MAGPIE FIELDS. 181 



observation on either of the bridges Westminster, 

 Waterloo, or London Bridge : there is on the bridges 

 something like a horizon, the best to be got in the 

 City itself, and the changes announce themselves 

 very clearly there. The difference in the definition 

 is really wonderful. 



From Waterloo Bridge the golden cross on St. 

 Paul's and the dome at one time stand out as if 

 engraved upon the sky, clear and with a white aspect. 

 At the same time, the brick of the old buildings at 

 the back of the Strand is red and bright. The 

 structures of the bridges appear light, and do not 

 press upon their arches. The yellow straw stacked 

 on the barges is bright, the copper-tinted sails bright, 

 the white wall of the Embankment clear, and the 

 lions' heads distinct. Every trace of colour, in short, 

 is visible. 



At another time the dome is murky, the cross 

 tarnished, the outline dim, the red brick dull, the 

 whiteness gone. In summer there is occasionally a 

 bluish haze about the distant buildings. These are 

 the same changes presented by the Downs in the 

 country, and betoken the state of the atmosphere as 

 clearly. The London atmosphere is, I should fancy, 

 quite as well adapted to the artist's uses as the 

 changeless glare of the Continent. The smoke itself 

 is not without its interest. 



Sometimes upon Westminster Bridge at night the 

 scene is very striking. Vast rugged columns of vapour 

 rise up behind and over the towers of the House, 

 hanging with threatening aspect; westward the sky 

 is nearly clear, with some relic of the sunset glow : 



