16 STAFFA. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



thus be removed ; while after every visit this object will pro- 

 gressively rise in estimation. There is no stronger proof 

 of merit, either in the works of art or of nature. Those 

 who can look back to their own experience in the arts 

 will confirm the truth of this remark ; those who have 

 no experience of their own, will perhaps recollect the 

 observations of Sir Joshua Reynolds on this subject. 



This cave lies near the eastern end of the principal face, 

 a small part only of the columnar range being visible 

 at that side ; and from this cause it is deficient in that 

 external symmetry of position which forms so beautiful 

 a feature in the little cave last described. The outline 

 of the aperture, when viewed in such a light as to show it 

 distinctly, is perpendicular at the sides, and terminates 

 above in that species of Gothic arch which has been 

 termed the contrasted ; a form which, from its obvious 

 want of geometrical strength, is, in architecture, unpleasing, 

 however abstractedly elegant its curvature may be. Here, 

 it is in character, and the defect is not felt. The height 

 from the top of the cliff to the top of the arch is thirty, 

 and from the latter to the surface of the water at mean 

 tide sixty-six feet. On the western side the pillars which 

 bound it are thirty-six feet high, while at the eastern they 

 are only eighteen, although their upper ends are nearly 

 in the same horizontal line. This difference arises from 

 the height of the broken columns which form the cause- 

 way on the eastern side, and which cover and conceal the 

 lower parts of those belonging to the front. The breadth 

 at the entrance is forty-two feet, as nearly as it is possible 

 to ascertain it ; since the gradual variation of the surfaces, 

 as the curve retires on each hand, prevents the adoption 

 of a very precise point of measurement. The height of 

 the cave within, diminishes very soon to a mean measure 

 varying from fifty to forty-four feet ; which latter, in the 

 same state of the tide, is also the altitude at the extremity. 

 The mean breadth is equal to that of the aperture, till near 

 the innermost part ; but at the extremity it diminishes to 



