31 



made of their diversity ; I am now speak- 

 ing of the tints of stone, and of the soil in 

 broken ground, both which have this 

 great advantage — that, although they form 

 a more marked contrast to vegetation than 

 any trees do to each other, yet they in a 

 peculiar degree harmonize with other 

 objects. The first of them is in many 

 cases allowed to be highly ornamental ; 

 the latter, I believe, may be made to ac- 

 cord with dressed scenery, at least where 

 the banks of water are concerned;* for 

 where the professed aim is that of imitat- 

 ing a river, surely those circumstances 

 which give such effect, variety, and natu- 

 ralness to rivers, ought not to be proscrib- 

 ed. On the contrary, the improver ought 

 to make them the object of his search, his 

 study, and his imitation, not only on lakes 

 and rivers, but wherever there are rich and 

 varied banks; for we must be sure that 

 water and reflection would double their 

 beauties. All such banks afford studies 

 for painters, either alone, or combined with 



"f Vide Letter to Mr. Repton, page 159. 



