detached from the lake, and connected with the foreground. In each fituation the islands broke the lines of the promontories, and had a good effect. But the island on Loch-Awe afforded the better picture. Both these lakes deferved more attention, than we were able to pay them. We wished to make a circuit round them, and view them in various points. The islands upon LochAwe, however formal they might appear in some views, would unquestionably have a fine effect in many other fituations: and promontories, which, on one fide, appeared smooth, tame and unadorned, might appear broken, animated, and rich on another: but our time was limited; and we were obliged to fatisfy our curiofity with little more than a view of fuch parts, as the road presented, From the neighbourhood of Loch-Awe we pursued our rout to Inverary-castle, the principal feat of the duke of Argyle. A very long and dreary ride had made us languish for the contrast of a little woody scenery: when the forefts arofe, as if by inchantment; vaft, rich, and luxuriant. Whole mountains in in a great degree, were covered with woods of ancient standing; which finking into their deep fhadowy receffes, or standing out boldly upon their knolls in broad maffes enlightened by the fun, wonderfully charmed the eye, both with the greatnefs, and novelty of the scene. They seem planted to exemplify the poet's precept, Does then the fong forbid the planter's hand Some powerful hand, it was evident, had been at work in cloathing the naked fides of all these vaft ridges; and we might have known, by the noble decorations of each scene, that we were in the dominions of fome potent chieftain, tho we had not the geography of the country. our view. known it, by Every moment we looked, when the caftle would open to But we travelled at least four miles among these Alpine plantations, before we arrived at it. N 2 SECT. |