16 



most of that place was intended for cheerfulness, 

 these nillows are now cut down, and the banks 

 smoothed into a more cheerful green. I am sensible 

 that the straight line, especially in water, is almost 

 always disagreeable; yet if that line be at all pardon- 

 able, perhaps it is pardonable here. The serpentine 

 line contains so great variety as to disturb the mind 

 continually in its meditations; whereas a melancholy 

 mind is flattered in its indolence, by saunteiing along 

 the sides of a canal that is always the same. For the 

 same reason, the small streams should be made to run 

 purling over pebbles, and the cascades be made to 

 fall in one regular sheet, instead of being broken by 

 obstructions. It is generally thought that cascades 

 create an enlivening sentiment, and no doubt they do, 

 when left to their own natural irregularity, or when 

 that irregularity is increased ; but when they are 

 brought over in regular sheets, the continued same- 

 ness of the noise, and motion, and look, composes 

 the mind also to an even continued tenor of thought. 

 We love to read or sleep by the side of a purling 

 brook, or a smooth cascade ; but we are roused as at 

 the sound of a trumpet, by the sight of a rough cata- 

 ract. 



It is diflTicult to give directions for the manage- 

 ment of the ground in such situations: smoothing 

 into a flat is alwajs against taste; and yet perhaps 

 here it would flatter the indolence of the mind. Na- 

 ture at least seems to favor this, by generally throwing 

 t!ie bottoms of such situations into a flat ; and surely 

 throwing the grounds into pleasing irregularities 

 would amuse too much. The wide bottoms, which 

 should be exposed in a highland situation, should here 

 be concealed ; nor should tlie open lawns of a cheer- 

 ful situation be admitted. The best disposition is to 

 throw the ground into smooth walks, followhig the 

 course of the waters and hills: a solitary walk in a 

 deep valley, by the side of a sniooth water, and co- 

 vere<l by the shades of the neighbouring hills and 

 woods, is the very region of melancholy. 



