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advantages of such an alteration ought 

 to be very apparent : if it be determined, 

 nothing that may compensate for such a 

 loss should be neglected ; and as the water 

 itself can have but one uniform surface, 

 every variety of which banks are capable, 

 should be studied both from nature and 

 painting, and those selected, which will best 

 accord with the general scenery. Objects 

 of reflection are peculiarly required, for 

 besides their distinct beauty, they soften 

 the cold white glare, of what is usually 

 called a fine sheet of water ; an expression 

 which contains a very just criticism on 

 what it seems to commend : for certainly 

 water is far from being in its most beautiful 

 state, when it is most like the object to 

 which it is thus compared. Collins indeed 

 in his Ode to Evening, has used this kind 

 of expression with great propriety : 



Where some sheety lake 

 Cheers the lone heath; 



For water on a heath, where there are scarcely 

 any objects of reflection, has a sheety appear- 



