26

HINTS of OCCURRENCES, &c.

This caftle, whatever antiquity it may boad, appears to retain its original form, and is, otherwife, tolerablyperfe6l. The immenfe rock, on which it (lands, is fituated on the eadern bank of the Rhine, oppofite to St. Goal,having the little town of Goarhaufen at its foot. The afcent to it, which is almoft perpendicular, is beautifullyenriched with vineyards and other plantations. The ftupendous rocks that form the back-ground, and which,notwithdanding their prodigious height, are entirely covered with trees, give majedy to the principal obje£l, andexhibit an indance of union between boldnefs and luxuriancy, which is much oftener feen in the productions offancy, than in the works of nature.

The village, which appears in a didant view, and fo greatly contributes to the piClurefque beauty of this fcene,is Patifberg, whofe wines are reckoned among the bed that are produced in this part of the country. The flyingbridge which makes fo confpicuous a figure in the fore ground, though perpetually {(lifting its pofition is always infight at fomc point or other of the paflage between St. Goar and Goarhaufen, and may therefore be confidered as apermanent appendage to the landfcape; it is a fine objedl in itfelf, and gives a new efFeCl to the grandeur and piClu-refque beauty of the river. Its excellence and peculiarity confid in the method of applying it, which, though ex-tremely fimple, is no inconfiderable refult of ingenuity, and contrivance. The Rhine is in this part fo rapid as torender all common means of communication between St. Goar and Goarhaufen impracticable ; the flying bridge,therefore, was a very important acquifition to the inhabitants on both fides of the river.

It is conflruCled in this manner: A boat is fixed in the centre of the river by an anchor, or lome other meansas effeClual. A chain pafles from the fixed point, over eight floating boats (which ferve only to keep the chainabove the water) to the pafiage-boat or bridge, confiding of two vedels fadened to each other; which, on beingloofened from the fhore, is carried to the centre by the dream; where the rcfidance, and a little aid from the rud-der, make it move to the oppofite fhore. The padage is in the fegment of a circle; and the bridge may be faid toofcillate like a pendulum from the fixed boat in the centre of the river.

I was fo extremely pleafed with the drawing I had jud finifhed, that I determined the next day to take a nearerfurvey of the original. I accordingly paded over to Goarhaufen early in the morning, and proceeded as foon as Ihad breakfaded, towards the cadle. The dircCt approach to it being too deep for me to encounter, I afcended bya winding road, which gave me an opportunity of viewing the cadle at all points; and by difplaying the generalprofpeCt with infinite variations, furnidied an unexpeCled fubjeCl of pleafure and admiration; for fome or other of thenumberlefs piCturefque objeCls with which nature and art have enriched this wonderful fpot, met my eye at every turnof the road; and changing in edeCl their fituation with refpeCl to each other, as I advanced, every moment produced

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