In admitting that the arts are intended for our gratification, it must not be understood that utility is exclufively the end of science, and amusement the end of the arts. From the ftudy of the fciences, the understanding is enlarged, and the faculties ftrengthened; from that of the arts, the affections are exercifed and the heart is improved.

It would be fuperfluous, before the present audience, to enter into an explanation of this fentiment; for who has not experienced that delightful glow, that inexpreffible fenfation, favourable to virtue and humanity, which the labours of the genuine poet never fail to infpire? Who has not felt himself roused to action, or excited to pity, or affected with focial forrow, by the powerful effects of harmony, or the vivid reprefentations of the pencil? After being converfant with these arts, the mind feels itfelf foothed and foftened, and is then capable of receiving more diftinctly and deeply, and retaining to more effectual purpose, thofe finer impreffions, whence a very confiderable fhare of human happiness is derived, and which either give rise to, or highly improve, all the charities of focial life.

Let us not then conclude, that, because the fine arts are apparently calculated for the gratification of our feelings, therefore they are to be poftponed to all the more ferious avocations which have before been noticed. It is their proVOL. III.

vince

vince to act upon our affections and paffions, the impulfes of which have often as principal a fhare in the direction of our conduct, as the fuggeftions of our judgment; and to regulate, correct, and harmonize them, by those means which Providence has afforded us, becomes therefore a part of our duty no lefs effential, than the improvement of many of the sciences, or the cultivation of our rational powers.

To ascertain the particular rank to which the arts are entitled, might perhaps be a matter of fome difficulty. That they ought by no means to interfere with the attainment of moral science is certain; and perhaps several branches of natural philosophy, closely connected with the utility of mankind, may have a stronger claim on our time and abilities; but that they are invariably to be postponed to the ftudy of nature, in all its branches cannot be allowed. From the contemplation of heroic actions, whether communicated by the pen or the pencil, feelings are incited, ftrongly connected with the firft and leading object of our purfuit, and of great importance to the advancement of virtue and the improvement of human life.

I must also remark, that as an unvaried application to one purfuit, is not only irkfome to us, but frequently defeats the end it aims at, those Occupations, by whofe affiftance the mind can relax without debilitating, and amuse with

out

out degrading itself, must ever stand high in our estimation; and by being intermingled with our more serious labours, will afford a degree of cheerfulness, vigour, and activity which will tend more than any other means to infure fuccefs in higher pursuits.

Of an endeavour to fix the comparative excellence of the polite arts with each other, the refult would be of little ufe, nor is the fubject fufceptible of novelty. There is no great difficulty in influencing the judgment to the purfuit of any particular study; but the fentimental faculty chooses its own objects, and feldom makes a proficiency in any branch of art which it has not fpontaneously adopted.

I have thus made a faint attempt to elucidate an idea, which I conceived to be of confiderable importance; and though I pretend not to have balanced with an accurate hand the comparative merit of the sciences, it is enough for my purpofe, if I induce others to reflect, that there is a very confiderable difference in the degree of attention that ought to be paid to them. And it will, I hope, fufficiently appear, that the cultivation of the moral fenfe ought to be the grand object of our endeavours, and that even the improvement of our intellect is laudable, principally, as it promotes this great end.

Let it however be permitted me to remark, that throughout this effay, I have confidered

S 2

every

every individual of mankind as engaged to improve his abilities, and thereby promote his own happiness to the utmost of his power: but that I by no means would be thought to detract from the characters of thofe men, who have employed their time and talents in the pursuit of particular fciences, even to the exclufion of others; and by arriving at eminence in them, have extended the bounds of human knowledge, and smoothed the way for future travellers. Infinite are the obligations mankind are under to the illuftrious characters who have thus devoted themselves to the public good: but we may reasonably expect to stand excused, if, whilst we enjoy the fruits of fuch generous ardour, we aim at the fecurity of our private happiness, and prefer the fecret consciousness of a proper discharge of the duties of life, to the popular approbation, which deservedly waits upon those who have successfully exerted their abilities, on fubjects which have little or no connection with the promotion of virtue, and the advancement of moral rectitude.

On

On the CRETINS of the VALLAIS; by Sir RICHARD CLAYTON, Bart.

READ MAY 9, 1787.

[ANKIND has been divided by Linnæus into four separate claffes, to each of which he has affigned fome characteristic difference in point of difpofition. The European and American, the African and Afiatic receive, regularly, it should feem according to his fyftem, an impreffion from the climate, which adheres to them through life, unless it have been weakened or overpowered by their having left their native country in very early infancy. Other naturalifts have remarked a like degree of its influence in the formation and difpofition of animals in general, and its empire has been extended by fome, even to the vegetable world f. The obfervation is indeed an old one. Hippocrates has a long chapter in which he treats of the air, water, and particular fituations, and

Buffon. Hift. Naturelle. De Generation des Animaux.

+ Wilfon on the Influence of Climate on Vegetable and Animal Bodies.

Sect. III. p. 280. Editio Foefii.