55 



how a natural river, according to its dif- 

 ferent accompaniments, might look in such 

 a situation. Let us, therefore, suppose a 

 natural river, about the usual size of those 

 made by art, to pass slowly through the 

 middle of a large flat meadow, totally with- 

 out trees or bushes of any kind; but having 

 the part of its banks between the general 

 level of the grass and that of the water, 

 worn and broken in various degrees. Such 

 a river would certainly have very few at- 

 tractions ; but still the banks would have 

 some diversity, though of a rude and unin- 

 teresting kind. If one of Mr. Brown's fol- 

 lowers were desired to dress such a scene, 

 he would of course slope all those banks 

 regularly and uniformly to the edge of the 

 water : an operation, by which they would 

 lose indeed their rudeness, but with it all 

 variety of surface. Again, the banks of 

 the natural river might have many irregular 

 turns and projections, which not being dis- 

 guised and softened by trees or bushes, 

 would give a harshness ro the outline. 

 Those of Mr. Brown's improved river, 



