RETROSPECT. 307 



shadows and bright hghts, the rushing of the tor- 

 rents, all proclaim the strife of the unloosed ele- 

 ments. At sea the albatross apd little petrel fly as 

 if the storm were their proper sphere, the water 

 rises and sinks as if fulfilling its usual task, the 

 ship alone and its inhabitants seem the objects of 

 wrath. On a forlorn and weather-beaten coast, 

 the scene is indeed different, but the feelings par- 

 take more of horror than of wild delight. 



Let us now look at the brighter side of the past 

 time. The pleasure derived from beholding the 

 scenery, and the general aspect of the various coun- 

 tries we have visited, has decidedly been the most 

 constant and highest source of enjoyment. It is 

 probable that the picturesque beauty of many parts 

 of Europe exceeds anything which we beheld. 

 But there is a growing pleasure in comparing the 

 character of the scenery in different countries, 

 which, to a certain degree, is distinct from merely 

 admiring its beauty. It depends chiefly on an ac- 

 quaintance with the individual parts of each view : 

 I am strongly induced to believe that, as in music, 

 the person who understands every note will, if he 

 also possesses a proper taste, more thoroughly en- 

 joy the whole, so he who examines each part of a 

 fine view may also thoroughly comprehend the full 

 and combined effect. Hence a traveller should be 

 a botanist, for in all views plants form tlie chief 

 embellishment. Group masses of naked rock even 

 in the wildest forms, and they may for a time af- 

 ford a sublime spectacle, but they will soon grow 

 monotonous. Paint them with bright and varied 

 colours, as in Northern Chile, they will become 

 fantastic ; clothe them with vegetation, they must 

 form a decent, if not a beautiful picture. 



When I say that the scenery of parts of Europe 

 is probably superior to anything which we beheld, 



