ON THE SENSES. 411 



allure our view, as fertile islands in a desert waste ; 

 and we watch the progress of a thaw, as the sub- 

 sidence of a wintry flood. Green seems to be the 

 predominant hue of vegetation, when in health ; 

 and our faculties feel revived, reanimated by its 

 freshness, when we view it. The wide-spread 

 pastures, the foliage of the thicket, appear to 

 impart their life to a wearied, languid being, and 

 the sick man looks out on the verdant turf his 

 jaundiced eye imbibes the universal spirit of vitality 

 that circulates around he admits the hopes of 

 restoration^ as he sees the healthy existence of all 

 things. And how is it that this colour conveys 

 such sensations ? probably not from any innate love 

 or accordance with a particular tint ; for if so, it 

 would prevail in all things, become the influencing 

 dye in our dress 5 of our fancies which it is not. 

 It may at times be an association of the memory 

 an impression on the mind of superior health and 

 life, enjoyment, leisure, bland airs, and recreations; 

 but, then, persons bred in cities and situations, 

 where no early recollections of such conceptions 

 have had birth, yet feel pleasure in the verdure of 

 nature, an importunity for the country. Surrounded 

 by verdure, we inhale a larger portion of oxygen, 

 of vital air : this increases the pulsations of the 

 heart, augmenting the flow of spirits. An analysis 

 of a certain number of cubic inches of the atmos- 

 pheres from the crowded alley and the open down 

 would, probably, give no indication of this excess ; 



