cataract,  but  you  find  it
difficult  to  think,  speak,  or  dream  of  anything  else.  Its  vibrations
pervade,  not  only  the  air  you  breathe,  the  bank  on  which  you  sit,
the  paper  on  which  you  write,  but  thrill  through  your  whole
frame,  and  act  upon  your  nervous  system  in  a  remarkable,  and  it
may  almost  be  said  unpleasant,  manner.  You  may  have  heard
of  individuals  coming  back  from  the  contemplation  of  these  Falls
with  dissatisfied  feelings.  To  me  this  is  perfectly  incompre-
hensible, and  I  do  not  know  whether  to  envy  the  splendid  fancies
and  expectations  of  that  class  of  travelers,  to  whom  the  sight  of
Niagara  would  bring  disappointment,  or  to  feel  justified  in  doubt-
ing whether  they  have  any  imagination  or  eye  for  natural  scenery
at  all.  How  blank  the  world  must  be,  to  them,  of  objects  of
natural  interest!    What  can  they  expect  to  see?

As  to  expectations,  ours  were  excited  and  warm,  and  I  shall
never  forget  the  real  anxiety  with  which  we  looked  out,  on  our

1064


Preservation  of  the  Falls

ascent  from  Lewiston,  for  the  appearance  of  the  object  of  our  1833
visit.  The  broad  fathomless  blue  river,  streaked  with  foam.  ^**''°^*'
which,  deeply  sunk  in  a  colossal  channel,  hurried  to  our  rencontre,
and  appeared  at  every  glimpse  as  we  advanced  swifter  and  in
greater  commotion,  was  to  us  a  guarantee  that  the  scene  of  its
descent  from  the  upper  country  could  be  no  common  one.  When
about  three  miles  from  the  village  on  the  American  side,  you
gain  your  first  view  of  the  Falls,  together  with  the  river,  both
above  and  below  —  the  island  which  divides  them  —  and  greater
part  of  the  basin  at  their  feet.
