Page:Notes on the State of Virginia (1802).djvu/43

Rh 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.