353 



ning at the massy balusters with their ac- 

 companiments, and the forcible effect of 

 their light and shadow when the sun darted 

 obliquely through them ; then going on to 

 the high group of trees, near which, I re- 

 member, there were some old cypresses, 

 and ever-green oaks ; and thence to the 

 more general glow on that fine expanse of 

 country, quite to the pearly hue of the most 

 distant boundary. I am well persuaded, 

 that all these striking circumstances in the 

 fore-ground have been destroy ed, for the 

 purpose of making this stiffly levelled slope; 

 and as the level of the trees, would not 

 agree with that of the new made ground, 

 they of course were sacrificed;" 



" I perfectly conceive the effect of all 

 the objects you have described," said Mr. 

 Howard, " and regret the loss of them as 

 much as you can. I suppose, too, that 

 the canal I see in the lawn, is another im- 

 provement ; and that it was once the river 

 your old friend at the parsonage; spoke of/' 

 " Exactly so/' said Mr. Hamilton : " it 

 is a tributary stream, and no inconsiderabie 



