Londonderry, Antrim, and Down; the latter of which it touches by a small point on the south-east side. It receives six considerable rivers, four of smaller note, and several brooks; notwithstanding which, it has but one outlet for the discharge of this great flux of waters.Among its peculiarities, it has that of petrifying vegetable substances.

LOUGH-ERNE is divided into two branches, the Upper and Lower, which are thus formed by the water being contracted into the compass of a considerable river for several miles, after which, having spread, it forms the lower lake. In both its branches, it takes its source through the whole length of the county of Fermannagh, from the south-east point to the north-west, nearly dividing it into two equal parts. It abounds with a great variety of fishes, among which are pike of a prodigious size.

CATARACTS AND CASCADES.

FALLS OF NIAGARA.

[See Plates, No. 44, 45. ]

THE river Niagara, in Upper Canada, takes its rise in the eastern extremity of Lake Erie, and, after flowing for twelve leagues, empties itself into Lake Ontario. Its breadth is nine hundred feet, and its depth very considerable; but its current is so exceedingly strong and irregular, and its channel so frequently interspersed with rocks, that it is navigable for small boats only. Proceeding lower, the stream widens, and the rocks gradually recede from the view, and the current though strong, is smooth and regular. At fort Chippeway, however, situated one league above the cataracts, the scene is again changed, and the river so agitated, that a boat would be inevitably dashed in pieces, were it permitted to pass Fort Niagara, situated on its bank. So impetuously do the waves break among the rocks, that the mere sight of them, from the adjacent shore, is sufficient to strike terror in the spectator. As it approaches the falls, the stream rushes along, with redoubled fury, until it reaches the edge of the stupendous precipice, when it tumbles suddenly to the bottom, without meeting with any obstruction in its descent. Precisely at this place, the river strikes off to the

right, and the line of cataracts winds obliquely across, instead of extending, in the shortest direction, from the one bank to the other. It ought to be observed, that the water does not precipitate itself down the vast abyss in one entire sheet, but, being separated by islands, forms three distinct collateral falls.

One of these is called THE GREAT, or HORSE-SHOE fall, from the similarity of its form to that of a horse-shoe. It is situated on the north-west extremity of the river, and is most deserving of the attention of the spectator, as its grandeur is evidently superior to that of the adjacent cataracts, although its height may be considerably less. As the extent of this fall can be ascertained by the eye only, it is impossible precisely to describe its limits; but its circumference is generally computed at one thousand eight hundred feet, somewhat more than one third of a mile. Beyond the intervening island, the width of which may be equal to one thousand and fifty feet, is THE SECOND FALL, about fifteen feet wide; and at the distance of ninety feet, occupied by the second island, is situated Fort Scloper fall, so called from its proximity to that fort. The dimensions of this cataract may be reckoned equal to those of the large island; so that the entire extent of the precipice, including the intermediate islands, is four thousand and five feet; a computation which certainly does not exceed the truth. The quantity of water precipitated from the falls is prodigious; and agreeably to a late estimate, amounts to six hundred and seventy thousand, two hundred and fifty tons per minute.

From the eminence entitled "the Table Rock," the spectator has a fine prospect of the terrific RAPIDS, above the falls, and of the surrounding shores, embellished with lofty woods. He there sees to advantage the adjacent HORSE-SHOE FALL, and the dread abyss, into which he may look perpendicularly from the edge of the rock, if his courage be equal to his curiosity. The immensity of the various objects which here present themselves to the view, infallibly overwhelms a stranger with astonishment, and several minutes must elapse before he can possibly collect himself sufficiently to form any just conception of the awful and magnificent scene before him, which requires, that all its component parts should be separately examined, and

which affords so truly surprising an exhibition, that persons who have resided in its vicinity for several years, and who have been constantly habituated to its sublimity, ingenuously acknowledge, at their last visit, that they were never able before to discover its peculiar grandeur.

From a cliff nearly opposite to one extremity of FORT SCLOPER CATARACT, the falls are seen in a very interesting point of view the scenery there, it is true, is less magnificent, but is infinitely more beautiful than from any other station. For several miles beneath the precipice the river is bounded, on either side, by steep and lofty cliffs, composed of earth and rocks, which in most parts are perpendicular. The descent to the bottom of the falls is here accomplished by two ladders, formed of long pine trees, with notches on their sides, on which the traveller rests his feet, and passes down amidst a variety of huge misshapen rocks and pendant trees, which seem to threaten him with instantaneous destruction. The breadth of the river in this part is about two furlongs; and towards the right, on the opposite side, FORT SCLOPER FALL appears in a very advantageous point of view. About one half of the HORSE-SHOE FALL is concealed by the projecting cliff, but its partial prospect is extremely fine. The bottom of the former of these falls is skirted with a beautiful white foam, which ascends from the rock in thick volumes, but does not rise into the air like a cloud of smoke, as is the case with that of the latter fall, although its spray is so considerable, as to descend like a shower of rain, near the second ladder, on the opposite side of the river. On its brink, and along the strand, to the GREAT FALL, are to be constantly seen shattered trees and bodies of animals, which have been carried away by the extreme violence of the current.

The colour of the water of the cataracts, as it descends perpendicularly on the rocks, is occasionly a dark green, and sometimes a foaming brilliant white, displaying a thousand elegant variations, according to the state of the atmosphere, the height of the sun, or the force of the wind. A portion of the spray, resulting from the falls, frequently towers above the height, and literally mingles with the clouds: while the remainder, broken in its descent by fragments of rocks, is in continual agitation. The noise, irregularity, and rapid descent of the stream, continue about

eight miles farther; and the river is not sufficiently calm to admit of navigation, till it reaches Queen's-town, on the west side of the straits of Niagara, and nine miles distant from the falls.

To attempt an adequate description of them would be a fruitless task. Their wondrous reality puts to flight the most sublime ideas of anticipating fancy, and overpowers the soul of an intelligent spectator, with such enthusiastic feelings as can never be rightly conceived, unless by those who have, on some occasion, contemplated a similar scene.

FALLS OF THE MONTMORENCY.

[See Plate, No. 46.]

THE Montmorency empties itself at the distance of about eight miles north-east of Quebec, into the great river St. Laurence, to the coast of which it gradually descends from the elevated mountain on which it has its source. At a station called La Motte, situated on the northern extremity of a sloping ground, its waters diffuse themselves into shallow currents, interrupted by rocks which break them into foam, and accompanied by murmuring sounds which enliven the solitude and solemn stillness prevailing throughout the surrounding forests and desolate hills. Farther down, its channel is bounded by precipitous rocks, its breadth becoming extremely contracted, and the rapidity of its current proportionably augmented. At a place called "the natural steps" there are several beautiful cascades of ten or twelve feet. These steps, which are extremely regular, have been gradually formed by the accession of waters the river receives in its progress, at the breaking up of winter, by the melting of the snows. From the middle of April to the end of May, its waters roll with increasing height and rapidity. Being powerfully impelled in their course, they insinuate themselves between the strata of the horizontal rock, vast fragments of which are detached by the rushing violence of the sweeping torrent.

On the eastern side, the bank, which is almost perpendicular, and fifty feet high, is surmounted by lofty trees. The south-west bank rises beyond the steps, and terminates in a precipice. On the opposite side, the bank is regular, and of a singular shape, resembling the ruin of an elevated wall. The trees by which the banks are enclosed, united