20

HINTS of OCCURRENCES, &c.

Oberwefel. When we had proceeded about a mile, the rocks on the oppofite ffiore, which rofe gradually to a pro-digious height, and were fo fteep and craggy as to appear inacceffible, formed a fcene in the bold and romantic ftile, asbeautiful as can be imagined. The river in this part was narrow and very rapid; and the paflage, as we learnt fromexperience, attended with fome danger; if undertaken, as was our cafe, in a very fmall boat. But not being apprized ofthis circumftance, and my attention being wholly engaged by a fucceffion of objects peculiarly fuited to my tafte, I didnot perceive that our boat was powerfully attracted by a whirlpool, till we were on the verge of its vortex: whenthe extraordinary exertions of the waterman, added to the terror exprelfed on his countenance, difcovered to us thedanger we were in. He extricated us, however, without any other inconvenience than giving us a very ferious alarm.But we had fcarcely time to congratulate each other on our efcape, before we were overtaken by one of thole fuddenand violent ftorms, which, from the nature of the adjacent country, are very frequent on the Rhine. It came withfuch fury, that the boat was feveral times turned round, and driven by the wind in contrary directions : fo that wcreached the fhore with great difficulty. Thefe ftorms being of fhort continuance, we were foon at liberty to pro-ceed ; the weather during the remainder of our voyage was very fine, and the views on both fides of the riverdelightful. We arrived at St. Goar’s early in the evening.

Our expectations were greatly raifed by the accounts we had heard of the many grand objects that would pre-fent themfelves in our approach to that place; but their appearance very much exceeded every thing we had beentold. Among!! thefe, the fortrefs of Rhinfels, which is fituated near St. Goar, and is reprefented in the feventhand eight plates, claimed my lirft notice. I therefore paid my refpeCts the next morning to Colonel Heimel, thecommanding officer of the garrifon, to requeft his permiffion to make drawings of the caftle. He received me withthe fame politenefs I had experienced from gentlemen in fimilar ftations at other places; and readily favoured mewith his confent, under the ufual reftriCtion of not meddling with the fortifications, which were not neceffiary to mypurpofe. He offered to indulge me with a fight of the citadel, which ftands much higher than his refidence in the caftle,and which is not reprefented in the view: the weather being hot, and the afcent very fteep, I pleaded fatigue, which headmitted, as much I believe to his own fatisfaCtion as mine, in excufe for my declining the honour of attending him.

The caftle of Rhinfels, viewed with regard to its piCturefque beauties, is the moft ftriking objeCt I have ever feen.It ftands on a large and extenfive rock, that rifes majeftically from the fide of the river, to a very confiderable height.It was built about the middle of the thirteenth century. The moft general view that can be taken of it, is given inthe feventh plate. The ground that forms this face of the rock is very unequal, having numberlefs projectionsand receffes, where fortifications are ereCted and lines formed, which render the caftle of Rhinfels (if not impregnable)one of the ftrongeft fortrefles in Europe. Thefe being interfperfed with trees, vineyards, and rich herbage, prefent a

fcene