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Untitled Article
canal passing through it , which has given the advantage of water-carriage to the manufactures , for which it i $ particularly well situated on account cf the immense water power which it possesses in the Genesee river , the stream of which is already directed in
a great inany directions for mills of different kinds . But to the eye of
taste this river possesses a much more powerful attraction in its stupendous falls ,, which are within half a mile of the town , and of the height of about ninety-seven feet , forming another step to lead our minds up to
the stupendous Niagara . These falls , however , are not ornamented by the romantic scenery which adorn those of Trenton , so that , though much higher , they are less interesting ; besides , their vicinity to a populous town diminishes considerably the romantic sublimity of the scene . Between Rochester and Buffalo the monotony of the canal is most beautifully varied by its being made to join a sweet and picturesque little stream ^ called the Tana wan ta , along- which
we sailed for twelve miles , on water the clearness of which reminded me of the lakes of Cumberland , delighting us perpetually with the exquisite beauty of its reflection of the luxuriant bank on each side . Lock Port
is another striking object between these places , though of a different nature , being * a descent of sixty feet , cut through the granite rock and down which the water is carried by ftve locks . Indeed , there are ten locks , five descending and five
ascending ones , and those who are judges of such things , say it is as finished a piece of work as can be found in any of the old countries . At Buffalo we visited an Indian settlement , but found the inhabitants
just so far affected by their vicinity to civilized people , as to have lost their native activity and spirit , and to have dwindled into dirty , lifeless , indolent beings . Nothing could exceed the dirtiness of their houses or the
disgusting appearance of the Squaws . We went to see a school there , established by the missionaries , which was conducted by a young man who appeared to understand and to be interested in his employment . The children seemed to be intelligent and very Well advanced in their educa-
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tion ; but yet I believe there is very little hppe of any permanent effect of civilization remaining with these extraordinary people , who have hitherto so obstinately resisted every attempt that has been made . On finding ourselves at Buffalo , our impatience to
reach the grand object of attraction , the far-famed Niagara , increased considerably , and we hastened in the steam-boat next morning down the rapid Niagara . And here , my dear sister , whilst crossing a corner of
Lake Erie , on which Buffalo stands , and proceeding down tlie river , I could not but think of the many and unexpected events which a short time will bring * about , since a few short years had brought me to a place to visit which had been one of the
wildest dreams of my childhood , and one of the most unlooked-for events of my maturer age ; and this too without any extraordinary exertion , any romantic effort . In fact , the facilities to this place are now so plain and easy , that I believe were we to tie a bag of
inoney round a child ' s waist , and put her into the steam-boat at this place , with charges to tell every one who asked her whither she was going , that she wanted to get to Niagara , that she would arrive there safely , and in
due time , and that too ( and much to the honour of the country be it said ) without a single cent being taken out of her purse more than the regular fares . Thus far have they advanced in that far distant corner of the
world in civilization—hut here they stop . They have not yet begun with any aristocratic arrangements to gratify those who wish to pass on in a style superior to the common horde . This we felt a great inconvenience when we had any particular motive
for deviating from the common track , for as our party was just a good size for a private carriage , we should frequently have taken one bad we found it more easy to do 30 ; but when we did take one we were obliged to be content with a huge stage made for the accommodation of nine people *
for which we hail to pay an exorbitant pr ice . On sailing" down the Niagara , the first sign that we had of our approach to the falls was about the distance of four or five miles from them , when we observed an exceedingly dense
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Description of a Tour from Philadelphia to the Falls of Niagara * 655
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1826, page 655, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2554/page/19/
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