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effect so perfectly, as the scenery on the Wye. The lofty 
hills which rise on either side of the river’s bed, some gra¬ 
dually swelling upwards and others abruptly lifting their 
craggy summits towards the sky are clothed with rich hang¬ 
ing woods, composed of all varieties of trees ; and which, from 
the different forms of the ground catching the sunlight and 
shadow in every shade and position, offer an unceasing and 
ever beautiful change of effect; heightened materially by the 
yew and fir trees, which are irregularly distributed through 
the woods, and with their steady sombre hues enhance the 
brilliant beauty of the rest. Beneath, the water reflects the 
magical scene, and high above the wooded hanks, rise 
distant mountains, mingling their proud cloud-capped heads 
with the sky; iir such scenes Autumn is truly glorious. 
All evergreens are now strikingly beautiful by contrast; 
for while most of the leavy trees, such as the Oak, Elm, 
Beech, Sycamore, Chestnut, &c., are decked out in red, 
yellow, purple, and orange, the majestic Cedar looks grandly 
around,—the stoic of the forest—disdaining to suffer the 
Summer’s drought or the Autumn breeze to scatter his dark 
attire, or even discompose his stately demeanour. 
The Fir waves his blackening crest against the sunset 
clouds, as if conscious how greatly he adds to the pictorial 
beauty of the landscape; and, indeed, few trees can do so 
much towards making a picture. Its tall trank, springing 
so high without foliage, hides none of the earthward view, 
while the deep mass of its shadowy crest often “ comes in” 
most happily to break the uniformity of the .sky-tint. The 
