346 Gilpin's foeest sceneet. 



But, after all, the autumnal forest is an instru- 

 ment easily untuned. One frosty niglit or parch- 

 ing blast may introduce some striking discord ; 

 tliougli, on tlie other Land, it is true, by softening 

 some discordant tint, it may, as easily, introduce a 

 harmony, -which did not exist before. Here art 

 comes to the aid of Nature. The pencil fixes the 

 scene in the happy moment ; and the fading tints 

 of Autumn become perennial. 



I have known some planters endeavour, in their 

 improvements, to range their trees in such a man- 

 ner as in the "wane of the year, to receive all the 

 beauty of autumnal colouring. The attempt is 

 vain, unless they could so command the weather 

 as to check, or produce at pleasure, those tints 

 which Nature has subjected to so many accidents. 

 A general direction is all that can be given. Oak 

 is rarely in discord; but Beech and Elm can, as 

 rarely, be depended on. All must be left to chance ; 

 and, after the utmost that art can do, the wild 

 forest, with its casual discords and monotonies, 

 will present a thousand beauties which no skill of 

 man can rival. 



Thus the beauties of the waning year are fixed 



