From these surveys, it appears that the whole extent of the cave, hitherto discovered, does not exceed eight hundred yards. This was the length stated to me by the guide, when I visited it in August, 1817. I cannot but think there is some mistake in Mr. Kain's remark, that "it is a mile and a half in extent." I spent four hours in examining every accessible part, and by permission of Mr. Henry Bingham, the owner, made a large collection of specimens, which were transmitted for the Cabinet of Yale College.[46]

The Natural Bridge.

2. My object m naming this celebrated curiosity, is not to give a new description of it, but merely to furnish a correct account of its dimensions. I visited it in company with the Rev. Mr. Huson, who had previously found its height by a cord, to be two hundred and ten feet. We now found it by the quadrant, to be two hundred and eleven feet, and the arch through the centre about forty feet.

Some have attempted to account for this great curiosity, by supposing that a convulsion in nature may have rent the hill, in which it stands, asunder; thus forming the deep and narrow defile, over which the rocky strata were left, which constitute its magnificent arch. If so; the sides should have corresponding parts. At a distance from the base, no such correspondence is perceptible. At the base, the rocks are more or less craggy and irregular. This led me to take the courses and distances of each side. The following was the result.

Eastern side presents 4 angular points.Western side presents 3 angular points.
1.N. 55°W. 1 chain.09 links.1.N. 50°W. 0 chain.45 links.
2.N. 72W. 1 ——05½ ——2.N. 67W. 1 ——12½ ——
3.N. 57W. 1 ——12½ ——3.N. 77W. 1 ——44 ——
4.N. 50W. 0 ——33 ——

The chain used contained 50 links, equal to 33 feet and ⅓. The distance between the abutments at the north end of their bases, is 80 feet; at the south end, 66 feet. As they ascend, the distance is greater. These data give the following diagram.

Although considerable resemblance appears at the base, yet as no such correspondence is visible 40 feet above it, and the sides for the whole remaining distance to the arch, one hundred and thirty feet, lose their craggy appearance entirely, and present the smooth, irregular surface of the oldest rocks. I am led to think that the natural bridge is coeval with a very remote period of time. Nor is there any difficulty even in supposing it to have proceeded from the hand of the Almighty, as it is; for great and marvellous are all his works!

The following anecdote will evince the effect which the sight of the natural bridge produced on a servant, who, without having received any definite or adequate ideas of what he was to see, attended his master to this spot.