Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

N. Y. Daily Adv.
Utica, July 24.
WONDERFUL!

There is not perhaps on earth, a more wonderful scene, than in the town Trenton, county of Oneida and state New York--a scene that comprises at once the pleasing, the beautiful, the grand, the solemn, the majestic, the sublime, the awful, the tremendous: all that can command the delight, the transport, the admiration, the awe, and the astonishment of the mind. Other stupendous miracles of nature, the Falls of Niagara, the Funchal of the Andes, the Pistill Rhaiadr of North Wales, &c. &c. have been sounded in the trumpet of fame, attracted the attention, received the visits, and gratified the curiosity of the traveller: But the more wonderful cataract of Trenton, the only two miles from the village of Oldenbarneveld, which is on the great post road from Albany to Sacket's Harbor has, because never duly announced to the public, been passed by thousands, who have journeyed from the city of New York and other more distant parts in order to witness the falls of Niagara, and who would even have renewed their journey to Trenton, had they been apprised of that extraordinary combination of curiosity and wonder with which that cataract is attended. It is unjust that so interesting an exhibition of nature should remain longer in obscurity, and the curious traveller be defrauded of that enchanting gratification, which it never fails to afford its visitors.

It is however vain to attempt a description with the pen. Even the inspiration of the poet must prove unsuccessful in leading the imagination to comprehend the reality. Suffice it to say that, as wonderful as the highly celebrated Falls of Niagara are, those who have visited both, have given preference to the cataract at Trenton which though it does not oppress and stun the senses with its appalling thunder, nor can boast of the waters of all the lakes descending in a sheet 150 feet perpendicular, yet extends its diversified scenery between two and three miles with several lofty falls, perpendicular and acute, beautiful, grand and sublime. They are the falls of East Canada creek. The river has worn down its bed of limestone more than a hundred feet--has hewn out the lofty sides in various phantastic forms--presenting elevated towns--fortified castles, and grand amphitheatres, the pendant roof of overhanging mountains, concave and convex curvatures in geometrical order, that now welcome the descending stream, now turn the mad torrent from its course and force it upon opposite rocks. On a level with its waters, and windings at its side, the visitor is furnished with a smooth pavement, from which the river has retired for his accommodation, sometimes retreating twenty or thirty feet, that the large party may walk abreast, then crowding them into small platoons, then compelling them to march Indian file, then forcing them to climb the side rocks, to creep round overhanging projections, when it suddenly opens upon them a most stupendous and enchanting scenery--where more than can be described arrests the astonished eye--where the cloud towering hemlock with other evergreens, crowding to the verge, from a station of 150 feet aloft, bend over their tall heads and reach forward their branches to witness the wonders beneath, conspiring, by their verdure contrasted to naked rocks, to embellish with a beautiful charm the superb majesty of the grand exhibition. But why am I insensibly led to paint what nature alone is scarce able to display.--I will only add, that amidst its great variety of curiosities, are petrifactions of divers animals, which thousands of years sported and swam together in this once yielding element, now converted to adamant,--among which are fish of several sorts and dimensions, from nine inches to four feet in length, lying horizontally in the different strata of solid rock, 50 or 100 feet below the general surface. He who visits this wonderful scenery, will desire to visit it again; and those to whom it had been described, confess, uno ore, that the half was not told them
JOHN SHERMAN.
Oldenbarneveld, July 23, 1821.