348 



the beautiful and the picturesque were 

 more than ever mixed and incorporated 

 together, the whole subject involved in 

 doubt and obscurity, and a sort of anathe- 

 ma denounced against any one who should 

 try to clear it up. Had I not advanced 

 too far to think of retreating, I might pos- 

 sibly have been deterred by so absolute a 

 veto, from such authority ; but I hope I 

 shall not be thought presumptuous for 

 having still continued my researches, though 

 so diligent and acute an observer had given 

 up the inquiry himself, and pronounced it 

 hopeless. 



Mr. Gilpin's authority is deservedly so 

 high, that where I have the misfortune to 

 differ from him his opinion will of course 

 be preferred to mine, unless I can clearly 

 shew that it is ill-founded. I must there- 

 fore endeavour to shew in what respects it 

 is ill-founded a«s often as these points 

 occur, and with the best of my abilities ; 

 for any thing short of a victory, is in this 

 case a defeat. 



I will first mention, in general, the difK- 



