Lonsdale Magazine, 1820, vol.1
p.170
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Lonsdale Magazine, 1820, vol.1 p.170
GREEN'S GUIDE. The Tourists' new Guide, containing a description of the Lakes, Mountains, and Scenery, in Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, etc. etc. - Concluded from page 124.Though the lakes and mountains in the north of England, possess unnumbered and unrivalled beauties, these beauties are only unveiled to the disciple of cultivated taste. He alone revels amid the mental luxury, and, returning from the delicious feast, ejaculates his grateful thanks to that bounteous Being who has furnished the sumptuous entertainment. To such as these who are capable of appreciating the lake and mountain scenery in all its richness, Mr. Green appears particularly to have dedicated his volumes. He has very agreeably enlivened the descriptive part of his work by occasional observations on composition and taste. Though these remarks are scattered at intervals, through the whole work, we deemed it more eligible to our plan, to collect a few of them into one point of view; as by this means the reader will be better able to form a conception of their nature and importance. The first question which will claim the attention of the tasteful visitant, is the best season for contemplating these scenes in their most captivating dress. Having discussed the relative merits of the various months, and given the preference to May and September, he proceeds to offer a few remarks on the effects of weather among these mountainous districts. "Were the writer asked whether he should prefer a month of fair or rainy weather, he would not hesitate to declare in favour of the rainy month; in dry weather the water-falls are not worth attention, and all near objects, such as rocks, stones, buildings, trees and plants, shrivelled by sun and wind, appear as prematurely aged; it cannot, however, be denied that a dry heat produces a charming aerial density in the atmosphere, a favourable medium through which to view the scenery of a mountainous country, which if lighted from a cloudless sky, though fine, will be too general to please they eye of taste, but pervaded by clouds (perhaps three fourths), there will be such a succession of sunny gleams, as will give unbounded gratification. Rain envigorates nature, giving it a 'shining morning face,' and the freshness and beauty produced by it is enchanting, but what we gain in near objects is sometimes lost in distant, particularly if accompanied by wind. Rain and wind clear the atmosphere, and destroy that heavenly haze just spoken of; rain sometimes produces mist, which modifying itself into various degrees of volume upon the surface of the mountains, and aided by the sun, generally astonishes such as have been accustomed to flat countries only. "The dispelling of the mist from the vallies in a morning is likewise a most interesting circumstance." Next to the state of the weather, Mr. Green places the colour and quality of the atmosphere. "The intense heat produced by a mid-day summer's sun from a cloudless sky, is only pleasant when aided by refreshing |
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