CRITICIS M. BY THE HONOURABLE HENRY HOME OF KAMES, ONE OF THE SENATORS OF THE COLLEGE OF JUSTICE, AND, ONE OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF JUSTICIARY IN SCOTLAND. THE EIGHTH EDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. Vol. I. EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY NEILL AND COMPANY, LONDON. 1807. SEMINARIE VOOR TO THE K I N G SIR, THE Fine Arts have ever been en couraged by wise Princes, not singly for private amusement, but for their beneficial influence in society. By uniting different ranks in the same elegant pleasures, they promote benevolence: by cherishing love of order, they enforce submission to government : and by inspiring delicacy of feeling, they make regular government a double blessing. a 3 THESE These considerations embolden me to hope for your Majesty's patronage in behalf of the following work, which treats of the Fine Arts, and attempts to form a standard of taste, by unfolding those principles that ought to govern the taste of every individual. е It is rare to find one born with such delicacy of feeling, as not to need instruction: it is equally rare to find one fo low in feeling, as not to be capable of instruction. And yet, to refine our taste with respect to beauties of art or of nature, is scarce endeavoured in any seminary of learning; a lamentable defect, considering how early in life taste is fufceptible of culture, and how difficult to reform it if unhappily perverted. To furnish VOU |