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vol.1 p.110
body of water; and the regular to a large one. The
small body of water has nothing to recommend it, but it's
variety and bustle: whereas the large body has a dignity of
character to maintain. To fritter it in pieces would
be to destroy in a degree the grandeur of it's effect. Were
the Niagara thus broken, at least if some considerable parts
of it were not left broad and sheety, it might be a grand
scene of confusion; but it could be that vast, that uniform,
and simple object, which is most capable of expressing the
idea of greatness.
As there are few considerable rivers in the romantic
country, we are now examining, the most beautiful cascades,
(which are innumerable) are generally of the broken
kind. The regular falls (of which also there are
many) are objects of little value. Those they are sometimes
four or five hundred feet in height; yet they appear only
like threads of silver at a distance; and like mere spouts
at hand; void both of grandeur, and variety.- And yet, in
heavy rains, some of them must be very noble, if we may
judge from their channels, which often shew great marks of
violence.- But I was never fortunate enough to see any of
them in these moments of wildness.
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