465 
by something external to it.” Hence, as man is so dependent 
on the cultivation of the soil for his existence, the aspect of an 
agricultural district, Avith its rich cornfields, meadoAA's dotted with 
cattle, its reel- brick homesteads and grey church-towers, — and shall 
I add its beautiful school-board buildings? — form surroundings 
that may bo as picturesque and quite as enjoyable to some of us, 
as a country made up of rough moorland or forest-clad mountains. 
Our appreciation of a scene may indeed differ, as do our tastes. 
4 hero may be another aspect to this subject, for familiarity 
Avitli a country often breeds, if not contempt, at least indifference 
to its charms. To the habitual resident in a town, a walk 
along a country lane might create sufficient ecstasy to astonish 
the rustic Avho had viewed the scene every day of his life; 
and even the dwellers among mountains scarce take so much 
interest, or have rambled so far, as the pedestrian who visits them 
during a fortnight’s holiday. Hovelty certainly adds greatly to the 
charm of any district, and even in Norfolk it is a comfort to lose 
one 8 way in a new tract of ground. 
Our first impressions of a fresh district are often exaggerated, 
and no doubt this Avas the case Avith Arderon when lie described 
our chfts as “dreadful heights,” as “stupendous and amazing 
precipices.”’^ The same kind of iinpression doubtless per\\aded the 
mind of the anonymous author of a work published in 1768 
entitled, ‘A Si.x Weeks’ Tour through the Southern Counties of 
'.ngland and ^Vales.’ Itcferring to a scene at Langdon Hill, in 
Essex, he Avrites (pp. 73, 74) : 
“I forgot to tell you, that near Uorndon, on the summit of a vast hill 
the most astonishing prospect that ever was beheld by human eyes, breaks 
almost at once upon one of the dark lanes. Such a prodigious vallev everv- 
where painted with the finest verdure, and intersected with numberless 
hedges and woods, appears beneath you, tliat it is past description ; the 
Artwws Av Hiding through it, full of ships, and bounded by the hills of Kent 
Nothing can exceed this amazing prospect, unless it be that which Hannibal 
exhibited to his disconsolate troops when he had them behold the glories of 
the Italian plains ! If ever a turnpike should lead through this country, I 
beg you will go and view this enchanting prospect, though a journey of forty 
miles is necessary for it.” 
• See Memoir by F. Kittoii, Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc. vol. ii. 
