216 AUGUST. 



transparent air in the full magnificence of a 

 world. It comes not as in common, a fair but 

 flat disc on the face of the sky, — we behold 

 it suspended in the crystal air in its greatness 

 and rotundity ; we perceive the distance beyond 

 it as sensibly as that before it; and its apparent 

 size is magnificent. In a short time, however, it 

 has acquired a considerable altitude — its appa- 

 rent bulk has diminished — its majestic grandeur 

 has waned, and it sails on its way calmly beau- 

 tiful, but in nothing differing from its usual 

 character. 



During this month Nature seems to expe- 

 rience a second spring. Several trees, particu- 

 larly the oak and elm, put forth shoots and new- 

 leaves, enlivening the sombre woods. The 

 hedges assume a lighter green; and if their 

 leaves have been devoured in the spring with 

 caterpillars, as is sometimes the case, they are 

 now completely reclothed in the most delicate 

 foliage. The ground already experiences the 

 effect of the shortening days. The drought 

 occasioned by the intense heat and long days 

 of July has abated, cool nights, dews, and occa- 

 sional showers restore the mown fields and 

 sunburnt pastures to a degree of verdure, and 

 reanimate the remaining flowers. The small 

 blue campanula, wild scabious, blue chicory, 

 the large, white convolvulus, hawkweeds, and 



