Title:  The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 583 Volume 20, Number 583, Saturday, December 29, 1832

Author:  Various

Release Date:  June 5, 2004 [EBook #12521]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

Vol.  XX, no. 583.] Saturday, December 29, 1832. [Price 2d.

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[Illustration:  Natural tunnel, in Virginia.]

NATURAL TUNNEL, IN VIRGINIA.

Rock Bridges occupy the same pre-eminence amongst the sublimities of nature, that artificial bridges maintain amidst the labours of man.  Both alike inspire us with admiration, though we are enabled to obtain but unequal results as to their respective origins.  The bridge, built by human hands, is, indeed, a triumph of the perfection of skilful contrivance; the strength and beauty of the arch are among the most simple yet exquisite results of science, wonderful as they may appear to the untaught beholder:  but how shall we explain the formation of stupendous rock-arches across deep ravines and rolling torrents, in countries where none but the wild and picturesque forms of nature rise to gladden the eye and heart of the inquiring traveller?  Of the latter description are the natural bridges which abound in the State of Virginia; as Rockbridge, which gives name to the county in which it is situated, and the wild and fantastic bridges of Icognozo; all of which are more extensively recognised among the wonders of creation than the specimen here presented to the reader.

This Tunnel is in Scott county, Virginia; but was so little known beyond its immediate neighbourhood, as to induce Lieut.-Col.  Long, (U.S.  Army,) to communicate its description to Mr. Featherstonhaugh’s American Journal of Geology and Natural Science; and the following narrative of the Colonel’s Excursion will be read with interest:—­

“During the past summer, I visited a remarkable natural bridge in Scott county, Virginia, to which I have given the name of Natural Tunnel, on account of its striking resemblance to artificial structures of that kind.