362 



Btill water above; we call that water smooth, 

 because we perceive its surface to be smooth 

 and even, though the impression which all 

 these harsh and edgy reflections of light 

 produce on the eye, is analogous to that 

 which roughness produces on the touch : 

 I do not know how it affects you ; but to 

 me the reflection of that building is so irri- 

 tating^ that I can hardly bear to look at it 

 for any time, Now, pray turn round, and 

 look at that agitated stream, flowing be- 

 tween broken and sedgy banks, and indis- 

 tinctly reflecting the waving foliage which 

 hangs over it : that we call rough, because 

 we know from habitual observation, that 

 its impression on the eye is produced by 

 uneven surfaces: at the same time, can any 

 thing be more soft and harmonious than 

 the impression • itself, or more analogous 

 to what the most grateful and nicely varied 

 smoothness would be to the touch ?" 



" Howard," cried Mr. Hamilton, " this 

 is an excellent masqued battery ; and Sey- 

 mour can hardly guess how dextrously it is 

 ^pointed against me : for I entirely agree 



