PREFACE. Xlll 



the most ciilculiitccl to shew their perfect 

 distinction. 



There are persons for whose opinion I 

 have a very high respect, who, though they 

 agree with me in the distinct character of 

 the Picturesque, object to the term itself; 

 on the ground that, from its manifest ety- 

 mology, it must signify all that can be 

 represented in pictures with effect. I had 

 flattered myself with having shewn, that, 

 according to that definition, the word can 

 hardly be said to have a distinct, appro- 

 priate meaning ; by placing this matter in 

 a different, possibly in a more convincing 

 light, I may be lucky enough to obviate 

 their only objection. It has occurred to 

 me, that the term (which is in effect the 

 same in English, French, and Italian) may 

 possibly have been invented by painters to 

 express a quality, not merely essential to 

 their art, but in a manner peculiar to it : the 



