Unlefs diftances and fore-grounds are in fome 

 degree, balanced, no compofition can be good. 

 Fore-grounds are efTential to landfcape : diftances 

 are not. 



A picturefque view, as was obferved, may 

 confift chiefly, indeed intirely, of water : but 

 then, it is fuppofed, that, as there cannot 

 be a natural fore-ground, an artificial one 

 muft be obtained < a group of (hips a few 

 boats with figures a light-houfe or fome- 

 thing, that will make a balance between near 

 and diftant objects. Such were the fea-pieces 

 of Vandervelt j in which veiiels of fome kind 

 were always introduced to make an artificial 

 fore-ground. We fometimes indeed meet with 

 amufmg views, fuch as that celebrated one at 

 Hack-fall in Yorkfhire*, where there is a 

 gradual proportion among the different parts 

 of the retiring landfcape : we can fcarce di- 

 tinguifh where the fore-grounds end, and 

 \vhere the diflance begins : yet ftill there are 

 objects nearer the eye, which, in a degree 

 fet off the retiring parts, tho they may not 

 be dccifively feparated from them, nor fully 



* See Observations on the lakes, and mountains of Cumber- 

 land, vol. ii. page 191* 



o 4 pro- 



