300 RUINS., 



the atoms, amidst apparent chaos, moving in the most 

 mathematical order, and gradually resolving themselves 

 into organized forms, infinite in their numbers and 

 arrangements. 



In this country we have no classic ruins. The relics 

 of the ancient structures of the aborigines can hardly 

 awaken a romantic sentiment. We cannot associate 

 with them any affecting historic reminiscences. We 

 behold in them only the evidences of savage customs, 

 unformed art, and a miserable superstition, which afford 

 nothing to admire. No scenes are so well fitted as the 

 ruins of a great and civilized nation, to inspire the mind 

 with that contemplative habit which is the foundation 

 of the poetical character. They fill the soul with noble 

 conceptions, and serve to divert the thoughts from a con- 

 sideration of present interest, and turn them back upon 

 the ages of chivalry aud romance. 



Nature has so constituted the mind as to enable it to 

 convert all her scenes, under certain circumstances, into 

 sources of pleasure. It is not the beautiful alone that 

 aftord these agreeable impressions ; nor is it the cheerful 

 scenes only among natural or artificial objects that inspire 

 a pleasing sentiment. While contemplating a scene of 

 ruins, the mind may have glimpses of truths which are 

 not revealed to us in the lessons of philosophy, and which 

 excite indefinite hopes amidst apparent desolation. It is 

 our power of deriving pleasure from these inexplicable 

 sources that gives a pile of ruins half its charms. This 

 mingled sentiment of hope and melancholy combines 

 with almost all our ideas of beauty. On this account 

 a deserted house interests the mind more than a splendid 

 villa in its perfect condition ; and a plain, overspread with 

 classic ruins, more than a prospect of green meadows and 

 highly ornamented gardens. It would he idle to assert 

 that the human soul would take satisfaction in contem- 



