In the next place, a philofophic inquiry into the principles of the fine arts, inures the reflecting mind to the moft enticing fort of logic: the praċtice of reafoning upon fubjects fo agreeable, tends to a habit; and a habit. ftrengthening the reasoning faculties, prepares the mind for entering into fubjects more intricate and abstract. To have, in that refpect, a juft conception of the importance of criticism, we need but reflect upon the ordinary method of education; which, after fome years spent in acquiring languages, hurries us, without the leaft preparatory difcipline, into the most profound philofophy. A more effectual method to alienate the tender mind from abftract fcience, is beyond the reach of invention and accordingly, with refpect to fuch fpeculations, our youth generally contract a fort of hobgoblin terror, feldom if ever fubdued. Those who apply to the arts, are trained in a very different manner: they are led, ftep by ftep, from the easier parts of the operation, to what are more difficult; and are not permitted to make a new motion, till they are perfected in those which go before. Thus the fcience of criticifm may be confidered as a middle link, connecting the different parts of education into a regular chain. This science furnisheth an inviting opportunity to exercise the judgment; we delight to reafon upon fubjects that are equally pleasant and familiar: we proceed gradually from

the

the fimpler to the more involved cafes; and în a due course of difcipline, cuftom, which improves all our faculties, beftows acutenefs on that of reafon, fufficient to unravel all the intricacies of philofophy.

Nor ought it to be overlooked, that the reafonings employed on the fine arts are of the fame kind with those which regulate our conduct. Mathematical and metaphyfical reasonings have no tendency to improve our knowledge of man; nor are they applicable to the common affairs of life: but a just taste of the fine arts, derived from rational principles, furnishes elegant fubjects for conversation, and prepares us for acting in the focial state with dignity and propriety.

The science of rational criticism tends to improve the heart no less than the understanding. It tends, in the first place, to moderate the selfish affections by fweetening and harmonizing the temper, it is a strong antidote to the turbulence of paffion, and violence of purfuit: it procures to a man fo much mental enjoyment, that, in order to be occupied, he is not tempted to deliver up his youth to hunting, gaming, drinking *;

nor

* If any youth of a fplendid fortune and English education ftumble perchance upon this book and this paffage, he will pronounce the latter to be empty declamation. But if he can be prevailed upon to make the experiment, he will find, much to his fatisfaction, every article well founded.

nor his middle age to ambition; nor his old age to avarice. Pride and envy, two disgustful paffions, find in the conftitution no enemy more formidable than a delicate and difcerning taste; the man upon whom nature and culture have bestowed this bleffing, delights in the virtuous difpofitions and actions of others: he loves to cherish them, and to publish them to the world: faults and failings, it is true, are to him no less obvious; but thefe he avoids, or removes out of fight, because they give him pain. On the other hand, a man void of tafte, upon whom even ftriking beauties make but a faint impreffion, indulges pride or envy without controul, and loves to brood over errors and blemishes. In a word, there are other paffions, that, upon occafion, may disturb the peace of fociety more than those mentioned; but not another paffion is fo unwearied an antagonist to the sweets of focial intercourfe: pride and envy put a man perpetually in oppofition to others; and dispose him to relish bad more than good qualities, even in a companion. How different that difpofition of mind, where every virtue in a companion or neighbour is, by refinement of tafte, fet in its ftrongest light; and defects or blemishes, natural to all, are fuppreffed, or kept out of view!

In the next place, delicacy of tafte tends no lefs to invigorate the focial affections, than to moderate those that are felfifh. To be convinced

of

of that tendency, we need only reflect, that de-licacy of tafte neceffarily heightens our feeling of pain and pleasure; and of course our fympathy, which is the capital branch of every focial paffion. Sympathy invites a communication of joys and forrows, hopes and fears: fuch exercife, foothing and fatisfactory in itself, is neceffarily productive of mutual good-will and affec

tion.

One other advantage of rational criticism is reserved to the laft place, being of all the most important; which is, that it is a great fupport to morality. I infift on it with entire fatisfaction, that no occupation attaches a man more to his duty, than that of cultivating a taste in the fine arts: a juft relish of what is beautiful, proper, elegant, and ornamental, in writing or painting, in architecture or gardening, is a fine preparation for the fame juft relifh of thefe qualities in character and behaviour. To the man who has acquired a taste fo acute and accomplished, every action wrong or improper must be highly difgustful: if, in any inftance, the overbearing power of paffion fway him from his duty, he returns to it with redoubled refolution never to be fwayed a fecond time: he has now an additional motive to virtue, a conviction derived from experience, that happiness depends on regularity, and order, and that difregard to justice or pro

priety

priety never fails to be punished with shame and remorfe *.

Rude ages exhibit the triumph of authority over reason: Philofophers anciently were divided into fects, being Epicureans, Platonifts, Stoics, Pythagoreans, or Sceptics: the fpeculative relied no farther on their own judgment but to chuse a leader, whom they implicitly followed. In later times, happily, reafon hath obtained the afcend. ant: men now affert their native privilege of thinking for themselves; and disdain to be ranked in any fect, whatever be the fcience. I am forced to except criticifm, which, by what fatality I know not, continues to be no less slavish in its principles, nor lefs fubmiffive to authority, than it was originally. Boffu, a celebrated French critic, gives many rules; but can difcover no better foundation for any of them, than the practice merely of Homer and Virgil, fupported by the authority of Ariftotle: Strange! that in fo long a work, he should never once

have

*Genius is allied to a warm and inflammable conftitution, delicacy of tafte to calmnefs and fedateness. Hence it is common to find genius in one who is a prey to every paffion; but seldom delicacy of tafte. Upon a man poffeffed of that bleffing, the moral duties, no less than the fine arts, make a deep impreffion, and counterbalance every irregular defire: at the fame time, a temper calm and fedate is not eafily moved, even by a ftrong temptation.