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magnificence throughout the whole of it: 

 I do not perceive, I must own, any thing 

 of interest or expression, in the very nu- 

 merous company of well dressed persons 

 he has brought together ; but the richness 

 of the dresses, the profusion of ornaments, 

 and, above all, the assemblage of superb 

 buildings, Avould make a strong impres- 

 sion on me, if I were to see them in realit} r , 

 just as they appear in this painting : this 

 may not always be a proper criterion, but 

 it is a very natural one for an ignorant 

 man to resort to." 



" As you have admired the magic pencil 

 of Rubens in that historical picture/' said 

 Mr. Howard, " you must now look at those 

 landscapes by him, which are not less 

 captivating ; and first observe this singular 

 and brilliant effect of the sun-beams burst- 

 ing through a dark wood/' 



u It is more than brilliant," replied Mr. 

 Seymour, " it is perfectly dazzling; and 

 a most extraordinary imitation of real light, 

 when broken by leaves and branches. That 

 other picture of the thunder-storm, is not 



