DISSERTATION IV. '.

OFT H E

STANDARD OF TASTE.

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 D I S SE R TAT ION IV.

Of the Standard of'l"ajle.

T HE great variety ofTdles, as well as Of

opinion" which prenil in the world. is too
obvious not to have fallen under everyone" ob-
fervation. Men oC the moR: confined k.nowJedge
are able to remark a difference in the narrow cir-
cle of their acq..uaintancc. even where the perfoDs
have been educated under the fame government,
and have early imbibed the famcprejudices . But'
lbofe who can enlarge their view to contemplate
dj(lant natiollJ and remote aget, arc frill morc
furprifed at the great inconfiftcncc and co!1-
tradiD:ion. Wc arc apt to call Darbar'IlJ what-
ever departs widely from our own taRe and ap-
prebcnfion: But foon find the epithet of reproach
retorte;d on us. And the bigbeft; arrogance and
(cif. conceit is at laft aanled, on ohfcrving an
equal affurance on all fides, and fcruplcs, amidA:
fuch a conteft of fentimenu, to pronounce po-
fitiveJy in its own favour,

As this variety of lafie i. obvious to the moll

carelefs enquirer i fo will it be found, on exami~
L 1 nation,
 .164 D I S S 2 'R , T : AI".T I-Q iNTIV.
nation, to be RIII: grt.lMl' .ih :realil:y, t:Jrran.~ in ap
peat2hI:e. T1tt Jed'il'l\tM:i~ htrn.n; oiI!tn~f"
with regard to beaMt ltrict cfdCnnic,.of aJ,l,kindJ"
eyeri'wbitt theW gtnti:vJ. ~q 'l~ "thel.lf.~
There Ire~lIill't6tnw"~-'C:vny.lMgqa~*hidl
import btame, and: Otheis ptaife i ,.od!~J.;ouM1.
\1mb ~. "the" f.w.. tf)l~, , ...-ft 4p:CC,in ...btlf
tl'ppllc.ti~ft l)f ~tn.. .i:ory .y_ .it , ~ iQ
_ii!>"""'r",-",propridy. f.......,..""'"
Ii\,Wtltihg; '" lid 'Io\.--.~na ....
>aiiofI"""
rold:nefr; '.nd. g.hlAtrflrri1Mta :-J !h.wtr.ta~
te~ t()p.-m~hI$,= -thit fct~pU..umiit)' , P::'
nilbet: I' ....,d.it. found, tbat>u.:y 'hadl .~.
very di:fic:tont' . . .ing to .rholnex~ , ! Ja
, atHnat'tetS of opWm: and i:iMce;..uc>CJit ~
,mm:: Tlrrii:retcsnrcem.anwmtD.lis~
fellilfd folie in gmeraJl 'thattin pMk ..... JrtM,W
h 11:. in'm.lity-tba. in appurUt"e. AaiCllpll::lIP
tkm of M . terms- comlftOl1l) ...,.... . -~otfItl
.erfy I 'and tht Hpuuatl' ....I\aIpJi_IM)~
1IIoa1iley_' ,,,,,,,'''I~; _ l i t bopoo
they apd in thcl;.j~.. " .-11 \I ~'J'I J O!
,. ; .-, " . , . ' '" ":1': :.! .....):'

, ~O'S., whoAllMd :.awndit1 Oft: IBntitnItItf

J'noOi-C<tha" Oftf'e\l(Qn, uMl'di nrrd 1D(JD~Jt:ilatd
tfhieh mde1' the (olmer oblitnlat(an,. anoltoil,..
rioR\' tl..t<ilo:,ou~_,,~.r_a
'''''''r ' ad
 0]1 (I'1IIl' nA!<l)Atl)'<1f TA'fTIi, "
ttd m~ "~diiftfj'jI'~' 11RM-}Il~ i~, ~~.all~
FNkt .bw 1I10r.8 f.~ , ~~-I It is iudeed
ob.,iCtUs:,. tha.,tl Jflri.ta-9 of, dJ ~\iRlM JJld aI! ~~
....ut>ib .ppl~ J.~ .........\~. , 'll'!&;
aanh.. aq..s ,pf,wlCIJcc, VJlrMi.Y ~ I\nd. in b~
tbe '~fue.q~itict. Mm) ~j ~. ~~I;r. ,\~':'
thoit, ,w~_ ca&np:lG.tioN IIJ~ ~bid!.y : ca.kulat<;4
to t"oaC", the .imagina~ll. al'C )'fit -fo,Yml, fr~
HfftJlt\ 6owp ..to jft1ltUp, . to i~ijlcat.
-
the (~F.
J '
$l~ ';.:piue,., .aad CO ' I bcQo* . t}:Y:\r _.olppl;l,u,;
an4. blaQlC'-'M 'tbe. fame v.ittl.lt::I.aod ,\'.i.ct~ . , Th.if
Ctar: wnanirnily' is .-ufu.ally lI'G:ribe4 to Ibe in,Btl.,,:,
.~ cii plain- rcafon, whiclJ. in .all theft caf~.
maintains fimilar (entiments i.P;I,1.I tnCl"h,:w,d rr~~
nnt& thofe cODtroverfies. towhich the abaraC):
kitu.- ,w e .(q rnw;h. QPQf~d . S~ . far ~uhe
uMoWity "real. t.hc.a~cQijnt may b:c: ~dmKt,e4
~ (acjtfaAory: BLIt it IDwtl alfo be aU~wcd, ~,
Jia,me ptrt of the: fc:'fming baroumy '" mQj'~1 Uta,
be , ~Pt.cq flir. (ram the. v'ry na~IHt; of I.~
~ T.he woni, 1Iirl'l(, wilb. iVJ eq~~aJ~m
in eVClry tQnglJl;l imp.ii~ .~rai(.:a as .t~t ~f:",ift
does blame: And no op~~ withQut the moll ob-
"jollS and WQif(il jtJlptPp.rj~ty. 1;0,,1,.1 afJi.x re-
proadl ~ a term, whi,b in._i,,~rN. w~ UI . ~P:
"rilood in good C ..., ; ..~, boil.", .pl\l,"["
wbefo.4c id~cq,wc:s 4.l~PPfP~lt~,..#,M[.J
L. 3 general
206 .D'"I ,S"5lZ, R>'I'r.A;.T I-0Jil .,.I'i. -
gcperaJ,. pretepts.,. where he ~pv~ -~'J , ~~
",-\ll.nevu be control'ut.t:d..i but it is v~!)";~~...
W~5, tlJll,J. whcq ilt, pr~ PA!"t~1af, pi~!"~q(
maI)Derl, J)6.~,r!l~i hHpi(1P ipf ~i.J4ttfM
,n~ dellce in .UJJ!is,.heiotermixcs a Q;l1l:c:h~
(I.~ree offerocity in thc.formleJ, aM. o,r, c~nfflg
.alla fu.ud.0 the . latt,r~ thao F'If//M ,wQUJd~~"
9(" : The fage UWfiI !1J.. t~ Gwl PR'=t; ~, ftfI
d:eJj~,jn Jie& ~ ~O8/l, ,~ .. Qff(p.; -cIll.IPY.'
them without any neceffity or 'even advantage :
&t hWi mOfC kru ~ lo u s fon in the F~t"'~1Pic
It'ritn f!JI po r~ ' bimrelf to the moll imm~~t
.ptrils, rather than depart .&om tbecxat.ldl:!.
of truth and veracity. .."
",.
" THI: admirers and {oUOtftrl of the .Rt.,.
inift: v-tty much on the exceHtfiltmora' pi ~
~th are interfpcrfed throughout that wild Per
furmance. But i t is to be fuppored,.tlfat. d1e
J/"dit words, which corrcfpond to tlle-E-r6Jb;
eqkity,juftice, temPerance,' metkne1li't1\~
...ere fuch as, from dle corillant "lIfe< .of~
tongue, mull always be taken in a gOod &:nfc i
and it would have argued the greatdl ig no rance,
.not\ K Mral. , but of language, to hne Dkn-
tlbne~t-tb,cm With any epithets, bdldt, Iho1~ 'b(
.pplauA aid .ppt-o'gatiol'l; .But would we- bo",~ '
.. whether
 oPTHE 'UANDARDi dF "TASTt. "'7
whetb.eritu:' prend1:d prophet 'bid' reaMy at-
(iltted a jull ltntimenr 'of mOtli"
~ Let u, "attend
18 ftfilTiarratTotl '; and we O,a11 fbbn find,: thar he
8HtdWs: l'hif't 6Ii:~Nf iriftl~ ~r t~achery;' in.-
~t)~.. I :aoek"; 'J'e~ge .blgdtt'1,' AI ' a'"
ifh!t'fr incompatible"with (itiliZtod fodety .NO.
ft~dpule of right ~hH tl'ttre to be littendtd to;
M!ld every alliM IJblamed or praiftd, (o'Br oAly
aH(iijMeficialt;rhuifftil to the tft.Ii: '~~e~,
: " . : ! : ,";.:

... :tfrfrl'; b'ient-ofdeIiVering true gefttril:1 precepts

Iri~hiC:t is tnif~d very (mill, WhoeVB rKO,*"
lIiim&fRey moral 'virtue!, rea1ly dote no more
than is implil in tbe terms tbeznfolves. ; !The
people, who invented the word ITUdtj/y, and
-'eeI.it iD" "good feak, inculcatm more-dcarly
~ lIu~b DlQfC. dkacio,..oT, thC" prccopt:,.h ...
MjI, than any pretended lcgiaator or pr~,
Ra 1hould infeft (\l.Ch a fIU1Jtim in his writing.s.
Of .u 'ca:prcdioos, ,lboJc, wbich, together w.ith
tlWi; other I'Qc.ning. iJnply a degree cilhfl, oi
Al-.ne. OF appwbuiop, .Ut tbe: leau' liabl,: lo- 8e
_ptSYft'1eO or miOaktn.
, .
It it very natur~ _ (QI' us :to .f.ock a.$tlluiMrJ tf
'T~'J ~ aru1e~ by whi~ ~ ~uj,o~.f.4plliawms
0[,"0. .1IWtJ. be [tQ:lI)cil\, PJ':~t~ W,: .J,;;;'-
L + cifioA
 _ If t'lf"S-1J IJ 'IIllO'Y 'r;o K"lV':
dtilln albrd~ 1b.6lin!,~ ""~", . ..
~Nt~ ~;' ,.;) j . ~:" :. ' ,,":) 1.!-
, -., : . 1 : ' ; '; ; ." 'J ~ !J .' :.J'~" ') '~<f '){l~
'T_.It , ~, ~ ... ich_
. , , ' hopn otrllccd ", ~I1<ih aoatteftl.tW9 :WI!iI
,..ertnbllK ... t lil,....".aaiQi~
Ib""... of ..... Th. - . ,..... ;, 10 '''14,''''
'wry'wide beew"n jlMlgmelllt vutAssU,iWWl; ....
' .tiYnent it rig'" j ' becaot..r.c ..-..a-.
; fe~nce' to notbi~ beyond iCf'eJf, aIM: i ...."
' ntI, whererua man is COftrriOvsofit. BUt'WI
cktmninatioae: " of the IInderfillAding t.re -MC
.;gilt ; b:n(c Vw:y ha.... a ,cfcrtlkc C4 . . .
thing beyond lhemfelft!l, ' to wit, R~ maatMl
RIft; and .e,.
ahny. cu....
...w.. lD (tIat
flandard. Among a ~ufand d'8itftnt o~ ...
",hich different men may entcrtaitr of tt.e fame
'fubjea, there is onc, and but oilc, dilt i~ jaQ
oInd true; and the only diflkulty: is to:1\i-ittd
afcenain it. On the CClntrary, a thoufandl'dHlt--
rent (cmimcnu, excited by the rame objea, .re
all right: Becaufc no fentimerff: Rpicldlellvhat
. is really in tbe objet. It only marks :a" ~n
, 'conformity or relation betwixt the otijiCl"'ttI,d
the organs orheultlC'S 0(- the "mind; ' <tir.t'Jfllt1rat
(ol'iformiry '"dWl nOt rnUy e.iW~ ~ the fetWinieht
.<oMd n"er poli/!ly'll~"
, lielllf,' flk'llu't"""o
. .. . -. q,uali!1
 (]7 ' TII~ STAJ4l>AQI OF TAf'l' MO'
.-Jity iD .........r... , It ..ilk "''''1, i.
the mind wbi~h tqstClrnpillHt:lIwa. i 1It4. WO
.wnd pttC4iyea a diH'ereot beauty. Onc ~r\9'"
...,(cva ~... dofqrntiijr,. !~e . ~r it-
Wile oi ..... n.....
e'lI'j'iodi'i4iW '''~
iO..aQlllicfcc.iaailo.n """....', ~~l".....
lCndu" to ,~. tlIof. of o~ To!<4
ilIe cMl.hcMl"',' QC re..' dcJPI'P.ilb' i4 " fI~fW. ,
an c"..ry,. _Ho po:leP4 tQ eic,er~ .. . 'l4I
Ntd;-or rul biucr_ 44:c9fdiJ;lg CD tAAdifpW~i9f)
-fill -tbe orpns, the (allll:. objtJa Dlay bf: ~ {'Yt4'
!.m bitter j and the pr9YJrb bas ju,llly ~~S..
-"'d it to be fNitldi to difp,ne C~(Dilw;
.&aBn. It i, very ,.atwaJ, and- c~cn qu~ .~..
; ~~co Itxlead. this axiom. to lMIllWJ, ap:w.dJ
_ ~bodily (de; and thUl-common fcnfe, which,
...w..fQ qNn ;it vari&nc.c: ....iJh philofophy,. C'~y
lrith the' (~pti,al kind, is found. in one ~
11:. ~aft, to ap io pr~, the f~ ~~
fi6p
",I' _ .:

.1lu:J:. tpoy&b ~_ axic-., by Wfin& into ~.

,.p.lIjlycr~, ~m$ -to b,vc attain~ the :f~tijon of
.~D).~on.re~;- ~rc is CCI"lail1Jy a rp~Cic5. of
.,qII1'IDl9D fe~ llIh~ appOfca it, QF. flt..ki!.ll.ffir;'(~
" II9" . .... ify ..,nO "fllJai. ~... ):Vh~m 1I'~.1~
,04\,110 "lualiO)', qf gftUu.~,.lFgl'I'l ~.' .t'i'i.,
_ L 50 . _. -O, ab,
'..~ jj'I'S'S 't If.!t'.A1'rON''llh>
Ogillij and Mih,,;, :Of ' B~lJn" .. rKt>~!.4U~
'WoWd be tf'IMght t~ ncr- teAfitm ~1Jc.'"'''''':
E~ce, -than if he M<i ;'mWitllainett1 l rftbJ~M
be-asllif;ft ai)~;l ; or'. ;ttoHdl u Ma\~
2S thE oCcaft. -
";"fli~ti~ 'ttlitt"ttr.ty 'be fOUiid'ptt..
reSiu, : who give ' the- piefElcncc to' tfie''fotiM-i'-'I1fJ
tllors'; no onc' pays ' atttrition"'rb tuch-: i fa'fte i
and we ptonounc;e without'fcruplc ffi't fendmerft
tSfihefe prttendt"d"critiCS"to 'be atifHi'iJ oih1f nridil
~ulouS. "The principle od( the natural eqi..afl'ty
or tanes is then totally f<Jrgot; and while"we ad'~
mit of it on (omc"occafi ons, where the objectS
teem near an equality. it ap~ars an extravagant
paradox, or rather a palpable ahful'dity. where
obje8:s fo difpropurtioned are compared to~fh er:
I. . '. i

IT' is eviaent, that none of the rules of oom':

pofition 3rc fixed by reafonings' /J'pifwi; 'or can
be eftee:med abftr.n9: c:onclufiom of the under";
fianding, from comparing thore habi!U'd'CS : an!
relations "of ideas, which are eternal and' i im~
mut'able. Their ;foundatlon is "the ' (lime ...,iffr
Iha"t of all the praCtical (den'ces, expe'rient'e ';
nor are they any th ing but general o1:)fet'vatiOn~.
toncerh"ing "what" has been "univer(ally" founa ' fa
plcb.te in an"countries and'in ' ":lll " ag~s. "Mahy Of
the"t"e~u"ties b"t poetry "'iri~ ! ~vtn elf eroqueri~
"
, -.: " "
...
 OJilTH.s'lI'ANDA.n OF .T~ST!. ZI.I
". buldod ~n IaUbood an~ fiaian, on byp~
~,.n;ac,,~ , ~a.qaqure Q.\" per~eruop, Qf
MAfR4iAAII. fr9JP.. .YK~ ( fI~lH'al, QleaQ.fqg. '. Tg
~:IH (itllfOf; .'1f,tbc)~in~AAm.., aod ;to, ~
d~ ! eJ,lcty expre#fwn ..o .g~ric~ t,r~th aQ~
~wJ wov./.d. be the qaoll: cqptr,ary to the lawt

\\l!e;.m#. iflfip~ 'apd difagrc;c,able. But

~HY. ~~ never f1,fbroit to exa8 truth, i~ mull
bc;5ow;,ned by rules of art, difcovcred to the
lb.
q( pi'i~(m ,; . bcaufc it ....ould Pf04uce a work,
'f.'bich, by }JIlinnal etperienFC; has been {ound

iII!!,ll~or cith~ r by.genius or obfcrvation. If fome

o.cgligcntor irregular writers have pleafcd. the,.
~",v~pot pleafcd .by their uanfgreffio,ns of rule;
or .~fder, but in (pite or thefe tranfgreffions:
They have poU'clTed other beauties, which were
~ormable to juG critidim J and the force . of
~fe beallties has been able to overpower ccn~
fw'~ .. and give the mind aJ:..tisfa8.ion fupcrior tq
\be, dut;u{l arifmg icom the blemifhes. A,iif/,
pl~fcs; .butllot by his monGrou. and impro:
~bJe 4t\ions, by his bizarre mixture or the fe~
rious and comic Grles, by the want of coherenc~
i,! his Gories, Of by the continual interruptions
'?~ his na,rr'l-tion. He' charms by the force an4.
cI~'fI1C(s of his c~pr~1Jio~, b)" the rcadincf5 and
y.ariety of ,his . Wyc~!!onsJ, ~nd by hi~ natura,l
L 6 ' . ~iaures

( ~I
tI. D; I .S!S E , K.: n. ~ . 'l' t O iN IV.
plO1"".g{'" P. . . .' .~IJo ' lhof< of .. ..
p,.,.mq~."'tnd : .. .~ . bowe!l.. _;..iiaul,.
~lY A~Ih ,o!lr: fil~r~iRl1t' : ,t.htry- .aI cg:~
AAlffitl"""oj\{j)j\J .,, pIooCo..",,",
))id ....
&Ilk frCiffl ~. PilftS . (I{.m,,~IO, which
-.e4or
~e, ~u, dlis . ~d be ~o oq;eai.0IJ,.1It
~ri~fm in g~a1: :It . ~ou,ld only be u. q~j
~on to: tqefc ~c.uJar rU:les , Qf ~ i tjcif9Jt
11Vhic:h ",~ld, eD:ablUh fucb ~r;.. ~arcs-. to.p.
faults, and ",QuId l'cprcfel1t t~ ~ . unu.:9:~a!1y
blameable. If they Ite fowld ~ plaK:. .thC;y
t'annot be faults j let the pleafure, which tl?cy
produ~, be ever fo unexpedcd and URa~"
COWl.table.

BUT tbouJh all the gen.eraJ rv.1. of

founded ooly on experience and CA Iba <Obfetv~
.rt
~

lion of the COmlnOll fcntimeAtI of hWlDan natufCp

we muft not imagi~e" thac, on every occa~
W {ocljnga. of men wiU M: t:oqformab,l.> ~.Je:
rules. Tho(c: hn emotioos of Inll .mind
are of a very teAder and .:klicate nature, "nd
tequi'l'e tht cOtK:Urrenq:: of nun, favG:Ura"~ cir-
c;:umfbnt:es.to make them play wWa faciJitr ~
e1<aa:ne~ .c~Qldin, to. tbeir grneral Ine . ... ~
bJillied 'P!inci.ples. 1'he .leat\ werior hioSu.rtte
to.. ~cb ~~ ,f.Pri9p.l, fJJ;.the,lt:aA 1Dtt'r~l,ijf.
order,
 oV THE STANDAI\D cJF TA$TE. .. J
ot~(lr. Murbe tbeir 1ftOriGn, and confounds
the 'operatiott 'bftMMIoIe'madtint. ' When we
'W'iMli:Hntke an bc~lI't of dris 'natltfc, "and
M)d"'frytM 1w:m:any 1bGufj' bt 4elbttnity,
",if 'tftuft-dmofe. with clte a " ~ time anti
plat'e, ana bring the fitnty :10 a ruitaMe\ fittr~tion
and dl.fpofnion. A petfed: (ercnity of mind, 'a
re.::ollea1O!:1 of 'ml3ugM. 2. due 'aftentton to the
objell; -ihnyof thefe.cirnlmfhncdbe .-antln~
our experimttlt will be fallaciou! , and we lball
he unable to judge of tile catholic "andunjverfal
bonty_ The relnion, which nature hu placed
betwixt the fon'n and rile fcntiftlmt, will at lealt
be man: obfcure j and it will require greater
accuracy to trace and direeTn it. \V c fhan be
die to a(certain its inHlfeOCc not " much from
the operation of cKh 'Particular beauty. u {rom
the durable a d ~iration . which atknds lbofe
works, Ihtt have furvi ved 2011 the caprices of
mode and fatbto", .11 'the mibkca of ignor~c
and envy.

TH2 lime H,,,,.,,., 'fII'4'Io ptnfed at Ath",~

and R'Mttwoihollfaftd years ago. is Gill admired"
at> "PM'ir and. at LMHh". AlI the changes of
d~ gO'~lIt, rel~~ion, and language-
ban 'no' -.bee,! .We' to obkwre '"' glory. Au-
thority
 SI" D 1.5 S a R!T . .a: ." . J 0 1'If~ IV!...
tlwrity or , pre~; OPf.ai,ve.MUQpQrary.,v!J8U4l
to , j\.aad , ~ pr""~ \wtA~s . JI!I~ J1IIiJIt
.a..~r ~ ..4"r"We .()rlgl!"'~ '. ~p~ N~R\n
P9f~i~il"~, e:lolmi_d, r.by " w4njq!I ~ ~~I fp,1.
r~igp~~ Jne e,QCbaptal!;nt ~~ 4ijijpa.tcd:, ,, ~ hi..
&ults apPfar in '~ir. tf~,cq!9urs . Ontbe.coq-
tr~rl. a.r,cal genius" d\tllQag,er!"ris. 'W!Orkf, endure,.
and the more, w.ic1c, .tl"y .e. fp~ap, the ptQ~e
~ere i5..lht .,adtairation ." hic.h .he ~~ : .w~
Eovy u,d jcalouCy .I;la.ve too. J:gUC;h plac.e,io ..
Darrow circle j and even {i1miliar, ;1(:quaint~
with his pcrfon may diminiili the applaufe due
to his performances: B!Jt when thefe obftruaions
are removed, the beauties, which arc na~1y
flued tQ :x!:itc agreeable fentimenLs ilXl9lediatcly.,
diCplay their energy. and while the world. en-
dures, they maintain their authority over. the
minds of men.

IT appears theD, that amidll all the va(iet, .

. and caprices of ta1I:e~ ..pere are certain generA,
principles of approbation or blame, whore in-
ftl.lcncc a careful eye may trace in aD operation!
of .be mind. Some particular forms or qualit~
from thl;9figi{lal fi~uChi,e of t~ intcr,oalfallric,.
arecakulalle4 to p1caf.e., ""f\d.~~I.to dj(~,.ar~i.
an4.if tIH:1:faiJ.,~;lf. Wieir cJf;d: .iD al11 part.ic~
infbnc:c.
 OP' "TME"ST.(N)>ARD ()i1 TAStt. ns
Jnfbnce,' it'-i.t'frbfn "fome applU'eM dtfe8: O( nn.:.
per'f'etlian.rrn1tf'te'bfga-H. It'ffiaft In ."fe;er wduld
nnr infitlt on M; palate ~ lI9' able ''to 'decide cor-
cerning Bavouts'ji"nor wouM one, afF"e8:ed with
the jaundice,.,~tettnd ,to "give a ....erdlB: _ilh "re_
gard to colOun. " In ea-ch creature, "there is a
found 'and a drle8it"e fbte i and theformer alone
can ~ be fuppcifed to affor"d us 'a:ttut! fhindard of
"ta""fte'"an\ffriltirrlent, ' t(rln" th~ ~dnatt: of tt;e
orgam .. there be an entlreor a"confideraMe unj';;
("rmity" of: {entiment among men, we may
thence derive an idea of the perfeCl:" and un;:'
verral beauty; in like manner at the appnrance
of objeCts in day-light to " the eye of a man in
health is denominated their true and real eo!omj
even while colour is ' anowed t6 be merely a
phantafm of the fenfes,

MANY and frequent are thedereas in the in-

ternal organs, ~i1ich prevent or weaken the in-
Huenee of thofe general principles, on which de~
pends our fentiment of beauty or deformity;
Though fame objeCls; by the flruaure of the
mind, lie naturally calCulated to give pleafure, it
is not to be"expected, that iri every "individuai
the pleafure wi!Pbe"eqtialiy felt: Partictlla, in-:
cidcnts and fitt'rarions cccur} 'Which tlther "throw
a f ..1Ce
.6 !) I<n It 1t'lJ,\!A :T!'IIO N" W .'
a..faKI"'t -OIl ' .C.~ '.or;..aer.1he)a.
fr*g:comcyjl'll _tu dJ&' i:mar;iD.~ the ' poper
r..tt...... and pcsccpe01 .~:... 1 ' ;". . l)nJ '" .,.-; r
. . .: ... : : I ~ ,.

-.0;,.. .,\IiMI. cauroi : "~ 1DaIIy..i:e1 .ot .....

prOper vnri .... et' h:eauty; is.lbcwanLof :that
tAlitfKY :of lnaagiD.t~ ; whidl . ia . r~IC",.
cohvey . & ' f'4111CJbi.lil t,l)f:"tilM: &net ~
_'Fhis delitacr:cyerylOll.~ to': IE!erylC:'nc:
~'ef' it-il and .odW..,.edaGc..c'ltqtk.ind.. g{~
or fentimcDt to its fiaodard. But aB QV iot~
tion in tbis dilfcrtation is to mingle fomlC ligbt of
.. be und.crl:andingwith the fcdiugs af-fen1imtDt.
it' will be ' propar to givc 'a more a~:d_
Jlition.of delicacy, tban bas .l:ritbatn~ ..~
tempted. And not to draw ounphj~
from. too profound a folU'cc, we 'hill .bJvc Jf/;'
ClOurCe to a noted ftory in Dm i(..uM/(. .~.
. _. ~ ~ 1 :;._

:JTu with .gPOd rc.aion, r." .S_b6:t

'ruirc with the great nore;. tlw: l pt*",~to_
a.judpCltt in wine :. TlWi n .f g~i;Iy ~ir
1fu,. ,n ; OUf family .. TWI) Df rIlY ,jrJIlUw9 ~
.oJJtq c.illtd tQgiyc tMir. o.pin.ipn..of ; 1I JJAg~
wbi.ch ,. w.u.JuPP'lfuUo..be, e~d,lant, , b~O& ,pki
.andaf a .good ,yilit.gt." , 011,,-"Clo.... ..,.,.tit;
~ , it, ... oftor,maIIIIO' ;Jd.a;.."JW-
DOWICC3
 OY'TH! mNDARD:Op TASTIt. zI7"
n<Mtncct tho :....r.c"to btp, waeit;l,.. .... .
f~l\ taft:ti"f- ... t.., .:"hidl_ptlcri ... in..jt~
The other, after ufing tM Came: 'Prcautiolt..,.

will,. ... _I'ft".

iyCS alro his vcrdict in favour of thc wine; but
ao .ne of i~. wla he
cbdId 'ea lilydliing.ill:!. YOII aMOt ~ne.
hdw . ...m. they ,"re boch, rid~ for tbt\t-,
j.tpteM. .au. ",ho .la-&lled in. tho cnd j OIJo,
~or; : tbc ' hoglen4, dUffG was . fololOd * \
Ihi'titkAtdolft,.-an.ld..,. with .1caa~m t,~
tied 'm le. .

. T.K I !feat rdianhlance between rDlnt:l1.a~

""'y.tahwill nfriy &each uato apply tAil fto,y.

i1t~, but
dwl (woet aDd bitter, .0
'7hoo!;tri'.Dccmaia, that ftauty, and dcHra.i1y.,
JIG .lhOte not quali.tia
belong entirtly to the feDtimont.
internal or extunal i it muft be~ allowed.. dial:
there are certain lIualitirs.in objc&. which are
h4byl1tIUr .to p10du0c tbo(e. ~ 'Iecl~
iHgf. . JNowutbe(e llfUeUtiea may btifou.d. it!.
1i t?nal ditgree er rh.,.be mikC God COftfounckd,
~ each odw:!-. ' it' often bappfM, thMtbcbh
is not: afJeaed with iUch ' min.c quaiitiu, or.
:not .b)et()dNlmpWh ... ~t. . ,,.,..ioular'Savou ...
..........ibrder,;tnYwbif;;b-,bueV RIiattmi
W~dio""S...-fofm...... oII<>..,~
10

. C.oo~k
 111' b Ni ' S ;EI ~.I ft!' . 1t"" t'ON l IV.
tQ a~' thtlm ,;,:aH; !if: 'tfle: f.~rime fo :ena
as'ti> pepivO' t...tty~in ~~di(tit hf' :ttlt \ 'td~"
1i""", 17hleilJlllei. (!IU~'litft<!y ; ~ ' tlfte; lWhtd\181
~ emtH~.~(o , ~r fnY{lli tir Watll""i loMf.iiJ
rhbt~t:i.l lkRM. ,I Me;e 1 ~R di b-' l g~al ' ht~1Ot
b.anty 'are Gtufe; ..btlinog ;df:t~ fi!.OO1.a~
moddl!. :and' ftom:the~'~tien-of Wl;at:plewres
....'(\dpltaftli!ll.h~ pN""ted:.ftntlt atN:I in: i4ri~
IfJ@;I't"l:-- AndJlf -$C! r.... -qllaMi05j!l;n r a!>t;dhtt.q
. nucd'cumpohliPD nd:irYl. fmil;jI.n~gtet,to lfft4l:
not ,the, O,!:lns with .a . fenCible dtlight Ok' ~tldi::
ntIs t we exclude tho perion f,o rn all .pretcnG4Du
to tbis ddicacy. Too ptodutlc th& ~
rutn or .. ayowed patterns Of COII"afMlfllion.r.tllta
findingthe ICey .witft :the leathem'thong.;.'. w~
juftified ,the. verdiCt of StwlH'l ' ~e'J'Ir~ ' l,"",
confounded thofe pretendt'd . judgt!., :whoi1u..
.condemn~ them. Thougb the hog(head had
ftClleJ" beqn emptied, the taie of tke ,"i1\ill
equally delica.tt't aod tbat oLtht otbcr ~
dull:and,lDlpid,: Bm; it W-OIidd ~"-.:n
diaaUt 1;Q have fl"Ovea \tbCl,(upaiC\Jity: ~,ofq rdto
former, to tbe COQYjijon. .cf..ev.ery. b~d.r...
lA like rnanner, .,hougb tht! ~autiM <>fwt"'irlt
bad never ~en fMthocHdd, (lC!srodUd--tote __
~ . prilKiple.; ,thQugh' '*' ~... lnedel" ....
Cb'ibecn.. aC~M,.'rkdgCld" tbo [!d~l6tf;ielo:
.~ of
 Olf TJ:m ST~DA-RD OF -TAS1iI . _'9-
o!,1I~' ,WoWP, fl,iIj~"., r"'~.d. " ".! """j,II9g.
flJ~~i Af,q~ maQ ~en, prl:"fll r~~-(ol t)pt, 9f aOOT
tI;qf'~"jft ~~ "YWI4.11qt,bt\(l;[bce.n. fG.~lirQ"filt,IK~
~ JMd!..c;riAA~.. ~~Oj.,ig~~1~)I~.jnlia'Up9I}!H.t
lW1!culaf f.eDftm ept) .Gd , r~",ftt to f),.bOlh -co bI~
~~I &t wheil .~JhbW ,him an .avo.wod
II~B"iRl~ 9f,a~ . ; ~hf:n wc..jlhdlrtil'(".t\mprin~if!lo
by.,. afJJPks.. wbuk . optra~~"" ('(Jm hl~ :owo
pmkllJ,.ar ~tle,. .k a,llk~edges'to ~ ("ontQr~1.
aWit..( o.JOC p~inc\pl'N whdJNYC pro~~ that tbe:
f;im''1l'"inc~c, may be .ppJied- co . the ' prl:fent
cafe.; w.hftehe did not pnceiv.e not feel its in-
~ : He,mull- conclude~ upon thewhole t that .
iMtfavlt-,Jies jn bitnfeJf, and that he wanls tho
~liII'fqt:~~ich is reqlilfite to maKe bim "fenfibJe
tfl ev~,".(lIy and ~r1 blemilli, inany corn..
PGfiti~ ..or dikourfe.
"
. . rlJ'lt' acknowledged to be the per(dlion of
~t!UJ?G:afe QI' {ieulty, to perceive with exaClnefs
"'."_~ato objc&; and allow nothing ' to
cR::aprits notic:e:~d'. ob~vation . . The (matter
thtI,abjelb are, which become fenfible to th.e
~)lCI' .tbcdinet i5 tht.organ, lill\d the more Cril~
borate itunauaad c;:ompolitioa. A good palate '
i...ot ,tried bytrool t\aVOWII; ,eut b amizture
of:.flIdl.intrriicnt4~: where. ....oaro ftiUfdlfibte
of
no DIn \< R ToA T r O b ok' 1,"0"
ottach pa'rt, nOlwithllanding its minutenet; and"
its ('Q~fufion with 'the relt In like' ~annF.r~ .'
quid' ~nd ac~tc perc~ptioQ' of oeauty 'aOd d~rdf'.
mity mutt be the Pei(caio~ oti:.wt~rit'lti~tlel;.
ftor buf. ofan be fat islled yjitb hiin~Jr. ~}ii'r~
~.rurpt:&, -tbat any 'uceUcnce Oi bldniJh' in't.'
ctifcourfe: lw "p2ffed hi.m Ilnobrerved-..: In lid",
~re.:the 'ptrfeaion of the nUn, and the~ petfec";.
tion ~tbt ~(e or (eeling, ire folind (b1>eul1i1- '
A -cry dciica.te pal.ate; on many OC(afion~, iriaf
be a great inconvenience both to a man :him~tr
wit
_od 'to 'his (rirods; but a delic'au~ uftf!' of bi'
~ty mull always be a 'defirable quility; bel
c:a&Ife it is rho (oun::a of a11 -tbe fmeft ~d"
iJln(lCent enjoyments, or whic;h " human,. ~ '
i~ TuCceptible. In this &c;i6oni the ~t1'
mall nunkind are agreed. Whet-oyer yOu ~i:ri.
fi.J: QC aICemin a delicacy of tafte, it is Cure "to
hcapproved of; ~d the be1}.:. way Qf 6)1:ing le is

to appeal to thole models an,d ' principle&, ,."hkh
haYebecn eftablftbed ~y the uniCon. approbation
~. C:K'peJ'i~e of ",cions and ,&ft. .

.RuT though there be n."naIly a very 'wift

dilliucace in peint of delicac), betweea Qu. peri'on'
cd aaomcr, nothing_ tends further to 'OC'I'cilfe'
ao! Upp-oYO \IliI calcht, tban/f'Qltk, in-. S-,,, '
. ticular

(
 OS I T~E .$TANI?Ai.D.~ OF TAST,2. Ul.
ticular art. and 1~ frequ~(I~ .fu.ry~y 9~ cq"teil\:'
plaiL~n .of a p~r.~~~r rp~i~ o.f~e,a;\Jtr '. ~yqeP.I

o~J~~s p( any .~l~d',frf~ ~rA: J?f,~le~~e4 tl?" q\C~ ~3F.

o~;'?t~i!~.~~l.on~, ~~ ,fent.i~.e..~~JJ'I'I"~j,c~ ..Mt!W4.
t~~~ ~$. ob.~cllr~ a.~d . ~~f~.re~A ~~ql ~!1' 9l'iRf;I.
if! !n,,,: .great ~ea~ur~, ,i?9papn; ,o(: P~op.
concerning their merits Qr defeCl:s.
. ' , . . I ."
The t01ft4
cap:lw~ ;~rc:ei.v.~ ,~he.fev~r< ~,~.cf:!!,nRe~ . or. mc.
~ff?np~n~~, ~ , .w~f~, lC~$ 'R~i~g~~ ,~J i,AAj,.
c~!. ch~~,ae,~" ~~" ,c,",ch.' .~~~~n.GY." ~ a4:.eJf!
t~i_!l : ~, flu~lity. and de~r~el.. .. lE. i~, pr<;lJ;'~~ .,~
'Y.~olf;. in . ~ncral , tp ~ . b~a~t~ul .. m: : ~~
't.4 " t~~ u,tmpft which can ~ ,1COt~dj .aQd-
q!;~ttbi,$ ju,c!gmen~ a perfOf1, fo.u~~fed, IWii1
bp._ M1t. ~o . dcli,Yer Jo:':'ith gr,ea; heLit,at!on aod. ...
(HXC:r . B~t allow hirp t~ a<;quire ~f":,;ettalU
tPc:!(F 5~bjca:s, . his feeling ~ornes u:J'l(e eJia&
an~ )lice _ : He not o-,:,ly perceives u.e bcSUlta
an~ defetls of each PU[~ \tu~ marks tht: , ~
~(hi~g,_ fpecie.s of ~ch qu.ali~y.,.. aAd .atip. it
f~ta.~]e, pr~ir~ . or.'bla,~ . A:cIr.ar., and. f1iftMli
fentiment atu;I}?~. ~in:t- ~hrogh-the Y(.Jt~e..~\WIf.
?f the ob}e8s. and he di(cerni tbat very de..
&i~.e "and ' k~l1d of a<l!PHluatWp 9r dilPl~e"
w,.hi,:). e~.ch ~t i~ l}",uJ'~I!y .fit.te.d .to produOCI.'
~r~,;;nift. d~P"~b ~b!,c4.,tiRIDed ~meay,.,
haAgf O"l~ , lhc,.. ~J: ,,:tM "'1an', ~ui'"
gr.c:aur
 ...
~r~at~r perfe8iC?" in its opcr~.ti?ns~ a~~ can Pr"
hounce, without danger 'Of miffakc, \:ol\.cerqlng
the merit,s 'o~ e'adi 'p~~tOrm~'n~, ~; I.n :,:~ :y.;~~.
'tbe fame ~~rcfs ~n~'~~1~I:y~~~,~c~~~~CL%
:gives to the ex~~\io~ 0f.aJ).x..WQrk.;' is. ;J~,, ~.
iJuircd, by the .u.m~ m~ans; in 'tfte judgi!1g of j~,
' . . .' ~ . ',- ..
.' 0' , _
. 'So advantageo~.
, _. .. ... ...
praa;~e ~oth~ ~i{c~~nt
is.......
of ~auty, that b~r.9.~~ !f1. ~n! pr~~~.f ~,~
~ent on aIly' ~o.r,k o~ i9l~.r ~all.~ j~ wijl ~v.cq
be requilite, that tb,at, vCTy iodiv.\dual .pcJiOl*.
ance be more than" once ptrufed by us. and
be furv eye(J in different lights, 'with .atte~ti~
and deliberation. There is a flutter or hurr1
er thought, which :lttendsrhe firllpe~ or~aoy
piece, and which confounds the genu.iJ;l:, ~t""
ment ofbcl1uty. The rcrerencc of the ~rts. ia.
not difcerned : The true charaCters of ftyle are
little diA:ingui!hed: The {evera! ~r{~iOOs ~
defed:s f~ern wrapped up in a JP:~I .pf qon(~:
!ion, and rrefent them{dv~l. i~i{li~y. ~ thf
it1'!~gfnafion. Not to rne.llt.io1lr.t~t ~e' su.
ij?~es of beauty, which, as it u flor-i~ .aQd[~
perficial, pleafes at firft j but bei.ngfO\Uld incom-
i
patible with a jufr exp~effion~itheI'iof rflaiOn or
'panion, foan palJs~p.on :~~ e ",q...i.and i...~tt>o .
je4ed with di{dain, at Jeaft rated at a much lower
value. IT
 " ' , I"
fir is impol!ible ,to cOl).tinue i,n , t~~ pra~i~e of
Conte mplating any oide', of b ~auty ,,~ ithou~, ~\fJ'
fr~,~uently obliged to , for~' {~mto~!AnJ be,ty.'~~
~ 'fc v ~alTpecies ana degrees of excc1 l~n~YJ ,a,n~
dtlm\lring their propOriio~ to' ea~~' o th~t. _ A
man-, who h as h ad no 'oPPoliu'ni',y ~f compar'i'ng;
the different kind, of bc:auty, is indeed totally .un-
qU1lHi~ ' to proriounce an o,pinio~ with r~gar~
('.~ tibjea , ~ t~fenred t o h im. Bycomparifon
of
af'Oht: IWt th, .the epithets p'raiteor blame: and
lrim'no. to amgn tbedue degree' of each. The
dlarfeft'dawbing of a fi gn- pofi conuins a cer-
tain' hiltre of colours and exaClnefs of imit a ti~n,
which are fo far beauties, and would affeCl tbe
mini oh 'pelfant or Indian with the higheft ad-
. miration. The molt: 'yulgar b.allad. are not en-
tirely deAitute'afbar.mony or nature; and no m:
hut a perfon. familiarized to fu perior beauties,
would pronounce their numbcn bulb, or narra-
tion ,w intereA:ing. A great inferiority of beauty
. give"pairi to a perfon con\'erfa ~ in the high eA::
exceUcncy of' the kind, and is {or that reafon
pronounced a deformity : ' A. the moft finifbed
obj&a" with which we are acquainted. is natu-
rally ("PPOfeci _to have reached the pinnacle, 'of
per{cCUon, and to tic entitled to t~e h ightll ap-
"" '- " ~ : ', p1aure:.

(.ooglOC'
 ... ItIS~ . R"T""TIOO1 IV"
plaufe. A man who bu bad oppoftwtities of
~og, aAdcum~ aDd weighing'dIe fQl'crai
performances, admired in diiermt tIP'
c~ ~ a,loa(Atc themeritlo{.work cQi..
"'_.lo
hited 10 kis lI'iOtr, aad aSgn its ,....,... raM-
_008 tbe produCtions of ~s.

BUT to.enable bim tbc mcue fu1.Iy.to aet:Mte

this uadenaking, .he muG prcfcnc hiI mM,1d &eI:
iromall Fvpuiiu, and.al1ownothin&to...-:mco
lJis C'.aIlJideratton, b\ll me:very ubjed, which.
fl,lJ:.n~&elto ''''i3 examiallrioa. We IUJ' ~.rvc,
that every wort of:art, in order to.,o4uc:c ill
du.nEed: GI'I the miRd, InUi Ite (...-.eyed .m a
artam point of .,icw. and ClllMt ~e fuUy. ""'
Ji.Jlaed by ~na, whofefiklatj,ga,nlll.u i ..flIgi ..
mIIty., is .not cuniormable to that r-.qui'" b,.tlM:
pcrf1:mIlRlCc. An -orltOl' addrefiGa h~f so.
partiaAlat l.v4imce, afld mufi .....c .. regard -to
thtirpal'ric:ular genius, inteR'h, opinions, Jl"f..
fHM'M, and prejudices j otherwiie he hopes in Yain
to r;overn tt.eir rerokttivn!l) 2nd in8aMe their
aftiraioM. Should 'hey eoren :))a~ eoteltahted
feme prepoffeffioos 19&iAi him, however unrn-
fonable, Re muftnat'OYefJook ehis-dlfadnntagel
but before he enters upon r'he {ubjeci, nrua en--
....eur to wnciHafc their afle19iMt, lad acquira
- Wt~

,
 OP' TUB STANDAR'D OFTASn. "'t
their good graces. A critic of a difrercnt age or
riMion, .who . Omlld PCI\I(e thi.-diftoune, md
haft .oatl .... cimJmftiQces 'm hiseyt, and m.a:
place himrelf in the fame "fituation as the J.ttJi~
etl.ce, in order to form a true judgment of the
oration. In like manner, 'when any'work is ad
dreffed to the public, though I !hould have a
friendfhipor enmity with Ihe author, I mull: de.
put Irom this p:trtidulatfituation; and conftder..
itl'g'myftlf as a man in general, forget, if'Voffi..
. We, my individual being and my peculiar cit
cun'lib.nces. A petfon, inAuenced by prejudice,.
compl;e, not with this condition; but oblHnate1y
mailltains 'bi, hatural pofition. without entering
into that required by the perfermance. If tbe
work be addrdi"ed to penons of a different ageot .
nation. he m;1kes noallowance for their peculiar
views and prejudice5; but full of the malll~ers of
-hi. own_times, rafhly coooe,mos what fcemed ad~
minble in the ~yes of lhq{e fOJ whom alone the
difcourfe 'llraS calculated. if the work be eXe1:lIlted
for the public, be 'n ever fufficiently enlargn his
com:p~CDfion, or forgets his interefis as afriend
&1r enemy, 81 a rival or commentator. By this
means, his (entiments are perverted; nor have
the (ame beauties and blemilhes the (ame mRu..
cote upon him, aI if he had impofed a proper
M ,iolence
 .06 D 1'8 S .E It TAT ION IV,
violcneeOn hi, imagination. and.had forgot him-
(elf.for "momeot. So rar his tafte cvtdc.ot1y
depl,Cts from the tfue aandard; aiId of conk-
q"~(lC,C lofcs ,aU ~it aDd authority_ '
.. '"
. l~ is" well known. ,tbat, in ~l quef1:iona, ' rub-
-mi~ to the undcrft1d.ing. prejudice is. moft
ddiruai.!c of (o":'ld ju~gmc~t, and perverts :all
opcr.~ons of ~ intclleEfua! facu.1tics: It . is no
Icrs contrary to good .ta~c j ~oi ~a~ ii'lefs i':l.~u
enee to corrupt OU~ fClltil'Mnts of beauty;" tP.c-
J
JOIIg1 ~ I"' ftnft to cbeck, i~s 'inaut;b~c:i,in both
. cafes; and in
this rtfPcd:, ai' well :in as .m'.n,
o~hm, reafon, if npt an e~n!ial part of taae,
. i~ a~ ica!hequ;{ilc to the oper,atioq ~. of thIs latter
hculty. In .Utr.e nobJer
produ'~. i~I .~f gcraius,

there is ~ mut!-lal re~. tjotJ an~ corre(pondence of
parts J nor can either tbe bQ>,~ics o~ Y~~!~
b~ perceived by him, whofe tho$ht is not ~a
p:tcioa~ eno~gh to comprebe~ ~1I }t~ore' rv:ts,
and compare them with ea,ch ~th.H'~ .i~.~rd~" to'
per:~d'le thc ,conJifience and un!~orm!~.r) of t!'e
wholl::. .Eyery wC;Wk. of art ha.s . a(!o. a,c~r:~n end
.,or pUI~fe, for wI-lich it ~ calcu.lated j and is to
, be deemed more or (ef~ perft:a, as it'ismore orlefs
: ~tcd to ~ttaj.n th. end. TbeobjeCl of eloquence
is to perfua~ ,9i b.i.fiory to ialruCl, of ~try to
. ', ,ll pl(afc
 OF THE. STANDARD OF TASTE.
"" " r

p~ufe by m~ans of the pamons and '"tfie Imagi.

i"l,
nation. Thefe ends we mull"carry conftanily
~n our view, wh~n" w~ peruf~ "~ny performanCe ~
and we muft be a:'le to judge how"far the mhos
~mployed are adapted to their refpc8:il'epur~fes.
Befuies, every kind er compor-tion, even the
moll poetical, is nothing but a chain of propofi
tions and reafonings; not always indeed me
jURefi: and maR: -cxalt, but frill plaufible 'lihd
fpedow, however difguifed" by the colouring of
the imagination. The perfons, introduced in
mgedyandepic poetry, mull be reprefented as
reafoni"ng and thinking, and concluding and "
-a!tjng. fu.itable to their charaB:ers and circum
Rances j and without judgment, as well "as tafic
and invention, a poet can nev~r hope to fuccecd
in fo delicate an W1de~ing. Not to mention,
that the Came ac:cllcncc: of CaruItics which con-
tributes to tJ.e improvement of reafon, the fame
~Iearners of conception, the f&me exaGlneu "of
or
4iftinClion, the fame vivacity apprebenfion, ue
-crential to the oper:ations of"true tafte,ahd arc its
infallible"concomitants. Itfeldom,or nevcr hap-
pc"ru. that a man of fenrc, who ha-sexpericnce in
.any art, cannot judge of its beauty j and it is no
leCs rarc to mtet with a man. who has a juft
't~c, witoout a found underftanding.
" ," , " M % THV',
 "07

.zI D I S S E R T A "I' r 0 N -IV.

THUS, thou~h the principles of tatle be uni ..

nrl"al, and nearly, if not entirClythe fame in alt
men; yd few ate qualified 'to give judgment' on'
any WOI k of art, or eftablifb lheit own fentirnent
as Ihe fiandard of beauty. The organs of inttt--
fl a! tenration are f"'dom ro perliell as to allow,
the general principleS their filII plliY. and pro-'
duce a feeling c:orrefpondmt to thore principles:-
They either labour under fome defu8, 'or lire"
vilil1ted by (ome dirordcr; and by that means,
excite 11 (entiment, which n'llty ,be" prollCHlIited
nToneollS. When the critic has no delicacy;
he judges without any diAinttion, and it-on),.
aWelled by the'grofrer and morepaJpableqDa1it~.
er the objeCt: The finer touches paIS unnoticed:
and difregardc:d. Where he is not aidtd by
pnllice. his verdia is attended ,.,ith confulion
and helitation. Where no comparifon fias been
employed, tbe moD: frivolous beautid, fucH as
rather merit the name of defeCls; are the 'objeCt,
of ~ilo admiration. Where he lies under the 'in"
fluenee of prejudice, all hil natural: fcnrimemi
' arc petTertcd. Where good fcnfe is wanting,
he is not 'qualified to direcrn the beauties of de-
fign ana reafoning. whiC;h 'arc the hlgheft and
moft cXcentnt. ~ U'nder (om,
0 01 t""
ot!tct of
.. ' ... ' imper.
 OF THE STANDAR.D. OF TAST.E. 2,%~
imperfed:ions, th'e generality of men labour.;
and hen(;C a true judge in the finer arts is . ob
ferved, even during tbe Ploa po!ifue~ ~ges. to
be- (0 rare a cbara~~: StJ:?~g, fcnre, un.ited to
delicate fentimem, improv~d ~y . pra8ife, per-
fttlcd by compariw.II, ano cieiil:ed of all pnju-
dice, can alone entide critics .to this valuable
cbaratler j ar.d the joint. verditl: of ruch, \Yhtr~
eve:r Ihey are to. be f$&Ind, .ia the true fiandae.d.
~ (ane and- buuty. . .

BUT where are fuch critics to he found? By,

"hat marks are they to be known? H uY{ .oi~
fiioguiJh .. them from pretenders t TheCf.j .. quc~
fliool are embarra.t1ing, and 'fc:em .to,. thr~)\',~ . uS
back into the fame uncertainty. from which,
during the courfe of this dilTertltioll, we hAye
endeavoured to extricate ourfelvt$.

BUT if we confider the matter aright. [hefl::

are quelliont of faCt, not of f,ntiment.W:he-
_bee IIny partkular perfon be endowed with gl,"Kld
fcnre and a delicate imagination, free from pliD"'
jQdice, may. often be the fubjed of dlfpute, and
be liable to great djfcuffion and enquiry: But
that fucb a' charaacr is valuable and cftim,abJc
will. be lI~d by ~U m;a.akind. '. Whc!e ther.
M 3 doub

. .'. ' -'- .

 230 D;'I ~\9 :I~ ,R TAT ION ty. . '
daUbts .~tuf., ..c~c;an do no more than in othe..
difptzt:aWe.qt..*ftions, which are fubmitted to the
undtdMrulitt&:' They mull prodtl;ce l~e bdl:.ar-
g1r'menltt , ,1Xcb tM:ir in... e.ntion f..ggefis to them ~ .
_!fey 'd!.ati- OiIdulowlcde. true' and deciuve fbtn-
MhI to ~xia. fomewbere, to wit, real exi!lem;c
, an.' matter of ha; and they mull ha.ve indul- ,
gencc to fuch &$ dift'er from tbem. in their ap-
peals to dlw fbndard. It is lWicicnt for our
pnifcnt purpofe, if we bavo proved, that the
_alIc of an individuab is not upon an ~
footing, and tlat forne men in general, however
difficult to be particularly pitched upon, will be "
adc.nowledged by univcrfal fcntiatcnt to have a
~reference above others

: BUT in reality the difficulty of findmg. even

in particulars, tbe tbndard of tafie, it Dot fo
great as is reprefented. Though in {peculation,
we may readily avow a certain criterion iD fci-
enceand deny it in fentiment, the matter is fou.nd .
in pnBice to be much more bard to afcertain i~
tbe :formcr .cafe tban in the lat,tcr. Theories of
abftraCl ,pbilo{opby, {y~ of profound theology
_vc preufted dwial 0"
as~: lp a fu~.ceffivc
period,tbcCc ~ bave bun ~ 1J~Cj('f~y ~~.~:
TheIr abjmtitylw....,. d'~i . o.w'F,.Ih~
lic.
 OF, THE STAN1)AItD OP TASTE. 2"
rirs and {yfiemii have (uPlHied Ihd. place, which
again gave way to their {ltccdl"on: , And nothiag
has b'een dperienced more ita6le to, the rew.Juw"
(tons cif thance '.hdfaOAbn ,tMd:thMrcprdmldell .
uecH'lortll (,f~i=ce. ; , l'M .\a60Jjs,. aat tleLilme
~~k be1utit.ofl ~.,octc,. Jull.
txPtdlion!).i()f p.on. .. hdj'natutre~ 2re-.iUTc, afte( ..
a' little 'lime, to 'g'in :publiClVoguc" whkh they .
nillllittaln for f!liCln '.JdjlfJll#:rl"",hP1o.II. al!44piw
liltlas .::uid D9fay,t;lfJ wily . .fu~ce.fJjvtly ,y'ield to
"'"'Other: a. 14111(1 .nd J'jrlil maintain' a~
~1, ,u~fp~ted empire.over the minds of
_no! T.be ,abA.raet philofophy of Ciu" hn loll:,
ita credit: . The vehemence of his oratory is !l:il~
the objeCt: of our admiration.

Tuo'VGH men Qf dc:licate taile are rare, the,

are ealily co be ,difiinguihed in (ociety, by the
foundnefs of their underftanding and the fupe-
tiotity of their faculties above the reft of man
kin~ ~ The afcendanr, w.hich they acquire, gives
a 'preYolem:e to that lively approbation, Wi1b-
'!VhiCh 'they Itceive any proMaaioJ'Ji of gel\illos,.
and renders it generally pred<imioatlt. ManJi
Jbe~, when left to them(dvf!S, have ,but a faint
and 'dabloUS" pcrcqitioa of beliwty, who yet are
ap:lbIe-tJ! rSifhmg' an,.tinc-ftrokc;. wh~ is
P<rilltod .... 14..... _y_",~,
." ' M4 miratioQ.
'l' "In~"s'II""R :"'(A"1'J' 1'0 N"' .' "
_a_a: ~~t'" ,onwlor:lube C31ft of
fbme t.eW1c!o~n. And'.though prqwdice:s
mtry'prb"' .fore time;''Iher n",cruuitola ctde
ilBrlfl8_ny rUtat ~ tIIUOlgariUfJ~' 't:II~t' 1idd,. at
Jait 'b 'tho4orce"tJf~t~J lUJ4:.. juRI "ftat_ftt~
And thus though a civilized nation may ea61y-b&
mifiaiq:n in the choice of their admired .p.hiloro--
phe" they nevc("have' been' "found long"to e~r in
their affeCtion' for afavouritc.epicor tragi'aJ,Ithor.
, -
Bu T notwithtlandjng all .o ur endeavours t~Ji~
a llandard of taRe . and roncile tlu: V3r10\,l$ ap-
prehenfiOnsof men, there frill remain two foun:e.
of variation, which, tho' they be nodu1licit-nt
to confound all the boundaries of beauty and de
ior,!,i.ty. will often (erve to vary the degrees Of
8ur approbation or blame. ,The onc "is the dure-
rent humours of panicular met!; the other, the
particular manners and opinions of our age and
country. The general prin~iplel of tane. art; unl-.
form in human nature: Where men vary in
their judgments, (om.e defea or pt!I"ve((ion in the
faculties may commonly be remarked; pro-
ceeding either frOm prejudice, from want of
pra8ice. or :want of delicacy. and tbue is juft
rea(on for approving one. tafte.aod c:Qndemning
another. B.t.,..herc tbercds 'ftach a . di~ricy iD
. . in1:CUllfrUlla or.catc:raalibaliaa.l$iI:ca-
,'.... '" tirely
 OF THE STANDARD or TASTE. ZS3
ti~Jybl.mclefsotl both ft4n,and JcaVCSlKltoOm
to,give one tbe: , preference abowe the .other; in
that cafe a certain divcrlity.of jtldgment is un ..
iwoidolc, anJ wc feek ' in vaio for a .ct.dard,
by which', we can recancik tho. coauary fenu.
ments. ' ,
: A young man, wbore paBions are warm, will
be more (enfibly touched with amorous and ten
d.cr imagcs, th'an a man more adv~n~ed in years
who takes plearure in wire and philofophial pre
fcllions concerning the conduCt: of life and mo--
deration of [he paffions. At twenty, Ovid may
be 'the favourite author; HDrQ(t at forty; and
~erhaps TacituI at fifty. Vainly Y'ould wc, in
(uch cafl:s, endeavour to enter into the (eoti
ments of othe'rs, and diveft our(elves of thof!!
propenGties, whi.ch are natural to us. Wechufe
aut favourite author as we do aur friend, ftom
a: confonnily\of humours and dirpO(ltions. Mirth
or paBian, fentiment ar reSeCtion; which ent
Clfthe're molt predom"inale"s in our temper, it
gives'uS' a peCuliar fympathy with the wriur,
who refembles us;

ONa pc:rfonis mOle, plelfed witb theflolblime ; .

anather with tho ten4er; a .bird with raillery.
Qae .ba. a ftrong, f~fibility t~ blemilbcs, and is
c~lIIClf : j~ oE.~'!"!t~c6,: . Aacab.er .~ .
., . . MS marc
 Z3.f. D I S S E R TAT ION IV.
a more lively feeling of beauties f and pardons
twenty abfurdities and defects for one elevated
otpatbetic ftroke. The eaf of 'this man is en....
titely turned towards concifenef9 and energy;
that man is delighted with a copious, rich, and
h~rmonious expreffion. Simplicity is affeaed .b;
one i ornament by another. Comedy, tragedy,
(a'tire, odes have each tbeir partizans. who prc-
fer thltparticular fpeeies of writing to all others.
It is piainly all error in a critic to confine his ap-
probation to one fp edes or 'fl:yle of writing and
condemn all th~ refl:. But it is almoil impoffiQlc
not to feel a predileCtion for that which fuits our
p,articular turn and difpofition. Such preferencti
. ale innocent and unavoidable, and can never rea-
(onably be the objeCt of difpute, becaufe there
is no llandard, by which they can be decided.
For a like reafon, we are' morc pleafed with.'
piC\UIC9 of charaaers, which refemble fucb as
.re found in o~r own age: or country; than with .
thofe .w):lich qefcribe a dilferent. (ct of culloriu.
'Tis nQt wilh.o\l~ fO.me dro~, t~at we reconcile
ourfelVdl to the fimplidty 'of ~qtie:nt,'~~.~J.
and behold princeffes drawi.ng' . ~iter from 'I
fpr;ng, ' ~nd kings and he~~5 drdJin'g .~~ own
vill.uals. We may. allow .in . g~~ra!t : th'i~ :~. ~e~
prefen~~o~ ~f fucb _~,ann~.rs: i~. ~o ~~-~J~ -~;Ir
author, nor deformitl ~ .: the piece J 'tu( we 'arc
Dot

...-.-.... .
 or THE STANDARD OF ' ThSTE. 2lS
not fo fen{,bly touched with them. For this '
rc:afon, comedy is not transferred eafily frotl) .one
age or nation to anOlher, A Frtub1,1to"or Eng., .~
lijh11fi1fJ is not pleafed with the Ar.drio oC Ttrlnu"
ore/ilia of Mo,biovt/, where the 6ne.lady,, ~pon
whom all. the play turns, nev.er once appear.s to: .
the fpeClaton, but is always kept behind the
(cenes, fuitable to the referved humour of the .
antient Gruis and mOOern ItoNon,., A ma!1 of
learning and relleC\ion can make lIJ1o ..... an ~e (~J;.
thefe peculiarities of manners' J but a common
audience can never divell themfelvu fo far,of
tbeir ufual ideas and fentimenu asto rcli.1h pic~
turee which no way re!embJe them.

AND here there occurs. relleaion, which.

may, perhaps, be ufeful in examining the cele~
brated controverfy concerning antient and mo-
&;:rn learning; where we often nnd the one fide-
'exeufing any {eeming abfurdity in the antien,,
from the manners of the age, and the others re--'
fufing ,to admit .this exeufe, or at leaft, admit-
ting it only as an apology for the author, hot
for the .performance. In my opinion, the pro-
per bounds in thil "fubjea have feldom been fixed
between the contending parties. Where any in-
nocent 'peculiarities of marll1ers",3re repref~ted"
fucb ~ _ thOiC abO~ClDentloned;'the'p ought . cer .
-. , .. ; 'M ' 6 J ,;; , '. ,. taitllT
 :36 D I S S "E R TAT ION IV.
tainly to be admitted j and a man who i~ {hocked
with them, gives an eVIdent proof of falfe deli-
cacyand refinement. Th~ potts """ummt I1tfll""I
'u roUt thon hrtlfs, mllli fall to the ground like
common brick or dav, "were men to make no
allowance for the con~inual revolutions of man-
ners and cuAoms, and wOllld admit nothing but
what was fuitablc to the prevail ing f.ibion. Mull
we throw afide the piCture> or ou r ancetlors,
bttau(c of their ruffs and far~ i:1";;\ l es 1 But where
the ideas of morality and dccl'llcy ';I lt~r from one
age to another, and"where viciJUS manners are
defcrib('d, without heing marked with the proper
charaCters of bhHr,e and difapprobationj thi.
mufi be allowed to disfigure the poem, ~d to be
a rnl deformity" 1 cannot, nor " is it "proper .1
filould, enter into {uch fentiments ; and however
I may excufe the poct,on account of the manners
"of his age, I never can reliib the compofitiOllo
The want of humanity and of decency, fo con-
fpicuous in the characlers drawn by feveral " of
the antient poets, even fometirnes "by HIltin'
and the Grill tragedians, diminifraes confidera..
bly the merit of their noble lXrformances, and
gives modern authors a gteat adrantage ov~r
them. We are not interefted in the fortunes
and (entiments of (uch rough heroes: We arc
di(pleafcd ~o find the: limits of vice &Dd virtue fa
con
 OF TJ::lE STANI;>ARD OF . T!,S~R. =31
<confounded: And whatever indulgence we may
give thc.writer p~ account of hi~ prejudkes~ wc
1i;i4Ul0( pr~.vaiJ on ourfelves toenter into his fen
timcnt,.oI bear 'an affeCtion tochaniaers, which
we pl~ill!Y di(covcr to be blameab~e.

Tl-iE cafc is Aot the fame with moral princi-

ples .as with fpeculative opinions of any kind:
The(e are in continual fI~x and revolution. The
r~n '~mbr~ces a dijff~r~nt.r}'n~m fro~ the (a[her~
N,ay . there fcarce is any man, woo can boall of
great conllilncy and uniformity in this particular.
Whatever (pec:ulati~e errors may be found in the
polite writings of any age or country. they de_
t(aCt but little from the value of thefe compofi-
lions~' There needs but a certain turn o-thought
~r, imagination to make. us enter into ~1l the opi~
nioos, which then prevailed, and relifh "the fen-
tim~nts or conduflons derived (rom them. Hut
a v'e~l .viole~t effort is requiflte to change our
j~dGT.ent ,of manners. and excite fcmiments ef
approbation pr blame, love or hatred, different
from thefe'to whkh the mind from long cufiom
has been familiarized. And where a man is con-
fident of the rt8itude of dial moralllandard, by
..hich he judges, he is )l.4Jlly jealous of it, and wilt
not peiyrn the -(enCimenu: of his heart for a 'mo_
meD~ if! CQ~I!Jaifance t'o 'any writer whatever.
. . . . . . . OF"
 %38 D I 5 S"E R TAT ION IV,

OF all rpeculative errors, thofe which regard

religion, are the man excur.lble in compofitions
'Of genius; n :) f is it ever permitted to judge of
the civility or wirdom of any people, or even of
fingle perCons, by the 'grolfntts or refinement of
their theological principles. The fame good
fenCe, that direC\s men in the ordinary occur-
rences of life, is not hearkened to in rcligiol1S
matters, which ar.e fuppofed to he placed en-
tirely above the cognizance of human rearon.
Upon this account, all the abrurdiries of the pa-
gan fyRem of theology mufi: be overlooked by
every critic, who would pretend to form a juft
notion of antient poetry j and our poRerity, in
"their turn, muft have the fame indulgence te)
their forefuhers. No religious principles can
erer be imputed as a fault to any poet, wbile the,
_remain merely principles, and take Dot fudt
firong polfeBionof his hcan:, as to lay himlln_
the imputatiOIl of hig,try or jttprrjljli-. . :Where
that happcns, they confound the feotimeots e(
morality and alter 'the n~tural boundaries of v~ce
and virtue. They are thercforeetem~ bie~q.,
according to the Pfinciple ahovementiaocdj Il<K
arc the prejudices and fa1fc o~ of 'U!c age
fllBicicnt to juftify tpe~
 OF T.fU ST/lNDkRl> OF TASTE. 239

'Tts elfential to the R"'J:an cathol ic religion

to)nfpi re a violent hatred t,o cl'cry othcrworfhip.
and rep:-eft:llt all paga ns, m ~ ho m e lans, and he-
retics as the objeCls of divine wrath "and vcn;;e-
ance:. Such fentim ents J though they are in reality
.extremely blameable, are conlidered as virtues
by the z~alots of that communion, 'and are re-
pr~'fented in thejr tragedies and epic poems as a
'kJrtd.o( d.ivine heroifm. This bigotry has disfi-
:g'ured t'wo very fine trage~ies ofthe Fmuh Ihea-
,tre;.polieutlt and Athalia; where an intemperate
zea1."f~r _panicular modes of worlhip is fet off
~ith all . ~he pomp imaginable. and fo~ms the
- ~predomi.na,~t chara8er of the heroes. U What
: .~' i~ this;' fays the heroic 7,odlo 7'/ODII, finding
her in . difcouire Wilh MartoR, the prieft of
. Boa!, "Doe$ the daughter of DQ'lJid fpeak to
,. " , this traitor? Are you not afraid, left the earth
f ' " ,.
-d '{hould open and pour forth flames to devour
.' ," ~~? bot~? .Or that thefe boly w~la .(bould fall
-uala'd dU~ you together? What 15 hiS purpofe?
"h WfiY"~bme;1 that cnemy oiGod hither to poi-
:'c"c ' (6n ttlt'a1r, whtcll we brea<h, with his horrid
,.It 'pri(en~e 1" Such'fentirhents are received with
'great:'3(ipl1ufe' o'rr the' ~heat'te of Part's; but at
'I!rJ1/~n the ' ~II'ot$>\vould be f\:lll as much

....
pleafed to hear J,hil/n'"tell 'Agomtmn,tt, that he
I
 240 D J S S E R. TAT ION IV.
Was;l dog in hi, forehead and a deer in his heart,
ar 1r.tpiltr threaten Jun,with a found drubbing,
if the will not be quiet.

RUIGIOUS principlC$ are alfo a blemilh in

any polite campofltion. when they rife up to fu-
perRition, and intrude th~mfelyes into ev~ry
fcntiment, hov.'ever remote from any conneCtion
with religion. 'Tis no excufe for the poet. that
,the cufioms of his country had burthened life
with (0 ml1ny religious ceremonies ;lnd obf~r.
vanccs. that no part o f it was e)(empt from th2t
yoak. It muR be (Ilr ever ridiculous in PllrlZI",h
to compare his mifirefs. Louro, to 7tfos ChrfJI.
Nor is it lefs ridiculous in that agreeable liber
tine, B~"O{t, very fcrioufly to give thanks to
God Almighty, and the ladies, for their a11ifiancc
in defending him againft his enemiC$ .

FIN I S,

ERRATA.
P.7. L. 13. r. ftt. P. 9. L. 11. r. /"'&_;14.
P . :t. L. S. r. ,,,,Jifi,",, P. ;0. L. +. (rom the
Bottom, rdd I~rtll' till ijJill. P. 116. L: 16. read
'tlrr"".

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