gazed on the scene as if petrified, and were speechless; whilst others engaged themselves in carving their initials on the railing, to show that they had been where should" speak the voice of God alone and man be dumb." I had the honor myself of carving for one of our fair friends, “—————, Macon, Georgia." 66 Admiration," remarks a great tourist, "is the most exhausting thing in the world." We experienced all the truth of this observation, and were very glad to have our painfully distended thoughts relaxed by the guide, who took us around the Island and related some most marvellous stories about a certain Hermit, (whether Goldsmith's or not, I don't know,) who it appears used to inhabit it; bathe in the rapids, and read books in a log cabin, which standing dilapidated, is pointed out to the traveller as his former residence. The legends, and a little book with a yellow cover, for which you pay a "shilling," say that he was drowned whilst bathing in the river below the Falls. up the stairs, from its summit we looked down on dizzy, and cling to the railing of the Tower for the mass of falling water below. We were disap-support. From the brow of the Cataract ascends pointed. Can this, thought I, be the realization of a hooked cloud of spray, which seems to link this my geography dreams; is this the grand original vast enigma of Nature to the throne of the Invisiof my map reveries. But I was just entering ble. We were surfeited with the sight. Some ing the vestibule of Niagara's sublimity. Descend-descended from the tower and returned by the naring from this eminence, we crossed the bridge over row bridge to the Island; the young Orleanois the Rapids, deposited our three “ sixpences" a piece with the toll keeper on Bath Island, in whose book we also left our autographs, and then over an additional bridge to Iris Island. From the end of this Island, leaning for safety upon an old dead tree, which projects over the precipice, we looked over the small cascade between us and Luna Island, and had another view of the American sheet. Here the guide endeavored to point out to us three profiles, caused by the projections of rock under the Fall; but we were too intent in looking upon the Fall itself, to regard him. It seemed as if, in in the little time we had occupied in walking to this point, the body of water had grown greater; its roar louder; the clouds of spray above it denser; and ourselves more inclined to silence. Retracing our steps up the bank from this place, and taking an opposite direction, we came in sight of a little structure erected upon the verge of the precipice, resembling very much a sentry-box. On reaching it, we found it descended some hundred feet to the rocks below, upon which it rested, and contained a spiral stair-case. The guide told us this was the Biddle stair-case, so called from Nicholas Biddle's having made an appropriation for its construction. After dining, we prepared to start for the British Two of the ladies of our party declined descending, Fall. The descent to the ferry is made by means but our young feminine married one, with her fear- of a stairway, which is laid in a deep excavation less intrepidity, was already half way down before of solid rock. It is entirely housed in, and in the guide cautioned us that it was not safe for more going down its dark avenue, one experiences the than three to descend at a time. Arriving at the same feelings which would be felt in going through base of the stairway, we bent our course along a Thames' tunnel. Arriving at the bottom, we found narrow ledge at the base of the cliff, until we reach-a boat awaiting us, and seating the ladies in the ed the Central Fall, underneath which is the " Cave stern, and raising umbrellas to protect them from of the Winds." Here the scene was grand. the drenching spray, which is blown at all times Our young bride could not get enough of it, from the Falls in dense clouds, when you are below though being every moment more thoroughly them, we shoved off into the boiling waves. When drenched by the falling spray. The Orleanois we had got a little distance from the shore, our boat, gave vent to their admiration in sentences alter- large as it was, commenced reeling and plunging nately French and English, and I endeavored, when- like a drunken man on the vast yest of waters, ever the wind blew away the mist, and exposed the mouth of the Cave, to utter some adjective. Niagara was growing upon us. At 3 o'clock we sat down to a splendid dinner. People have to eat at Niagara Falls as well as at other places. Sublimity bewilders the brain; but fills not the stomach. and it required all the strength of our athletic ferrymen for her to make any progress. As some tourist has remarked, she was as a mere “ egg-shell," The next sight, which bewildered our imagina- and a very slight alteration of position in her, tions, and made us feel how great is God and how would cause you to be engulphed in the awful caulsmall is man, was the British, or Horse Shoe Fall: dron. The next adventure to going under the which, though not so high as that of the American, Falls, I conceive this of crossing the ferry in an inspires more awe. Far up as the eye can reach, open boat, the most hazardous. Arrived opposite from Prospect Tower, in the direction of Lake the centre of the vast line of Falls, all thoughts Erie, you see the waters which have but a short of fear are gone, the mind is otherwise filled. time left its placid bosom, now plunging on over You may have heard of Niagara, possessed engrathe rocks like sweated racers, unconscious of the vings of Niagara, or read of Niagara; but you fearful goal which awaits them. Looking down will never have seen it until now. The sensation into the terrible vortex below, you are made which fills the soul is overwhelmingly sublime. our Scott mounted on horseback, and charging up the lane at the head of his men. Every spot of interest about the ground is pointed out to you. On the extreme right, where rested the head of the American lines, now stands a church; and on the spot where the carnage was greatest, and the groan of the dying soldier went out mid the din of battle, is now heard, rising on each returning day of God, the prayer and the hymn. No one can appreciate the difficulties encountered by our troops unless they can see the ground. On the right, and near the head of the lane, is seen a grave yard, in which Each moment that you look upwards at the vast | sion made upon him, when, by the "trembling moonvolume of descending water, it appears to grow beam's misty light," he saw the stalwart frame of higher and higher, until it seems as if poured by the hand of Omnipotence from the clouds. Another minute and our boat shot into an eddy caused by a large projecting rock, and ran up on her ways. Then followed a scene that fully assured me that from "the sublime to the ridiculous" is but a very short distance. We had scarcely time to disembark, before our party was besieged by a number of Canadian Caleche drivers, who seize the opportunity of the presence of travellers, to get up a general melee, derogate vehicles, interchange choice epithets, and give each other a conventional cursing. One fellow, seizing me by the arm, said, a small mound marks the resting-place of the offi"Mr. McDonald, get into my coach with your party," so in eight of us went into his omnibus, and the rest got into another. By way of quizzing, I asked the owner of the vehicle, who was riding on the steps behind, how his lad, our driver, knew my name was McDonald!" so well?" "Oh," said he, "that's one of the smartest boys in Canada-he knows every gentleman's name, whether he has seen him before or not!" Strange subjects, thought I, her Brittanic Majesty must have in her American possessions. But I was on British ground, so I said to myself, "Honi soit qui mal y pense." From the landing you are driven up a steep, rocky road, to the summit of a cliff. Looking down from here renders you dizzy. The boat in which you came over appears "Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge, 66 cers who fell in the engagement; and who, “unknelled, uncoffined," were thrown into a pit and the earth heaped above them. It was in this yard, where every turf" beneath your feet is "a soldier's sepulchre," that the gallant and impetuous Scott and his brave comrades, "with the fierce gladness of mountain torrents," precipitated themselves on the British battery. The battle of Preuss Eylau took place in the splendor of a snow storm; that of Lundy's Lane was fought amid the thunders of Niagara. After visiting the battle-ground, we drove to the Table Rock, where the finest view of the Horse Shoe Fall is had. The gorgeous rainbows that are always visible above the Cataract, and which continually shift their position, as the sun declines, are worth looking at for hours. Towards the wane of the evening, a proposition was made, that we should go under the great falling sheet of water to Termination Rock; being two hundred and thirty feet behind the Great Horse Shoe Fall. It was readily assented to by nine of the party, among From here we were driven over a sandy road some whom was our young bride, who was all anxiety two miles to the Battle Ground of Lundy's Lane, for the adventure, but yielded to the fears of her where, on the evening and night of the 25th of female friends. The dresses furnished you by the July, 1814, the Americans fought one of the blood-guide, who has a small house at the head of the iest and bravest battles on record. The feelings stair-case, are made of coarse oil cloth, and when produced, by the sight of a spot which was once fully attired in them, with a coarse towel around crimsoned by so much patriotic blood; and the re- your throat, water boots, and a tarpaulin cowl drawn collection, that it was here the laurels of our own over the head, so as to expose only the face, we Scott were won, are of no ordinary character. An looked for all the world like men "fit for treasons, old British soldier, who was in the engagement, stratagems, and spoils." The guide, however, did and who yet lives to tell the "battles, sieges, for-not seem to apprehend any danger from brigands tunes" he has passed, is the guide to the ground. of his own making, so cautioning us to see well Accompanied by him, you ascend to the top of a wooden observatory, erected for the purpose of viewing the surrounding country, which is ripe with the scenes of the last war. His version of the battle was very impartial. Though a very illiterate man, his account of the engagement, which had evidently been carefully committed to memory, was, nevertheless, very interesting. One of our party happening to interrupt him in the midst of his narration, he was compelled to commence and go over again. He said he would never forget the impres that our loins were girded, bade us follow him, and we descended the spiral stairway. On reaching the base of the cliff, the guide led the way, and we followed close behind. The path which leads under the Cataract is extremely narrow, and one is constantly reminded that the least variation from the perpendicular will hurl him into the boiling waters below him. Just as you enter under the sheet, you are obliged to pick your way, and cling to the projections in the wall of rock for support. When we got here, the guide told us to draw a good breath, and follow close after him. We did so; about the undertaking,) is all that I got for my and the next moment found ourselves almost drown- pains. 66 ed; our eyes and nostrils were filled with water. The next day, after dinner, the boatman again Some staggered blindly forward, others retreated," rowed us o'er the ferry." The view, after you and some turned their faces down in the hopes of get in the middle of the river, looking down toavoiding it. But all to no purpose. The dense wards its outlet, is very unique. The banks on and ceaseless clouds of spray beat up from under either side of you rise abruptly to a great height, you, and notwithstanding your water proof" en- and the river presents the appearance of flowing velope, every portion of your person is penetrated through a deep gorge, which has been caused by by it. Fortunately I happened to get hold of the some terrible convulsion of nature. The waters of guide's coat, who dragged me forward into a slight Niagara are of a very transparent green; and about vacuum, where drawing a long breath, and snorting a mile below the Falls, covered with streaks of foam, the water from my nostrils, I opened my eyes to one they commence re-flowing with a lazy motion,— of the grandest sights in nature. The appearance like exhausted gladiators returning to the arena of presented, was that of an immense Gothic arch, one their late conflict. One of our party was twitting half of which was formed by the wall of limestone, our young bride, in the boat, with wearing a green which, rising perpendicularly behind you, ends in a dress; saying it was indicative of excessive vertabular projection high above your head; and the oth-dancy in the wearer. Her reply was, that Niager, by the sheet of falling water from where it leaves ara was green, and Niagara was sublime, syllothe verge of the cliff, to where it rolls away in a mass gistically, she was sublime! of foam below your feet. But we had not reached From the landing we drove to the Burning the Termination Rock, and the guide, failing to Spring. On our way hither we had an opportumake himself heard to the rest of the party, amid nity of observing that the "almighty dollar" had the incessant roar, beckoned to them to come on; its potency among a people, who are ever filling but they thinking there was rather too much of the your ears with Dieu et mon Droit, as well as with tangible mixed up with the sublimity, chose to re-us of "the States." Not far from the edge of the main where they were. Imitating the example of precipice, near Table Rock, stands a pyramidal the guide, and letting myself down by my hands monument, which, at a little distance, has the apupon a lower and slippery shelf of rock, I followed pearance of marble; but upon close inspection, is close at his heels, taking care to preserve an up- found to be painted wood. The inscription is nearright position, and in a few minutes we were at ly as follows: In memory of Miss Martha K. the goal of our efforts. Holding on with my hands, Rugg, who lost her life by falling from this bank the next moment the occasional current of air Aug. 24, 1844. At the Museum can be obtained which blows under the terrible tunnel, dissipated a book containing the particulars for a shilling.” the mist for a minute or so, and I perceived that This instance of the bathos reminds one very forI was standing on the brink of an immense rocky cibly of an inscription on a beautiful monument in cauldron, whose waters, some seventy feet below the Pere le Chaise:-" Erected by his disconsome, were boiling and foaming, and flashing, in ter- late widow, who still continues the business at the rible agony. Nothing can give anything like even old stand!" a faint idea of the sight, but Byron's description of Arrived at the Spring, the attendant closed the "the hell of waters," which he alludes to in Childe door of the house to exclude the light, and then Harrold when speaking of Phlegethon. As if a we were treated to a very fine illumination from sight too overpowering for human eyes long to the burning of the inflammable gas, which rises view, the next minute it was again hid in a shroud to the surface with a slight cracking noise, and of mist. After stumbling and floundering, from readily becomes ignited by a lighted match being the weight of my water filled boots, by the assis- placed in it. The faces of those standing near, tance of the guide I regained the entrance, when looked like the "weird sisters" of Macbeth around throwing myself upon the loose lime-stone path, I the cauldron of Hecate. concurred fully with the assertion of a tourist, that On returning to Table Rock to take our last look a man after accomplishing the feat, is a most ad- of the Horse Shoe Fall, our young bride proved mirable "subject for the Humane Society to herself a perfect Diana Vernon: a woman, who, resuscitate." My advice to all those who visit if she was not "born insensible to fear," was at the Falls, and have no particular penchant for the least capable of manifesting very little of it. She “Wasser Cur," is to avoid the adventure person- threw down the gauntlet, and dared any of the ally, and look at an engraving of it. Underneath company to descend with her to an enormous rock, Niagara Falls is a splendid place for Hydropa- which stands amid the beating surge at the base thists! A printed certificate, dated Niagara Falls, of an immense declivity. The descent to this Canada West, with poetry printed on the reverse, rock, which is some hundred feet below you, is (there is a great deal more of prose than poetry made over large masses of loose limestone, which are ever crumbling from the wall of rock above, and rolling down the precipice below. This proposition, though very little relished, was accepted by one of the party and the writer, and down she went to the rock, near which, "a Mr. Thompson, of Philadelphia, lost his life in the summer of 1844," and with the unfailing courage of a Grace Darling, mounted upon its summit. When we got up to the house again, the guide, who with others had been watching our adventurous heroine from the stairway above, said, that he had been in attendance upon the Falls nearly ten years, but that he had never seen a female upon that rock before. It was agreed by all present, that, after her, it should be called "F-n's Rock;" and the hardy proprietor of the dress-house so entered it in his Register. As for myself, I cannot "tell how hard it is to climb The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar;" but I can give a slight idea of the ascent of "the steep" at Table Rock. I have no desire ever to repeat the undertaking. At sunrise the following morning I gave my "last shilling" to a boot-black, kissed my hand to the pretty women, and bid adieu to the Falls. Perhaps I may never look upon them again; but the impression made upon my mind, a Niagara of years can only wear away. It is a pleasure to recollect them. The sight of so much sublimity and so much terror, recurs to the fancy till it becomes familiar; and as the fatigue and annoyance of travel fades from the memory, the imagination warms it into a poetic feeling, and we dwell upon it with delight. One of our party remarked, as the cars moved off, that Niagara Falls was the greatest "watering place" upon earth! Richmond, 1845. Ask me not to leave thee now, But, to share thy weal or woe, S. THE GIANT OAK. There on the hill he stood, his verdant head For centuries there the Giant Oak had stood : shone Upon the sea, when, from the Pinta's deck, There had he stood, and fought the Northern blast, For centuries had he overcome its rage, "Shouts for the brave old Oak!" the yeoman cried- "Shouts for the brave old Oak! the warrior Oak ! Hurl all your fury on the Giant Oak! Alas! alas! O yeoman, there are foes, And even whilst thou spake, the Giant Oak- MY COUNTRY! like the Giant Oak doth tower How shinest in the sun, while yet, in night, bolts! O God ! forefend, forefend, the cursed day ! Cincinnati, Ohio. YONNONDIO; OR WARRIORS OF THE GENESEE! A TALE OF THE mer. moves all hearts in all lands. The poetry of our own sweet Bryant is beautified by its distinguishing characteristic of picturing American scenery. Here, it is as placid as our broad lakes asleep at Summer's noon; there, as majestic in its flow as our mightiest rivers; and elsewhere, as solemn in its tone as the distant hymn of our ancient forests. Bryant, "In the love of nature, holds Communication with her visible forms," and is thus enabled to breathe in song, her "various language." His native streams, and fields, and woodlands, have infused their spirit into his, and given their hue to his verse; and this is half the secret of its beautiful simplicity. The subject of Yonnondio is American. The burden of the song is of a race which, though much "scattered" and barbarously "peeled," had their birth, and still have their homes exclusively on this continent. It is of a tribe, whose battle-fields and burying-grounds were the youthful haunts of the minstrel himself. Yonnondio is written by one who is as familiar with Indian history, and who has studied Indian character as thoroughly as any man of letters in our country. The mother of Mr. Hosmer speaks the Indian language, with almost as much fluency as she does the English; and from her lips, since his very infancy, the poet has been accustomed to listen to the legends of the ill-fated Senecas. So far, then, as a knowledge of his subject is concerned, he is well prepared to write Indian legends; how far he is otherwise capacitated to weave them into song, there may soon be an opportunity to jadge. 66 The poem," we are informed in the preface, "is descriptive of events that occurred in the valley of the Genesee, during the summer and aotumn of 1687—of the memorable attempt of the Marquis De Nonville, under pretext of preventing an interruption of the French trade, to plant the standard of Louis XIV in the beautiful country of the Senecas." A love tale, deeply plotted and exceedingly thrilling, is happily blent with the historical narrative, and gives variety and interest to the poem. Its leading measure is the octo-syllabic, though there are frequent deviations, which We like to see a spirit of nationality pervading prevent monotony in the verse, and render the rethe effusions of the bard. It shows that he loves citation more pleasurable to the ear. Mr. Hosmer his country, has studied her scenery, and treasured is often very successful in adopting the sound to her history, and her legends, deep in his mind. In the sense. In the following lines the movement embodying in song the subjects peculiar to his na- of the verse near the close, is as slow as that of tive land, the poet usually exhibits his strongest the Indian warriors to whom they refer : feelings, most thoroughly tries his powers, and is most likely to secure abiding fame. It is the glowing nationality of Burns' poetry, which gives it such a beautiful and permanent charm. As the outburst of native feeling, his own countrymen admire it; and as the outburst of natural feeling, it' "Beneath tall branches, grey with eld, |