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them, afforded the Americans a constant laugh during the whole evening. These ignorant people were unaware, that it is impossible now-a-days to become a truly great man, without a quantum suff. of orders; and that the value of these, which were once only bestowed on the meritorious, has been very much increased by being conferred on. the most worthless individuals.

To show in what light the people of the United States look upon titles, I insert the following letter from Mr. Coles, the Governor of Illinois.

"GENTLEMEN,

"December 10, 1822.

"Our State Constitution gives to the person exercising the functions of the Executive, the appellation of Governor-a title which is specific, intelligible, and Republican, and amply sufficient to denote the dignity of the office.

"In your last paper you have noticed me by the addition of His Excellency,' an aristocratical and high sounding adjunct, which I am sorry to say has become too common among us, not only in newspaper annunciations, but in the addressing of letters, and even in familiar discourse. It is a practice disagreeable to my feelings, and inconsistent, as I think, with the dignified simplicity of freemen, and to the nature of the vocation of those to whom it is applied. And having made it a rule through life, to address no one as His Excellency,

or the Honourable, or by any such unmeaning title, I trust I shall be pardoned for asking it as a favour of you, and my fellow citizens generally, not to apply them to me.

"Messrs. Brown and Berry,

"I am, &c. &c.

Editors of the Illinois Intelligencer."

"Edward Coles."

The legislature of the State of New York has also passed a resolution to abolish the absurd practice of calling a Governor, "His Excellency," and Senators" the Honourable." Several other States have followed this example.

CHAPTER XIV.

MAMMOTH CAVE.

WITHIN three miles of Bowling Green is a mill situated in what the people term a Sink Hole. This is a remarkably large and deep cavity, into which a considerable stream precipitates itself, and disappears under ground. The road leading to Nashville passes close to it; and while proceeding on what you imagine to be nearly a level surface, you find yourself suddenly upon the brink of a frightful precipice, from which you might jump down upon the roof of the mill below.

The whole country, for a very great distance round, is limestone, in which there are numerous and curious caves, of which the Mammoth Cave is the most famous. One day's journey brought me to this great cavern, which is situated close to Green River, and is the greatest natural curiosity in the Western States. For several miles before arriving, the road passes through a chain of low hills covered with short stunted timber, and from that circumstance called by the people "the Kentucky Barrens."

I was received by Mr. Miller, the owner of the house near the cavern, with his usual politeness and affability, and was invited to take up my abode with him as long as I chose to stay. The

cave belongs to two gentlemen of Lexington, and proved very valuable during the last war, as 5 cwt. of saltpetre were manufactured in it daily. It is very remarkable, that scarcely any persons, except those engaged in the manufacture of saltpetre, have had the curiosity to visit the place.

Mr. Miller, one of his friends, and myself, proceeded, the day after my arrival, to explore this subterranean wonder. We were well provided with candles, and carried with us a small lamp, and a pot full of oil to replenish it.

The entrance to the cave is situated at about a quarter of a mile from the bank of Green River, which was at one time supposed to flow over a branch of it. But I myself think that this is not the case, as very soon after entering the cave, the passage turns off in a direction leading from the river. The road from the house is very precipitous, and at the bottom of a narrow ravine, the cliffs on each side of which are about fifty feet high. Within 200 yards of the house, and in the righthand cliff, is the mouth of the cavern.

The day was extremely cold; the ground was covered with a deep snow; and a small stream that seemed to fall from the rock close to the entrance of the cave was converted into one enormous pillar of ice. Immediately upon entering the cavern the passage is very narrow, and so low, that I was obliged to stoop to avoid knocking my head against the roof. This part is called the Narrows,

and the air rushed into it with the greatest violence. As soon as we had passed the Narrows, which extend only about twenty yards, I found myself in a fine large, and lofty chamber, which is the beginning of the main passage. We here lighted our candles, and proceeded on our subter

raneous excursion.

The main passage or branch of the cave is upon an average fifty feet wide and forty high, though in many places it far exceeds these dimensions. Unlike most caverns in which I have been, it is perfectly dry; and for a considerable distance, the limestone bottom is smooth and pleasant to walk

upon.

At about 200 yards from the entrance we came to "the first Hoppers," where the saltpetre was once made. Since the peace the cave has not been worked; for, owing to the very high price of labour in this part of the United States, the importers of foreign saltpetre could undersell the proprietors. At this spot there is a large branch that turns off, called "the Right-hand Chamber." It is about thirty feet wide, from twenty to thirty high, and half a mile long. Several small passages branch off from it. I went about a quarter of a mile in this chamber, and then returned, as I did not wish to delay visiting the other more remarkable parts of the cavern..

There were myriads of bats hanging by their hind-feet to the walls and roof of this chamber,

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