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Page 90:-
common, observe two huge fragments of ferruginous coloured rock,
pitched into the side of the mountain by their descent. Here all
that is great or pleasing on the lake, all that is grand or
sublime in the environs, lie before you in a beautiful order, and
natural disposition. Looking down upon the water, the four large
islands appear distinctly over the peninsula of Stable-hills.
Lords-island, richly dressed in wood. A little to the left,
Vicar's-isle rises in beautiful and circular form; Rampsholme is
catched in a line between that and St. Herbert's-island, which
traverses the lake in an oblique direction, and has a fine
effect. These are the four most considerable islands on the lake.
Under Foe-park, a round hill completely clothed in wood [1], two
small islets interrupt the line of
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[1]
As one province of the Guide, is to point out the characteristic
features, and distinguished parts of this lake, in order to
exhibit the best landscape picture to the artist, and to give the
most pleasure and entertainment to the company who make the tour,
the author has taken all possible care to secure these ends in
his choice of stations. Yet, there is one impediment attends his
descriptions, which will, in part, prevent their permanency, and
that is, the annual fall of timber and coppice wood, and the
frequent removal of the picturesque trees which take place on the
borders of the lakes. These accidents, however, as they cannot be
prevented, must be allowed for by the candid traveller, where he
finds the original differing in these respects from the account
given of it in the book.
The fall of Crow park, on Derwent-water, has long been regretted.
And Mr. Gray's beautiful description of Foe-park, above
mentioned, is not now to be verified.
It is true that the painter, by the creative power of his pencil,
can supply such deficiencies in the features of his landscape,
but the plastic power of nature, or the careful hand of industry,
directed by taste and judgement, can only make up such losses to
the visitors of the lakes.
Thus much was thought proper to be subjoined in this place, as an
apology, once for all, for the casual differences of this kind,
that may be found between the descriptions given of these lakes
in this manual, and their real appearance at any future time.
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