62 A CONTINENTAL TOUE. 



distance know nothing of ? Even in my waking dreams, 

 when my fancy has combined in one scene every beauteous 

 image that memory could supply — when the imperfections 

 of reality mingled not with the fairy creation, and the 

 spirit of loveliness was spread over the quiet glades of 

 solitude, a more heavenly picture never charmed my wan- 

 dering soul. Indeed, what imagination can conjure up a 

 scene so enchanting as those which have started most beau- 

 tiful from the hand of Nature, and when art with cautious 

 touch has opened up the charms that are secret, without 

 defacing those that are obvious and striking? In the 

 blessed moments of holy meditation, mortal beings can 

 indeed partake of heavenly powers, but a wide distance 

 must exist even then between the aspiring efforts of frail 

 mortality and the unlaboured sublimity of universal Intel- 

 ligence. During the dreams of the soul, which our hopes 

 and wishes create, and our reason is unable to destroy, I 

 have wished to retire from the loud and stirring world, 

 and among the loveliness of some far removed valley to 

 pass the days that fate may have assigned me. Even when 

 engaged in the busy scenes of social life, the thought of 

 this has passed wildly over my heart, and at the same time 

 a cold trembling fear that such wishes can never be realised. 

 But if such a visionary scheme were indeed to be fulfilled, 

 where could I be happier than where I now am ? So sweet 

 is this spot, that the very winds of heaven seem slowly and 



