naments commonly found úpon tomb-ftones, with a stuff'd raven in a corner-verfes on death, and other ferious fubjects, infcribed all around. The objects are too familiar, and the artifice too apparent, to produce the intended effect.

The statue of Mofes ftriking a rock from which water actually iffues, is alfo in a falfe taste; for it is mixing reality with reprefentation. Mofes himself may bring water out of the rock, but this miracle is too much for his ftatue. The fame objection lies against a cascade where we fee the ftatue of a water-god pouring out of his urn real water.

I am more doubtful whether the fame objection lies against employing ftatues of animals as fupports, that of a Negro, for example, supporting a dial, ftatues of fifh fupporting a bafon of water, Termes fupporting a chimney-piece; for when a stone is used as a fupport, where is the incongruity, it will be faid, to cut it into the form of an animal? But leaving this doubtful, another objection occurs, That fuch designs must in fome measure be difagreeable to the fpectator, by the appearance of the pain they give to a fenfitive creature.

It is obferved above of gardening, that it contributes to rectitude of manners, by infpiring gaiety and benevolence. I add another obfervation, That both gardening and architecture contribute to the fame end, by inspiring a taste for neatnefs and elegance. In Scotland, the regula

1

rity and polish even of a turnpike-road has fome influence of this kind upon the low people in the neighbourhood. They become fond of regularity and neatnefs; which is difplay'd, first upon their yards and little inclofures, and next within doors. A tafte for regularity and neatness thus acquired, comes infenfibly to be extended to drefs, and even to behaviour and manners.

Mufic having at command a greater variety of emotions than gardening or architecture, may be made inftrumental to luxury and effeminacy; of which we have many inftances, especially in vocal mufic. But with respect to its pure and refined pleafures, mufic goes hand in hand with thefe her fifter-arts in humanizing and polishing the mind; of which no one can doubt who knows the charms of mufic. But if authority be required, the following paffage from a grave hiftorian, eminent for folidity of judgement, must have the greatest weight. Polybius, fpeaking of the people of Cynetha, an Arcadian tribe, has the following train of reflections. "As the Arcadians have albeen celebrated for their piety, humanity, and hofpitality, we are naturally led to in"quire, how it has happened that the Cynæthe"ans are diftinguished from the other Arcadians, “by favage manners, wickedness, and cruelty. "I can attribute this difference to no other cause, "but a total neglect among the people of Cynæ"tha, of an inftitution established among the an"cient Arcadians with a nice regard to their man

ways

"ners and their climate: I mean the difcipline "and exercife of that genuine and perfect mufic, "which is ufeful in every ftate, but neceffary to "the Arcadians; whofe manners, originally ri"gid and auftere, made it of the greatest im66 portance to incorporate this art into the very "effence of their government. All men know, "that in Arcadia, the children are early taught "to perform in parts, hymns and fongs compo"fed in honour of their gods and heroes; and "that when they have learned the mufic of Ti"motheus and Philoxenus, they affemble yearly "in the public theatres, dancing with emulation "to the found of flutes, and acting in games ad"apted to their tender years. The Arcadians, 66 even in their private feafts, never employ "hirelings, but each man fings in his turn. They "are alfo taught all the military fteps and mo"tions to the found of inftruments, which they "perform yearly in the theatres, at the public "charge. To me it is evident, that thefe fo"lemnities were introduced, not for idle plea

66

fure, but to foften the rough and stubborn tem

per of the Arcadians, occafioned by the cold"nefs of a high country. But the Cynætheans, "neglecting thefe arts, have become fo fierce "and favage, that there is not another city in "Greece fo remarkable for frequent and great e"normities.

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This confideration ought to engage the Arcadians never to relax in any degree "from their mufical difcipline; and it ought to

"open

1

Ce open the eyes of the Cynætheans, and make "them fenfible of what importance it would be "to reftore mufic to their city, and every difci"pline that may foften their manners; for other"wife they can never hope to fubdue their bru"tal ferocity *."

No one will be surprised to hear fuch influence attributed to mufic, when, with respect to another of the fine arts, he finds a living inftance of an influence not lefs powerful. It is unhappily indeed the reverfe of the former; for it has done more mischief by corrupting British manners, than mufic ever did good by purifying those of Arcadia.

The licentious court of Charles II. among its many disorders, engendered a peft, the virulence of which fubfifts to this day. The English comedy copying the manners of the court, became extremely licentious; and continues fo with very little foftening. It is there an established rule, to deck out the chief characters with every vice in fashion, however grofs. But as fuch characters viewed in a true light would be disgustful, care is taken to difguife their deformity under the embellishments of wit, fprightlinefs, and goodhumour, which in mixt company make a capital figure. It requires not time nor much thought to difcover the poifonous influence of fuch plays. A young man of figure, emancipated at last from

Polybius, lib. 4. chap. 3.

the

the severity and restraint of a college-education, repairs to the capital difpofed to every fort of excefs. The playhoufe becomes his favourite amusement; and he is inchanted with the gaiety and splendor of the chief perfonages. The difguft which vice gives him at first, foon wears off, to make way for new notions, more liberal in his opinion; by which a fovereign contempt of religion, and a declared war upon the chastity of wives, maids, and widows, are converted from being infamous vices to be fashionable virtues. The infection spreads gradually through all ranks, and becomes univerfal. How gladly would I liften to any one who fhould undertake to prove, that what I have been defcribing is chimerical! but the diffolutenefs of our young people of birth will not fuffer me to doubt of its reality. Sir Harry Wildair has completed many a rake; and in the Sufpicious Hufband, Ranger, the humble imitator of Sir Harry, has had no flight influence in fpreading that character. Of the fashionable women tinctured with the playhouse-morals, who would not be the fprightly, the witty, though diffolute Lady Townly, before the cold, the fober, though virtuous Lady Grace? How odious ought those writers to be, who thus fpread infection through their country, employing the talents they have from their Maker most traitorously against himself, by endeavouring to corrupt and disfigure his creatures! If the comedies of Congreve did not rack him with remorfe in his laft

moments,