6 SKETCHING. DAGUERREOTYPE. [chap. i. 



blueness of a tropical, nor the cold haze of a northern atmo- 

 sphere, hut the sunshine is broken and mellowed by flitting 

 clouds, and a series of dissolving lights and shades surrounds 

 you on every side, which must awaken pleasure and admi- 

 ration in the breast of the most insensible. 



SKETCHING*. 



The great difficulty of sketching in Madeira consists in the 

 grandeur of the scenery and the quickness with which the 

 lights disappear. In the ravines about the town there are 

 many exquisite little pieces to be found. There is an endless 

 fund of amusement for the lover of the pencil ; sit down 

 where you will, you get a good subject, as far as rocks, water, 

 and sky are concerned. Fine trees are a great desideratum to 

 the artist on the south side of the island ; on the north he 

 has them to his heart's content. The production of drawing 

 utensils always excites curiosity amongst the natives. The 

 artist is immediately surrounded by a motley group of people, 

 who seem as if they had nothing to do but watch his motions. 

 There they will stay for hours. It is true, they inflict no 

 greater inconvenience than belongs to the propinquity of a 

 mass of unwashen humanity, unless you quarrel with them. 



DAGUERREOTYPE. 



It might have been supposed that, in an atmosphere so pre- 

 eminently clear, the Talbotype and Daguerreotype would have 

 been peculiarly successfid. This does not, however, appear 

 to be the case. I am told that the chemical re-agents em- 

 ployed here in these arts have the usual amount of sensi- 



* An enormous duty is imposed at the Custom-house on drawings, which 

 pay at the rate of 6s. 8d. per pound of their weight ! 



