502 RETROSPECT. [chap. xxi. 



heavily in the balance. I speak from experience : it is no trifling 

 evil, cured in a week. If, on the other hand, he take pleasure 

 in naval tactics, he will assuredly have full scope for his taste. 

 But it must be borne in mind, how large a proportion of the time, 

 during a long voyage, is spent on the water, as compared with 

 the days in harbour. And what are the boasted glories of the 

 illimitable ocean ? A tedious waste, a desert of water, as the 

 Arabian calls it. No doubt there are some delightful scenes. 

 A moonlight night, with the clear heavens and the dark glitter- 

 ing sea, and the white sails filled by the soft air of a gently- 

 blowing trade-wind ; a dead calm, with the heaving surface po- 

 lished like a mirror, and all still except the occasional flapping 

 of the canvass. It is well once to behold a squall with its rising 

 arch and coming fury, or the heavy gale of wind and mountain- 

 ous waves. I confess, however, my imagination had painted 

 something more grand, more terrific in the full-grown storm. It 

 is an incomparably finer spectacle when beheld on shore, where 

 the waving trees, the wild flight of the birds, the dark shadows 

 and bright lights, the rushing of the torrents, all proclaim the 

 strife of the unloosed elements. At sea the albatross and little 

 petrel fly as if the storm were their proper sphere, the water rises 

 and sinks as if fulfilling its usual task, the ship alone and its in- 

 habitants seem the objects of wrath. On a forlorn and weather- 

 beaten coast, the scene is indeed different, but the feelings par- 

 take more of horror than of wild delight. 



Let us now look at the brighter side of the past time. The 

 pleasure derived from beholding the scenery and the general 

 aspect of the various countries we have visited, has decidedly 

 been the most constant and highest source of enjoyment. It is 

 probable that the picturesque beauty of many parts of Europe 

 exceeds anything which we beheld. But there is a growing plea- 

 sure in comparing the character of the scenery in different coun- 

 tries, which to a certain degree is distinct from merely admiring 

 its beauty. It depends chiefly on an acquaintance with the indi- 

 vidual parts of each view : I am strongly induced to believe that, 

 as in music, the person who understands every note will, if he 

 also possesses a proper taste, more thoroughly enjoy the whole, 

 so he who examines each part of a fine view, may also thoroughly 

 comprehend the full and combined effect. Hence, a traveller 



