151 



sion, or the number of its appendages) is that off rcatnes. 

 Greatness we always annex ideas of Elevation; and, I b< 

 in every European 



o 



language, loft 



of situation, A\heth 



literally or figuratively < pressed, forms the leading eh; 

 teristic of Greatness; lo which we are always supposed lo 

 up, and not to look down. Every epithet applied to it seems to 



oo 



confirm the general opinion, that m 



it is 



mnot 1 



truly 



great; from the exalted Sovereign to the kneeling slave, or from 



the lofty mountain to the huinhle valley. 



But as Greatness of Character may he distinct from great- 

 ness of dimensions; so loftiness of Character may exi-l without 

 loftiness of Situation. The Works of Art, 



owever great or 



lofty in themselves, can never 



e 



truly 



so 



wl 



Jen -urrounctef 



by the Works of Nature, with which they are liable to he eom- 

 pared : thus the stupendous mass of ruins at Stonehenge is 

 rendered diminutive in appearance by the vast extent of Salis- 



ury 



Plain. 



THE SHAPE OF GROUND. 



The surface near the house has been so altered by the vari- 

 ous works of art at different periods, that it is difficult to ascer- 

 tain precisely what were the natural levels; but it is not impro- 

 bable that the Abbey was originally placed across the valle\ , or 

 near the conflux of the two small rivulets; leaving a space on 

 one side, if not on both, for the water to take its course towards 



- 



the west. As the buildings became enlarged, the valley was 



