not until toward the close fourth year search that locality Ellison professed himself satisfied , , needless where locality The late death friend, in causing his domain thrown open to certain classes of visiters, to Arnheim species of secret and subdued solemn celebrity, similar in kind, although infinitely superior in degree, which distinguished Fonthill

The usual approach to Arnheim was river The visiter left the city early morning During the forenoon he passed between shores of tranquil and domestic beauty, grazed innumerable sheep, their white fleeces spotting the vivid green of rolling meadows By degrees the idea of cultivation subsided into that of merely pastoral care This slowly became merged in sense of retirement -- this again in consciousness of solitude evening approached, the channel grew more narrow, the banks more and more precipitous; and these latter were clothed in rich, more profuse, and more sombre foliage The water increased in transparency The stream took thousand turns, at no moment could its gleaming surface be seen for greater distance than furlong At every instant the vessel seemed imprisoned within an enchanted circle, having insuperable and impenetrable walls of foliage, roof of ultramarine satin, and no floor -- the keel balancing itself with admirable nicety of phantom bark which, by some accident having been turned upside down, floated in constant company substantial one, of sustaining it The channel now became gorge -- although the term is somewhat inapplicable, and I employ it merely because the language has no word which better represents the most striking -- not the most distinctive-feature scene The character of gorge was maintained only height and parallelism shores; lost altogether in their other traits The walls ravine (through which the clear water still tranquilly flowed) arose to an elevation of hundred and occasionally of hundred and fifty feet, and inclined toward as, in great measure, to shut out the light of day; while the long plume-like moss which depended densely intertwining shrubberies overhead, gave the whole chasm an air of funereal gloom The windings became more frequent and intricate, and seemed often returning in upon themselves, so voyager had long lost all idea of direction , moreover, enwrapt in an exquisite sense strange The thought of nature still remained, but her character seemed undergone modification, weird symmetry, thrilling uniformity, wizard propriety her works Not dead branch -- not withered leaf -- not stray pebble -- not patch brown earth was anywhere visible The crystal water welled up against the clean granite, or the unblemished moss, with sharpness of outline that delighted while it bewildered the eye

Having threaded the mazes channel for some hours, the gloom deepening every moment, sharp and unexpected turn vessel brought it suddenly, dropped from heaven, into circular basin of very considerable extent when compared width gorge about two hundred yards in diameter, and girt in at all points but one -- that immediately fronting the vessel as it entered -- by hills equal in general height walls chasm, although of thoroughly different character Their sides sloped water's edge at an angle of some forty-five degrees, were clothed from base to summit -- not perceptible point escaping -- in drapery most gorgeous flower-blossoms; scarcely green leaf being visible sea of odorous and fluctuating color This basin was of great depth, but so transparent water bottom, which seemed to consist of thick mass of small round alabaster pebbles, was distinctly visible by glimpses -- , whenever the eye could permit itself not , far down inverted heaven, the duplicate blooming hills latter there were no trees, nor even shrubs of any size The impressions wrought observer were those of richness, warmth, color, quietude, uniformity, softness, delicacy, daintiness, voluptuousness, and miraculous extremeness of culture that suggested dreams of new race of fairies, laborious, tasteful, magnificent, and fastidious; but eye traced upward the myriad-tinted slope, from its sharp junction water to its vague termination amid the folds of overhanging cloud, it became, indeed, difficult not to fancy panoramic cataract of rubies, sapphires, opals, and golden onyxes, rolling silently sky

The visiter, shooting suddenly bay from out the gloom ravine, is delighted but astounded full orb declining sun, which he had supposed already far below the horizon, but which now confronts him, and forms the sole termination of an otherwise limitless vista seen through another chasm -- like rift hills

But here the voyager quits the vessel borne him , and descends into light canoe of ivory, stained with arabesque devices in vivid scarlet, both within and without The poop and beak boat arise high above the water, with sharp points, so general form of an irregular crescent It lies surface bay proud grace of swan On its ermined floor reposes single feathery paddle of satin-wood; but no oarsmen or attendant seen The guest is bidden of good cheer -- fates will take care of him The larger vessel disappears, and left alone canoe, which lies apparently motionless middle lake While he considers what course to pursue, however, he becomes aware of gentle movement fairy bark It slowly swings itself around until its prow points toward the sun It advances with gentle but gradually accelerated velocity, while the slight ripples it creates seem to break ivory side in divinest melody-seem to offer the only possible explanation soothing yet melancholy music for whose unseen origin the bewildered voyager looks around him in vain

The canoe steadily proceeds, rocky gate vista is approached, its depths more distinctly seen right arise chain of lofty hills rudely and luxuriantly wooded observed, however, trait of exquisite cleanness where the bank dips water, still prevails not one token usual river debris left the character scene is softer and more obviously artificial Here the bank slopes upward stream in very gentle ascent, forming broad sward of grass of texture resembling nothing as velvet, and of brilliancy of green which would bear comparison tint purest emerald This plateau varies in width from ten to three hundred yards; reaching river-bank to wall, fifty feet high, which extends, in an infinity of curves, but following the general direction river, until lost distance westward This wall is of one continuous rock, and formed by cutting perpendicularly the once rugged precipice stream's southern bank, but no trace labor suffered to remain The chiselled stone hue of ages, profusely overhung and overspread ivy, the coral honeysuckle, the eglantine, clematis The uniformity top and bottom lines wall is fully relieved by occasional trees of gigantic height, growing singly or in small groups, both along the plateau and domain behind the wall, but in close proximity ; frequent limbs ( black walnut especially) reach over and dip their pendent extremities water Farther back domain, the vision is impeded by an impenetrable screen of foliage

These things are observed during the canoe's gradual approach to what called the gate vista On drawing nearer , however, its chasm-like appearance vanishes; new outlet bay is discovered left -- direction the wall is also seen to sweep, still following the general course stream Down this new opening the eye cannot penetrate very far; stream, accompanied wall, still bends left, until both are swallowed up leaves

The boat, nevertheless, glides magically winding channel; and here the shore opposite the wall is found to resemble that opposite the wall straight vista Lofty hills, rising occasionally into mountains, and covered with vegetation in wild luxuriance, still shut scene

Floating gently onward, but with velocity slightly augmented, the voyager, after many short turns, finds his progress apparently barred by gigantic gate or rather door of burnished gold, elaborately carved and fretted, and reflecting the direct rays now fast-sinking sun with an effulgence that seems to wreath the whole surrounding forest in flames This gate is inserted lofty wall; which here appears to cross the river at right angles In , however, seen main body water still sweeps in gentle and extensive curve left, the wall following it as before, while stream of considerable volume, diverging principal one, makes its way, with slight ripple, under the door, thus hidden from sight The canoe falls lesser channel and approaches the gate Its ponderous wings are slowly and musically expanded The boat glides , and commences rapid descent into vast amphitheatre entirely begirt with purple mountains, whose bases are laved by gleaming river full extent circuit Meantime the whole Paradise of Arnheim bursts view gush of entrancing melody; an oppressive sense of strange sweet odor, -- dream -- like intermingling eye of tall slender Eastern trees -- bosky shrubberies -- flocks of golden and crimson birds -- lily-fringed lakes -- meadows of violets, tulips, poppies, hyacinths, and tuberoses -- long intertangled lines of silver streamlets -- and, upspringing confusedly from amid all, mass of semi-Gothic, semi-Saracenic architecture sustaining itself by miracle in mid-air, glittering red sunlight with hundred oriels, minarets, and pinnacles; and seeming the phantom handiwork, conjointly, Sylphs, Fairies, Genii and Gnomes

Notes-- Domain of Arnheim

{*1} An incident, similar in outline one here imagined, occurred, not very , in England The name fortunate heir was Thelluson I first saw an account of "Tour" of Prince Puckler Muskau, who makes the sum inherited ninety millions of pounds_, and justly observes that " contemplation of so vast sum, and services it applied, something even sublime " To suit the views article followed the Prince's statement, although grossly exaggerated one The germ, and , the commencement present paper was published many -- previous issue first number of Sue's admirable Juif Errant_, possibly suggested to him by Muskau's account