185. We daily observe, that the objects which appear most distinct are generally those which are nearest to us; and consequently, when we have nothing but our imagination to assist us in estimating of distances, bright objects seem nearer to us than those which are less bright, or than the same objects do when they appear less bright and worse defined, even though their distance in both cases be the same. And as in both cases they are seen under the same angle[44], our imagination naturally suggests an idea of a greater distance between us and those objects which appear fainter and worse defined than those which appear brighter under the same Angles; especially if they be such objects as we were never near to, and of whose real Magnitudes we can be no judges by sight. [Sidenote: Nor always of those which are accessible.] 186. But, it is not only in judging of the different apparent Magnitudes of the same objects, which are better or worse defined by their being more or less bright, that we may be deceived: for we may make a wrong conclusion even when we view them under equal degrees of brightness, and under equal Angles; although they be objects whose bulks we are generally acquainted with, such as houses or trees: for proof of which, the two following instances may suffice. [Sidenote: The reason assigned. PLATE II.] First, When a house is seen over a very broad river by a person standing on low ground, who sees nothing of the river, nor knows of it beforehand; the breadth of the river being hid from him, because the banks seem contiguous, he loses the idea of a distance equal to that breadth; and the house seems small, because he refers it to a less distance than it really is at. But, if he goes to a place from which the river and interjacent ground can be seen, though no farther from the house, he then perceives the house to be at a greater distance than he imagined; and therefore fancies it to be bigger than he did at first; although in both cases it appears under the same Angle, and consequently makes no bigger picture on the retina of his eye in the latter case than it did in the former. Many have been deceived, by taking a red coat of arms, fixed upon the iron gate in _Clare-Hall_ walks at _Cambridge_, for a brick house at a much greater distance[45]. [Sidenote: Fig. XII.]