ELEMENTS
OF
CRITICISM.
In THREE VOLUMES.
VOLUME I.
EDINBURGH:
Printed for A. Millar, London;
AND
A. Kincaid & J. Bell, Edinburgh,
MDCCLXII.
TO THE
K I N G.
SIR,
THe fine arts have ever been encouraged by wise princes, not singly forprivate amusement, but for their beneficial influence in society. Byuniting different ranks in the same elegant pleasures, they promotebenevolence: by cherishing love of order, they inforce submission togovernment: and by inspiring delicacy of feeling, they make regular{iv}government a double blessing.
These considerations embolden me to hope for your Majesty’s patronage inbehalf of the following work, which treats of the fine arts, andattempts to form a standard of taste by unfolding those principles thatought to govern the taste of every individual.
It is rare to find one born with such delicacy of feeling, as not toneed instruction: it is equally rare to find one so low in feeling, asnot to be capable of instruction. And yet, to refine our taste withrespect to beauties of art or of nature, is scarce endeavoured in anyseminary of learning; a lamentable defect, considering how early in lifetaste is susceptible of culture, and how difficult to reform it ifunhappily perverted. To furnish materials for supplying that defect, was{v}an additional motive for the present undertaking.
To promote the fine arts in Britain, has become of greater importancethan is generally imagined. A flourishing commerce begets opulence; andopulence, inflaming our appetite for pleasure, is commonly vented onluxury and on every sensual gratification: Selfishness rears its head;becomes fashionable; and infecting all ranks, extinguishes the amorpatriæ and every spark of public spirit. To prevent or to retard suchfatal corruption, the genius of an Alfred cannot devise any means moreefficacious, than venting opulence upon the fine arts. Riches soemploy’d, instead of encouraging vice, will excite both public andprivate virtue. Of this happy effect, ancient Greece furnishes oneshining instance; and why should we despair of another in Britain?
In the commencement of an auspicious reign, and even in that early{vi}period of life when pleasure commonly is the sole pursuit, your Majestyhas uniformly display’d to a delighted people, the noblest principles,ripened by early culture; and for that reason, you will be the moredisposed to favour every rational plan for advancing the art of trainingup youth. Among the many branches of education, that which tends to makedeep impressions of virtue, ought to be a fundamental measure in awell-regulated government: for depravity of manners will renderineffectual the most salutary laws; and in the midst of opulenc