[Footnote 48:  This position, as well as the two preceding, is important, and in need of confirmation.  It has often been observed, that, when the eye is altogether unpracticed in estimating elevation, it believes every point to be lower than it really is; but this does not militate against the proposition, for it is also well known, that the higher the point, the greater the deception.  But when the eye is thoroughly practiced in mountain measurement, although the judgment, arguing from technical knowledge, gives a true result, the impression on the feelings is always at variance with it, except in hills of the middle height.  We are perpetually astonished, in our own country, by the sublime impression left by such hills as Skiddaw, or Cader Idris, or Ben Venue; perpetually vexed, in Switzerland, by finding that, setting aside circumstances of form and color, the abstract impression of elevation is (except in some moments of peculiar effect, worth a king’s ransom) inferior to the truth.  We were standing the other day on the slope of the Brevent, above the Prieure of Chamouni, with a companion, well practiced in climbing Highland hills, but a stranger among the Alps.  Pointing out a rock above the Glacier des Bossons, we requested an opinion of its height.  “I should think,” was the reply, “I could climb it in two steps; but I am too well used to hills to be taken in in that way; it is at least 40 feet.”  The real height was 470 feet.  This deception is attributable to several causes (independently of the clearness of the medium through which the object is seen), which it would be out of place to discuss here, but the chief of which is the natural tendency of the feelings always to believe objects subtending the same angle to be of the same height.  We say the feelings, not the eye; for the practiced eye never betrays its possessor, though the due and corresponding mental impression is not received.]

223.  For these reasons, buildings of a very large size are decidedly destructive of effect among the English lakes:  first, because apparent altitudes are much diminished by them; and, secondly, because, whatever position they may be placed in, instead of combining with scenery, they occupy and overwhelm it; for all scenery is divided into pieces, each of which has a near bit of beauty, a promontory of lichened crag, or a smooth swarded knoll, or something of the kind, to begin with.  Wherever the large villa comes, it takes up one of these beginnings of landscape altogether; and the parts of crag or wood, which ought to combine with it, become subservient to it, and lost in its general effect; that is, ordinarily, in a general effect of ugliness.  This should never be the case:  however intrinsically beautiful the edifice may be, it should assist, but not supersede; join, but not eclipse; appear, but not intrude.