rs
ago a burning spring was discovered here. It is surrounded by a cask,
and contains cold water of a blackish appearance, and of a sulphurous
taste. Within this cask is a small vessel which has a pipe at the upper
end. If a lighted candle be held within a foot of the mouth of this
pipe, it will instantly produce a strong flame, similar to a gas-light.
In the neighbourhood of Forsyth's Hotel is the only point from which you
have a full view of both falls at the same time, which, however, is
often interrupted by the ascending vapour.

[_Travels_:

On the British side, opposite to the falls are two taverns, in the
larger of which, Forsyth's Hotel, we took lodgings until the next
day, when we intended to pay a visit to the governor of Upper
Canada, Sir Peregrine Maitland, who resides at his country seat
within a few miles of the falls. During the late war a bridge was
thrown over the river about one mile above this tavern, which,
together with a mill, was burnt by the Americans on their retreat
from the battle of Lundy's Lane. A few years ago a burning spring
was discovered here, several of which are said to occur in different
parts of the United States. It is surrounded by a cask, and contains
a cold water of a blackish, slimy appearance, and of a sulphurous
taste. Within this cask is a small vessel which is open at the
bottom, and has a pipe at its upper end. If a lighted candle be held
within a foot of the mouth of this pipe, it will instantly produce a
strong flame, similar to a gas-light. If the vessel be taken out,
and the candle be held over the surface of the water, it will
produce the same effect, but the flame will soon disappear. In the
neighbourhood of Forsyth's Hotel is the only point from which you
have a full view of both falls at the same time, which, however, is
often interrupted by the ascending vapour.]

On their return to the American shore, they examined a camera obscura,
which is situated at the head of the American stair-case, and was built
by a Swiss. This gives a tolerably good view of the falls. Afterwards
they took a ride to the Whirlpool, which is three miles down the
Niagara, and is formed by a kind of rocky basin where the river runs
between narrow rocky banks. It is singular to see this confusion of
water, whose appearance cannot be better described than by comparing it
with the flowing of melted lead. The lofty rocks which form the banks of
the