f, extending from
side to side of the ridge, seems, as on the western slope, to bar
all farther advance. This cliff may, however, by a good climber, be
mastered even at the southern extremity; but it is dangerous there:
at the opposite or northern side of it, just at its base, is a
little cornice, about a foot broad, which does not look promising at
first, but widens presently; and when once it is past, there is no
more difficulty in reaching the summit.

[85] I ought before to have mentioned Madame de Genlis as one of the
few writers whose influence was always exerted to restore to
truthful feelings, and persuade to simple enjoyments and pursuits,
the persons accessible to reason in the frivolous world of her
times.

[86] Veillees du Chateau, vol. ii.

[87] The actual extent of the projection remaining the same
throughout, the angle of suspended slope, for that reason,
diminishes as the cliff increases in height.

CHAPTER XVII.

RESULTING FORMS:--FOURTHLY, BANKS.

Sec. 1. During all our past investigations of hill form, we have been
obliged to refer continually to certain results produced by the action
of descending streams or falling stones. The actual contours assumed by
any mountain range towards its foot depend usually more upon this
torrent sculpture than on the original conformation of the masses; the
existing hill side is commonly an accumulation of debris; the existing
glen commonly an excavated watercourse; and it is only here and there
that portions of rock, retaining impress of their original form, jut
from the bank, or shelve across the stream.

Sec. 2. Now this sculpture by streams, or by gradual weathering, is the
finishing work by which Nature brings her mountain forms into the state
in which she intends us generally to observe and love them. The violent
convulsion or disruption by which she first raises and separates the
masses may frequently be intended to produce impressions of terror
rather than of beauty; but the laws which are in constant operation on
all noble and enduring scenery must assuredly be intended to produce
results grateful to men. Therefore, as in this final pencilling of
Nature's we shall probably find her ideas of mountain beauty most
definitely expressed, it may be well that, before entering on this part
of our subject, we should recapitulate the laws respecting beauty of
form which we arrived at in the abstr