II. TO HIGHGATE. 25 



the plan of studying myself. I had alreadv 

 several times repaired to a solitary eminence, 

 already mentioned, at the moment when the 

 sun, emerging from the bosom of the east, 

 seemed to bestow new life upon the universe. 

 I have described to you the deep impression 

 which that ravishing spectacle made upon 

 me ; and the pleasure which I experienced 

 on observing the admirable relations of light, 

 and of sensible objects, with the organ of 

 sight. 



As I was one day enjoying the sublime 

 spectacle of the rising sun, I descended- into 

 a valley, the beautiful verdure of which pre- 

 sented me an asylum against the heat of the 

 day. On arriving at the foot of the hill, 

 I entered a small thicket, the foliage of 

 which was gently agitated by the breeze. 

 Birds, concealed in the tufted branches, 

 made the air resound with their harmonious 

 warblings, and seemed to take a pleasure in 

 .answering each other. A small rivulet 

 meandered through the forest with a imir- 



D inuring 



