from below is delightful in an equal extreme. It is impoſſible for the emotions ariſing from the ſublime, to be felt beyond what they are here: ſo beautiful an arch, ſo elevated, ſo light, and ſpringing as it were up to heaven! the rapture of the ſpectator is really indeſcribable! The fiſſure continuing narrow, deep, and ſtreight, for a conſiderable diſtance above and below the bridge, opens a ſhort but very pleaſing view of the North mountain on one ſide, and Blue ridge on the other, at the diſtance each of them of about five miles. This bridge is in the county of Rockbridge, to which it has given name, and affords a public and commodious paſſage over a valley, which cannot be croſſed elſewhere for a conſiderable diſtance. The ſtream paſſing under it is called Cedar creek. It is a water of James's River, and ſufficient in the dryeſt ſeaſons to turn a griſt-mill, though its fountain is not more than two miles above.[1]
- ↑ Don Ulloa mentions a break, ſimilar to this, in the province of Angarez, in South America. It is from 16 to 22 feet wide, 111 feet deep, and of 1.3 miles continuance, Engliſh meaſure. Its breadth at top is not ſenſibly greater than at bottom. But the following fact is remarkable, and will furniſh ſome light for conjecturing the probable origin of our natural bridge. ‘Eſta caxa, ó cauce eſtá cortada en péna viva con tanta preciſion, que las deſigualdades del un lado entrantes, correſpondan á las del otro lado ſalientes, como ſi aquella altura ſe hubieſe abierto expreſamente, con ſus bueltas y tortuoſidades, para darle tranſito á los aguas por entre los dos murallones que la forman; ſiendo tal ſu igualdad, que ſi illegaſen á juntarſe ſe endentarian uno con otro ſin dexar hueco.’ Not. Amer. II. § 10. Don Illoa in-
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