27 1 Dr. Falconer on the Influence of the Scenery 
A lefs potent, but a fomewhat fimilar influence* 
is exerted by inanimate objeds. Scenes of hor¬ 
ror, even though compofed of lifelefs materials, 
impart gloomy and terrible ideas to the mind ; 
and thofe of pleafure tend, on the contrary, to 
exhilarate and refrefli it. Hence we may infer, 
that the afped or face of a country might con¬ 
tribute, in fome meafure, towards the formation 
of the manners, and character of the people. 
The immediate and dired effed of the fight 
of objeds, of either of the kinds above-men¬ 
tioned, would be, I apprehend, but weak; but 
we fhould confider, that they mull, from their 
nature, be almoft conftantly operating; and by 
their repeated adion may make amends for the 
fiightnefs of the imprefiions, diftindly confidered* 
As it is the natural property of beautiful ob¬ 
jeds to communicate pleafurable ideas to the 
mind, and to elevate the fpirits, we may from 
thence infer, that the view of a fertile, pleafant, 
and cultivated country, would infpire fentiments 
of delight and fatisfadion into thofe accuftomed 
to furvey it. A cultivated garden was the fcene 
of delight, feleded by that celebrated patron of 
fenfual pleafure Epicurus; and the exhilarating 
effeds produced upon the mind by the * furvey 
of 
• . - - --- --and now is come 
Into the blifsful field, thro’ groves of Myrrh, 
And flowering odours, Caflia, Nard, and Balm, 
A wildernefs of fvveets, for Nature here 
Wanton 5 
