all the processes, and saw a beautiful colour produced, yet he found not the least dif ference in the French mode of fabrication and that which he had constantly adopted. He appealed to the manufacturer, and insisted that he must have concealed something. The manufacturer assured him that he had not, and invited him to see the process a second time. He minutely examined the water and the materials, which were the same as his own, and, very much surprised, said, "I have lost my labour and my money, for the air of England does not permit us to make good carmine." "Stay," says the Frenchman, "do not deceive yourself: what kind of weather is it now?" "A bright sunny day," said the Englishman. "And such are the days," said the Frenchman, "on which I make my colour. Were I to attempt to manufacture it on a dark or cloudy day, my result would be the same as yours. Let me advise you, my friend, always to make carmine on bright and sunny days." "I will," says the Englishman; "but I fear I shall make very little in London."

POIET.-Your anecdote is as much to the purpose as Physicus's; yet I am much obliged

to you for the hint respecting the effect of shadow, for I have several times in May and June had to complain of too clear a sky, and wished, with Cotton, for

A day with not too bright a beam ;

A warm, but not a scorching, sun.

HAL.-Whilst we have been conversing, the May-flies, which were in such quantities, have become much fewer; and I believe the reason is, that they have been greatly diminished by the flocks of swallows, which every where pursue them: I have seen a single swallow take four, in less than a quarter of a minute, that were descending to the water.

POIET. I delight in this living landscape! The swallow is one of my favourite birds, and a rival of the nightingale; for he cheers my sense of seeing as much as the other does my sense of hearing. He is the glad prophet of the year-the harbinger of the best season: he lives a life of enjoyment amongst the loveliest forms of nature winter is unknown to him; and he leaves the green meadows of England in autumn, for the myrtle and orange groves of Italy, and for the palms of Africa :-he has always objects of pursuit, and his success is secure. Even the

beings selected for his prey are poetical, beautiful, and transient. The ephemeræ are saved by his means from a slow and lingering death in the evening, and killed in a moment, when they have known nothing of life but pleasure. He is the constant destroyer of insects,-the friend of man; and, with the stork and the ibis, may be regarded as a sacred bird. His instinct, which gives him his appointed seasons, and teaches him always when and where to move, may be regarded as flowing from a Divine Source; and he belongs to the Oracles of Nature, which speak the awful and intelligible language of a present Deity.

FOURTH DAY.

HALIEUS-POIETES-ORNITHER-PHYSICUS.

FISHING FOR SALMON AND SEA TROUT.

Scene-Loch Maree, West of Rosshire, Scotland. Time-Middle of July.

POIET.-I BEGIN to be tired. This is really a long day's journey; and these last ten miles through bogs, with no other view than that of mountains half hid in mists, and brown waters that can hardly be called lakes, and with no other trees than a few stunted birches, that look so little alive, that they might be supposed immediately descended from the bog-wood, every where scattered beneath our feet, have rendered it extremely tedious. This is the most barren part of one of the most desolate countries I have ever passed through in Europe; and though the inn at Strathgarve is tolerable, that of Auchnasheen is certainly the worst I have ever seen,and I hope the worst I shall ever see.

We

ought to have good amusement at Pool Ewe, to compensate us for this uncomfortable day's jour

ney.

HAL.-I trust we shall have sport, as far as salmon and sea trout can furnish sport. But the difficulties of our journey are almost over. See, Loch Maree is stretched at our feet, and a good boat with four oars will carry us in four or five hours to our fishing ground; a time that will not be misspent, for this lake is not devoid of beautiful, and even grand scenery.

POIET.-The scenery begins to improve; and that cloud-breasted mountain on the left is of the best character of Scotch mountains: these woods, likewise, are respectable for this northern country. I think I see islands also in the distance; and the quantity of cloud always gives effect to this kind of view; and perhaps, without such assistance to the imagination, there would be nothing even approaching to the sublime in these countries; but cloud and mist, by creating obscurity and offering a substitute for greatness and distance, give something of an alpine and majestic character to this region.

ORN. As we

are now fixed in our places in the boat, you will surely put out a rod or two with a set of flies, or try the tail of the par