II.

LECT, among rude and uncivilized nations, and during the ages of ignorance and darkness, any loose notions that are entertained concerning fuch fubjects carry no authority. In those ftates of fociety, Tafte has no materials on which to operate. It is either totally fuppreffed, or appears in its lowest and most imperfect form. We refer to the fentiments of mankind in polished and flourishing nations; when arts are cultivated and manners refined; when works of genius are fubjected to free difcuffion, and Tafte is improved by Science and Philofophy.

EVEN among nations, at fuch a period of fociety, I admit, that accidental caufes may occafionally warp the proper operations of Tafte; fometimes the ftate of religion, fometimes the form of government, may for a while pervert it; a licentious court may introduce a tafte for falfe ornaments, and diffolute writings. The ufage of one admired genius may procure approbation for his faults, and even render them fashionable. Sometimes envy may have power to bear down, for a little, productions of great merit; while popular humour, or party fpirit, may, at other times, exalt to a high, though short-lived, reputation, what little deserved it. But though fuch cafual circumstances give the appearance of caprice to the judgments of Taste, that

appearance

11.

appearance is eafily corrected. In the courfe LECT. of time, the genuine taste of human nature. never fails to disclose itself, and to gain the afcendant over any fantastic and corrupted modes of Tafte which may chance to have been introduced. These These may have currency for a while, and mislead fuperficial judges; but being fubjected to examination, by degrees they pafs away; while that alone remains which is founded on found reason, and the native feelings of men.

I BY no means pretend, that there is any standard of Tafte, to which, in every particular inftance, we can refort for clear and immediate determination. Where, indeed, is such a standard to be found for deciding any of those great controverfies in reafon and philosophy, which perpetually divide mankind? In the present cafe, there was plainly no occafion for any fuch strict and abfolute provifion to be made. In order to judge of what is morally good or evil, of what man ought, or ought not in duty to do, it was fit that the means of clear and precife determination fhould be afforded us. But to afcertain in every cafe with the utmoft exactnefs what is beautiful or elegant, was not at all neceffary to the happiness of man. And therefore fome diverfity in feeling was here allowed to take place; and room was left for difcuffion and debate, concerning the degree

of

LE C T. of approbation to which any work of genius is

11.

entitled.

THE Conclufion, which it is fufficient for us to reft upon, is, that Tafte is far from being an arbitrary principle, which is fubject to the fancy of every individual, and which admits of no criterion for determining whether it be false or true. Its foundation is the fame in all human minds. It is built upon fentiments and perceptions which belong to our nature; and which, in general, operate with the fame. uniformity as our other intellectual principles. When these fentiments are perverted by ignorance and prejudice, they are capable of being rectified by reason. Their found and natural ftate is ultimately determined, by comparing them with the general Taste of mankind. Let men declaim as much as they please, concerning the caprice and the uncertainty of Tafte, it is found, by experience, that there are beauties, which, if they be difplayed in a proper light, have power to command lafting and general admiration. In every compofition, what interefts the imagination, and touches the heart, pleases all ages and all nations. There is a certain ftring, to which, when properly ftruck, the human heart is fo made as to answer.

HENCE the univerfal teftimony which the most improved nations of the earth have confpired,

II.

fpired, throughout a long tract of ages, to LEC T. give to fome few works of genius; fuch as the Iliad of Homer, and the Æneid of Virgil. Hence the authority which fuch works have acquired, as ftandards, in fome degree, of poetical compofition; fince from them we are enabled to collect what the fense of mankind is, concerning those beauties which give them the highest pleasure, and which therefore poetry ought to exhibit. Authority or prejudice may, in one age or country, give a temporary reputation to an indifferent poet, or a bad artist; but when foreigners, or when pofterity examine his works, his faults are difcerned, and the genuine Taste of human nature appears. "Opinionum commenta delet "dies; naturæ judicia confirmat.” Time overthrows the illufions of opinion, but establishes the decisions of nature.

LECTURE III.

CRITICISM.-GENIUS.

PLEASURES OF

LECT.
III.

TASTE. SUBLIMITY IN OBJECTS.

TA

ASTE, Criticism, and Genius, are words' currently employed, without distinct ideas annexed to them. In beginning a courfe of Lectures where fuch words must often occur, it is neceffary to ascertain their meaning with fome precifion. Having in the last Lecture treated of Tafte, I proceed to explain the nature and foundation of Criticism. True Criticifin is the application of Taste and of good fenfe to the feveral fine arts. object which it propofes is, to distinguish what is beautiful and what is faulty in every performance; from particular instances to afcend to general principles; and fo to form rules or conclufions concerning the feveral kinds of beauty in works of Genius.

The

THE rules of Criticism are not formed by any induction, à priori, as it is called; that