56 EXCURSIONS ROUND LONDON. 



the relations which exist between external 

 objects and the organs of sense, I conceived 

 that the absence of most of those relations 

 \vhich afford exercise to our organs, mast 

 be extremely painful to man ; that a 

 greater or less number of the relations of 

 pleasure or satisfaction, will impart to the 

 mind enjoyments more or less exquisite ; 

 and, that the combination of all these 

 relations, must produce the idea of beauty 

 in the philosophical acceptation of the 

 term. 



Whence happens it, that, when standino- 

 in the centre of an immense plain, on look- 

 ing around us, we experience only a sense 

 of langour or indifference ? This is because 

 the uniformity of the objects which 

 surround us presents no variety to our view. 

 In this case, the eyes alone are affected, 

 while all the other senses remain unexer- 

 cised. Assuredly, no idea of beauty 

 can ever be excited by the contemplation 

 of such a monotonous and insipid scene. 



Let 



