Editor's Introduction xix 



confidante. These letters are truly models of epis- 

 tolary genius. Their descriptions of scenery are 

 especially fine, and one needs, fully to realize the 

 greatness of his literary power, to comprehend 

 Piickler's peculiar value as a landscape architect. 

 Here is one of his descriptions : — 



On two sides the eye wanders over an almost im- 

 measurable plain, on the other, lies Loch Corrib, a 

 lake, thirty miles in length, behind which are the moun- 

 tains of Clare and In still remoter distance the romantic 

 ridge of Connemara. The lake just at the middle bends 

 inland like a river, and its waters gradually lose them- 

 selves between the lofty mountains which seem to form 

 a gateway for their entrance. Just at this point the sun 

 set: and Nature which often rewards my love for her, 

 displayed one of her most wondrous spectacles. Black 

 clouds hung over the mountains and the whole heavens 

 were overcast; only just at this point, the sun looked 

 out from beneath the dusky veil and issued a stream 

 of light which filled the whole ravine with a sort of un- 

 earthly splendor. The lake glittered beneath it like 

 molten brass, while the mountains had a transparent 

 steel-blue luster like the gleam of diamonds. Single 

 streaks of rose-colored cloud passed slowly across the 

 illuminated picture over the mountains; while on both 

 sides of the opened heavens distant rain fell in torrents, 

 and formed a curtain which shut out every glimpse of 

 the remaining world. Such is the magnificence which 

 Nature has reserved for herself alone, and which even 

 Claude's pencil could never imitate. 



These lines purport to give simply a descrip- 

 tion of Nature, but at the very end Piickler can- 

 not help writing as a landscape architect, which 

 is primarily his true vocation. 



