330 JOURNEY OVER MOUNT GOTTHARD. 



a free profpect over tke principal part of the canton of 

 Schweitz, that lay before me for all the world like the 

 icenery of a theatre. In the foreground ^ood the two 

 mountains between which I had the view. On the 

 fcene itfclf appeared, firft, the large plain of Brunnen, 

 with numbers of boats lying in its harbour. Behind 

 this, rich enameled meads, through which runs a fer- 

 pentine river, in various places country feats, and 

 about them trees' of beautiful verdure. Verging towards 

 the back-ground lay the commons of Schweitz, ftudded 

 far around with court try-houfes, churches, and monaf- 

 teries, and behind them that aftonifhing mountain, di- 

 vided into two hills, which, from its form, is called 

 the hook. This, with the inferior mountains that ftand 

 contiguous, compofes the fertheft ground of the pic- 

 ture. I have only taken notice of the main objects ; 

 but of the unfpeakable diverhty of particular objects, 

 and the fmiling richnefs of the foil, and the enchant-- 

 iixg beauty of the whole, I can give no idea. The 

 now declining fun, in a clear fky, threw the moft ad- 

 vantageous light upon the landfcape. In MerianV 

 topography of Switzerland this very profpect is given 

 in the copperplate that follows p. 38, but from a more 

 elevated fiat ion than mine was, and therefore the objects 

 in that plate are fomewhat more difperfed than I faw 

 them. Then, during the fpace of 140 years fince the 

 drawing of Merian was made, a number of new country 

 houfes have been built, which renders the picture at 

 prefent richer. Of all the profpects I have ever beheld, 

 this ofteneft returns to my mind, and always attended 

 with the moft delightful fenfations. It c oft me great 

 efforts to quit this fpot, on trie approach of night, 



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