( 200 ) 



proportioned to them. But the moft advanced 

 parts of water cannot in any degree form 2i fore- 

 ground, if I may be allowed the expreflion. It 

 wants, on it's neareft parts, that variety of 

 objecfls, which receiving ftrong impreffions of 

 light, and fhade, are necellary to give it con- 

 fequence, and ftrength. It turns all into 

 diftance. Such is the view before us over the 

 channel, and along the fhores of Wight. To 

 the imagination it is the fimple idea of gran- 

 deur : to the eye, a mere exhibition of dif- 

 tance. 



Beiides, there is not only a want of natural 

 proportion and balance between the fore- 

 ground, and the offskip -, but a fore-ground 

 here could not even artificially be obtained, 

 becaufe of the loftinefs of the point. Take 

 the fame view from the lower fland ; from the 

 level of the fea for inilance, or a little higher, 

 where you may ftation a group of fhips, the 

 mails and fails of which may rife above the 

 horizon ; and by thus giving the view a 

 proper, and proportioned fore-ground, you 

 may turn it into one of Vandervelt's com- 

 pofitions, and give it pidurefque beauty. 



But tho the view before us is not pic- 

 turefque ; it is certainly, as we obferved of 



thofc 



