PART VII. PICTURESQUE IMPROVEMENT. 401 



vens : — let him consider how interesting this would appear, even 

 at a distance, and how long he might be employed in tracing 

 with the eye the various recesses, dark places, and reflections 

 while still much remained indistinct or unseen, and there- 

 fore either employed the imagination in completing it accord- 

 ing to its own ideas, or awakened curiosity to walk down and 

 examine it minutely, by tracing (as far as could be done for 

 thickets and briars) the various windings and intricate margin 

 of the whole. Let him only contrast this with the effect of the 

 piece of water already there, which he can see and know as 

 completely by a single glance as if he viewed it an hour; 

 and could examine the two extremities, (which are all that 

 could be discovered by walking down to it,) as completely in a 

 few minutes, as if he were to encompass it a whole day. If 

 the contrast does not strike him, he certainly, as far as regards 

 his own taste, is justified in preserving his water as it is; but if 

 otherwise, he ought to commence improvement immediately : 

 not only in gratification of his own sentiments, but also in jus- 

 tice to every attempt to promote and introduce good taste in 

 a country where he is a proprietor, and among a people upon 

 whom he is dependent for his rank and affluence. Different 

 styles of improvement may be ornamental and admired while 

 they are in fashion; but it is only such as this, which are pic- 

 turesque (or natural) that can stand the test of time. 



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