83 



from the effects of age, and decay: and I 

 believe it is equally true, that those which 

 are naturally of a strongly marked and 

 peculiar character, are likely to become 

 still more picturesque by the process I 

 have mentioned. 



I have now very fully stated the prin- 

 cipal circumstances by which the pictures- 

 que is separated from the beautiful. It is 

 equally distinct from the sublime; for 

 though there are some qualities common 

 to them both, yet they differ in many es- 

 sential points, and proceed from very dif- 

 ferent causes. In the first place, great- 

 ness of dimension* is a powerful cause of 

 the sublime ; the picturesque has no con- 

 nection with dimension of any kind, and 

 is as often found in the smallest as in the 

 largest objects. The sublime, being found- 



* I would by no means lay too much stress on great- 

 ness of dimension ; but what Mr. Burke has observed 

 with regard to buildings, is true of many natural ob- 

 jects, such as rocks, cascades, &c. : Where the scale rs 

 too diminutive, no greatness of manner will give then* 

 grandeur. 



G % 



