80 A CONTINENTAL TOUR. 



pointment on witnessing the distinct circular line which 

 binds the horizon apparently at so short a distance. The 

 deck of the vessel being near the surface of the water, the 

 extent of prospect is much foreshortened, and consequently 

 limited ; and, I think, I have frequently seen a greater 

 expanse of water from the top of a high hill in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the sea, than can be perceived from on board 

 a ship. No doubt there is something impressive in the 

 entire absence of land, and this I felt forcibly on coming 

 on deck the first morning after we had lost sight of it. 

 The feeling, however, such as it is, arises in a great mea- 

 sure from novelty, and decreases clay after day. During 

 a storm, perhaps, it may appear to greater advantage, ' the 

 rueful sky and pageantry of fear ' being more in unison 

 with the character of the 'green despot,' and when he 

 alone is visible he should appear under the most appro- 

 priate form. The tumultuous heaving of the waves also 

 conceals the line of the horizon, and by shortening or ex- 

 tending the distances, as the vessel rises or falls, produces 

 greater variety in the aspect of the scene. But the glory 

 of sunset over a waveless sea is magnificent beyond ex- 

 pression — indeed, what sight in nature is equal to the 

 splendour of the summer sun on a line evening, whether 

 on the ocean or the land ? . . . . 



" Coleridge's description of the luminous appearance of 

 the sea is, I think, the most picturesque and one of the 



