cumstance led to an examination, which, in the result, has disclosed one of the most interesting subterranean curiosities. The hill, in which it is situated, is full of caverns and holes of various sizes and description. The probability is that all are really but branches of each other. On the 22d of August, the cave was illuminated by one thousand candles, each fifteen inches long, placed in different parts of the cave, and which furnished, to a vast number of persons who had come from a distance to behold, a rare opportunity for making a thorough examination."

On the 14th of August he made an accurate survey and measurement of the Natural Bridge in the vicinity of Lexington, an object, which the pen of Mr. Jefferson has described with so much force and beauty. "All that captivates the mind in a display of power, or loftiness of height, combine to excite wonder and admiration, while the distant view of the sky and flying clouds, as they are seen through the opening beneath the lofty arch, give to the whole an effect equally delightful and sublime.

"I confess, I cannot, from the strictest examination, see sufficient evidence to conclude with Mr. Jefferson that the hill has been cloven from the top to its base by some convulsion, leaving in this particular part a rock, which, not having fallen in the general shock, forms, as its result, the arch of the bridge. I had rather view it as the direct result of the hand of the Deity, and regard it as another striking proof of his wisdom and power."

From Lexington, Mr. Cornelius proceeded over the vallies and mountains of western Virginia, till he entered the State of Tennessee. Whenever an opportunity presented, he exhibited the subject upon which he was commissioned, generally before interested and attentive audi

ences.

To his wakeful eye, and ardent curiosity, many scenes were presented in external nature, as he crossed

the highlands, which separate the waters of the Atlantic from those that pass into the Mississippi, which filled him with admiration, and led him to adore that Power who "setteth fast the mountains."

The incidents which he met, during a short time before he arrived at Brainerd, the seat of the Cherokee mission, are thus detailed in a letter to his family-friends.

"Brainerd, Cherokee Nation, Oct. 27, 1817.

"I left Knoxville on the 15th day of September, having collected in that town, notwithstanding the prejudices of many people, one hundred and sixty dollars, and sold my jewelry for seventy dollars more. I also purchased a new horse, the cost of which was one hundred dollars, and some articles of clothing, suitable for travelling in the wilderness. I passed on through several small places, where but a few years before it was an entire wilderness, and arrived, on the third day, at a place called Washington—a frontier-town, distant eighty miles southwest from Knoxville. Here I remained one day in expectation that brother Kingsbury, who was forty-five miles distant, would come and guide me to his place of abode, among the Cherokees. We had agreed upon this by letter. But I was greatly disappointed to find he did not come. On Friday, at 10 o'clock A. M., I left Washington, and rode ten miles to a place on Tennessee river, called Hiwassee Garrison, formerly a military post, built by the United States. Here I found a man who had business with Mr. Kingsbury, and offered to accompany me. Although it was past one o'clock when we were ready to set out, I resolved to go on, supposing the distance to be not more than thirty miles at the farthest. We knew we should be compelled to ride in the night, but as the moon would shine brightly, we concluded to go on. After a long delay, we got across the river, and entered immediately

These paths are

the Cherokee country. We soon found a new mode of travelling. The road was nothing but a narrow Indian footpath, running through the woods. numerous, and a stranger is often lost. My companion was as ignorant of the true road as myself. We had not gone more than three miles, before we found we had taken a wrong direction. It led us however to an Indian

house. But neither of us could explain our situation to the Indians. I could only say Chick-a-mau-gah-which was the Indian name of the place where brother Kingsbury lives, and by which they understood what we meant. One of them, a very good-looking young man, offered to get on his little horse, or pony as it is called, and conduct us to the right path. He guided us three or four miles, and set us into a very plain road, for which I gave him a little compensation. You would have been extremely delighted with the appearance of this young Indian, and if you had indulged a fear of these poor natives, you could have indulged them no more. Nothing but the most sincere good will and friendship was written in his countenance. As I have said, he was very beautiful. His dress was the hunting shirt, made somewhat like a frock-coat, and extending to the knees. This was girded around him with a belt or sash, in the manner in which sashes are used among us by military officers. His face was painted in two or three places with a red paint. On his head, he wore a turban made with a common handkerchief, but put on in such a manner as to leave the top bare, from which a long braid of hair hung down upon his back. This was the manner in which I was escorted, if I may so say, into the Cherokee nation. We rode till half past seven o'clock, and then came to another Indian house, the first human habitation we had seen for ten miles. Here we obtained an Indian for a guide to conduct us to Mr. Kingsbury-understanding that it

was but ten miles distant. We set out again at half past eight o'clock. I was extremely hungry, and my horse had had nothing to eat during the day. I could get nothing, however, but an ear of corn, which I divided between myself and my horse, and then set out. But a long course indeed it was. Instead of being ten, it was fifteen miles, and through a gloomy part of the wilderness. We rode over hills and plains covered with woods, crossed several large streams of water, all of which we had to ford; sometimes we were in low, marshy ground, where the trees and bushes were so thick as to make it dark as midnight without a moon. Finally, being greatly fatigued, we reached, at five minutes past twelve o'clock, Chickamaugah creek. It was very high, and ran swiftly, and the Indian guide signified to us that it would not do to ford it. Brother Kingsbury lived about one fourth of a mile on the other side. What could we do? We hallooed as loudly as we could, and called out until our throats were sore, but no one appeared, or answered. They were all buried in sleep. We were preparing to lie out all night, weary, wet with the dew, which falls in much greater abundance here than in New York, and without fire, when our Indian guide offered to go over the creek, if we would let him have one of our horses, calling his own steaky,' that is little, or small. He then waded in till the water came within a foot of the horse's back, and got safely on the other side. Our brethren soon came to our relief, to our unspeakable joy; we crossed in a canoe, and our horses were taken over by one of their men. I cannot tell you the happiness I felt in treading missionaryground. But we did not get over the creek until half past one o'clock in the morning, one hour and twenty-five minutes after our arrival at the creek. But you may judge of my surprise, when I was told that brother Kingsbury had gone to meet me the day before. We had

taken different roads, and therefore missed of each other. I did not see him until the next week after my arrival. Thus I reached this long sought place (at half past one o'clock) on Saturday morning Sept. 20th. At three o'clock I went to rest, and awoke at six the next morning, without feeling any inconvenience.

“Last week, I returned from a council of Indians which met sixty-five miles south of this place. I had a talk with the Cherokees and also with the Creeks about establishing schools among them, and requested them to let me know sincerely their feelings. The Creeks have not yet given a final answer. The Cherokees consulted together, and ordered one of their chiefs to make a speech on the subject, and proclaim the result to the council, which he did in his own language, and in a very animated manner. His discourse was fifteen minutes long, or Mr. Hicks wrote down the heads of it, which are

more.

as follows.

“‘I am now going to address the council of the Cherokee nation, and each representative will inform his town, respectively, the result of our deliberation on the subject of what we have heard from the northern good people, who have sent this man to us;—of their offer of pity to our people, and that we have taken hold of their offer. We have thought right to accept of their benevolent object, that our children may learn to act well in life, and their minds be enlarged to know the ways of our Creator: For we have been told that by education, we may know that at death, our spirit will return to the Father of it. It will also promote our childrens' good to labor for their living when they come to years of manhood. I am sensible the hunting life is not to be depended on. So our father, the president Washington recommended to us to labor, instead of hunting.

"These good people have established one school at