the ruling principle- TERROR'-the common stock of every thing sublime. On the left the hanging crags seem to threaten you with a sudden fall, which would at once precipitate you into the foaming gulph below, or bury you under their ruins. The thrilling emotions excited by these appalling objects, whilst I felt no fears of a personal nature, gave me the highest intellectual treat. It was a mental impression which will end only with life. These sublime objects awakened a contemplation which seemed to extricate me from the confinement of the body, From the pointed crags, the towering summits of the hills, I seemed to soar into the heights of ether, and to enter upon a new and immortal existence. Surrounded by objects in which the mighty hand of the Creator only seemed visible, I forgot all the partial emotions I felt toward any beings of human kind; my heart expanded with a generous affection towards all my race. My friend attempted to divert my attention from one to another grand object around me, but I kept a firm silence-I could only think; and at last exclaimed, with hands uplifted, 'How magnificent and sublimely grand is creation! How great and omnipotent is the Maker of all these stupendous objects !'

"When a boy I went to climb up my native hills, which I had contemplated through the blue atmosphere at seven miles distance; my feet never tired in traversing, nor my eyes in beholding them. The mighty swelling of those everlasting hills, here crowned with beechen woods, there sinking in tremendous ravines, filled my heart with never-ceasing overwhelming wonder, and gave me an angelic festival. The wisdom of age stole through the silent contemplation of them to my youthful heart; and my mind upon their summits found an elastic spring which carried it forth to new scenes of ideal enjoyment, and a

strength and firmness like that imparted to the frame by the breeze of the mountain top. To use the words of Rosseau- Never did I possess such activity of thought; never was I so sensible of my being, so full of the enjoyment of life, so much myself, as when I have travelled alone and on foot. My gaze upon the sky, the survey of pleasant views, the open air, my keen appetite and flow of health which walking gives to me; the ease of a solitary rumination; my distance from all that can make me feel my dependence, from all that reminds me of my situation; all this disentanglement of my soul gives me a daring grasp of thought, throws me as it were into the immensity of created things, where I combine, select, appropriate them to myself without restriction and without fear. The whole of nature is at my controul; my heart wanders from object to object-unites, indentifies itself with those which are congenial to it-is surrounded by enchanting illusions -is intoxicated with delicious sentiments. What was the whole world to me when I was soaring in the heavens ?" "My friend, Charles," said Eugenia, "you catch the glowing feelings of the poet Keith, who walked through the Highlands, and records his raptures in the following lines:

"With such objects before us," said Charles, in "a season so well calculated to enjoy them, I may quote the beautiful expressions of Shelstone, of gaining experience from pleasure itself abroad. In seasons of the year when all is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against nature not to be out and see her riches, and partake of her rejoicings, through heaven and earth.' the season when, he elsewhere says,

Favonus has re-inspired

The frozen earth, and cloth'd in fresh attire

It is

The lily and the rose, that neither sowed nor spun.'"

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ALCOVE, AND RURAL LIFE.

"How

WITH these observations Charles and Eugenia reached the hospitable door of the amiable Mr. Kindley. neat," said the latter, "is the entrance to this habitation of our friend-how smooth the lawn-how beautiful the winding walks, and how lovely those clusters of woodbine flowers which adorn the stems that creep around the trees, and suspend garlands of fragrant beauty over the head of their kind master!"

As Charles had met Mr. Kindley at Eugenia's, the welcome was cordial, and the pleasure Charles expressed very perceivable. "Well," said Mr. Kindley to Eugenia, "I know you are fond of rural fetes; I have therefore ordered our dinner to be spread in my living drawing-room, where we will all presently walk:" accordingly Mr. K walked with Mrs. Gell and the Miss Milds, and Charles and Eugenia walked together. It was a beautiful long lawn which they had to pass over, bounded by a stream and shaded with limes. Eugenia began-" Mr. C. Mortimer, this smooth, gentle river and the long green lawn which slopes its banks, is an exact picture of the happy and unruffled mind of the benevolent owner. At the distance of more than two hundred yards, sufficiently distant from the house for retirement, observe a small opening

under the branching firs and shady liburnums. That is the entrance to Mr. Kindley's living drawing-room, which will be our dining-room to-day. In a few minutes they passed a large shady lime tree which stood like a sentinel to guard the entrance of the retreat, and, walking forward, surveyed its verdant enclosures. Its walls were woods, fragrant shrubs, lofty shady trees, and on the north a high blackthorn hedge; the south side was a smooth shelving lawn, open to the river which it bounded, and which was frequently used by Mr. Kindley, and occasionally by the ladies as a bath, for which purpose the lawn was bounded by a pretty alcove which served as a dressing-room for the bathers, or a summer-house for tea-parties; it was pleasantly situated to command a home prospect of bespangled meadows and hanging woods and a soft flowing stream.

The tables were brought, the cloth laid, and the party, consisting of nine, sat down to dinner. Charles's friend, John Gell, while the enjoyment of the dinner in this sweet retreat was proceeding, remarked the perfection to which the fine arts had attained, and the excellence of some paintings which he had seen; "but here," said he, "we have a scene which would form a subject for a pain ter's masterpiece-a coterie of intellectual friends, retirea into a verdant nook to enjoy at leisure, sub umbra, all the good things of this life-its meats, fruits, and viands; and looking forth from these real loop-holes of retreat with pity upon the busy, silly thousands who toil for wealth they enjoy not, and honours which encumber while they overlook the varied enjoyments which present themselves wherever there is a tree to shade and a breeze to fan them, and birds to regale their ears with their heart-touching melody." ca

"There, Mr. Mortimer," said Mr. Kindley, "come to this corner of my enchanting bower, and I will shew you the picture which I most admire." Charles obeyed, and