THE most elevated and moft refined pleafure of human nature, is enjoy'd by a vir, tuous prince governing a virtuous people; and that, by perfecting the great system of education, your Majefty may very long enjoy this pleasure, is the ardent wish of Your Majesty's Devoted Subject, HENRY HOME. Ch. 21. Narration and defcription, Ch. 22. Epic and dramatic compofitions, In defcribing the scale of founds made in pronouncing the five vowels, vol. 2. p. 6, it ought to have been mentioned, that the letter must be pronounced as in the word intereft, and other words beginning with the fyllable in; the letter e as in perfuafion; and the letter u as in number. Vol. II. P. 114.4 18. for 101, 102. read 105, 106, T HE five fenfes agree in the following particular, that nothing external is perceived till it firft make an impreffion upon the organ of fenfe; the impreffion, for example, made upon the hand by a ftone, upon the palate by fugar, and upon the noftrils by a rofe. But there is a difference as to our consciousness of that impression. In touching, tafting, and fmelling, we are confcious of the impreffion. Not fo in seeing and hearing. When I behold a tree, I am not fenfible of the impreffion made upon my eye, nor of the impreffion made upon my ear, when I liften to a fong*. This difference in the manner of perception diftinguifhies remarkably hearing and feeing from the other fenfes; and distinguishes still more remarkably the feelings of the former from those of the latter. A feeling pleasant or painful cannot exist but in the mind; and yet because in tafting, touching, and fmelling, we are conscious of the impreffion made upon the organ, we naturally place there alfo, the pleasant or painful feeling caused by that impreffion. And becaufe fuch feelings seem to be placed externally at the organ of fenfe, we, for that reafon, conceive them to be merely corporeal. We have a different apprehenfion of the pleasant and painful feelings derived from feeing and hearing. Being infenfible here of the organic impreffion, we are not mifled to affign a wrong place to thefe feelings; and therefore we naturally place them in the mind, where they really exist. Upon that account, they are conceived to be more refined and fpiritual, than what are derived from tafting, touching, and fmelling. The pleafures of the eye and ear being thus elevated above thofe of the other external fenfes, VOL. I. B * See the Appendix, § 13. acquire acquire fo much dignity as to make them a laudadable entertainment. They are not, however, fet upon a level with thofe that are purely intellectual; being not lefs inferior in dignity to intellectual pleafures, than fuperior to the organic or corporeal. They indeed resemble the latter, being like them. produced by external objects; but they also refemble the former, being like them produced without any fenfible organic impreffion. Their mixt nature and middle place betwixt organic and intellectual pleasures, qualify them to affociate with either. Beauty heightens all the organic feelings, as well as thofe that are intellectual. Harmony, though it aspires to inflame devotion, difdains not to improve the relish of a banquet. The pleasures of the eye and ear have other valuable properties befide those of dignity and elevation. Being fweet and moderately exhilerating, they are in their tone equally distant from the turbulence of paffion, and languor of inaction; and by that tone are perfectly well qualified, not only to revive the spirits when funk by fenfual gratification, but alfo to relax them when overstrained in any violent purfuit. Here is a remedy provided for many diftreffes. And to be convinced of its falutary effects, it will be fufficient to run over the following particulars. Organic pleasures have natu rally a fhort duration: when continued too long, or indulged to excefs, they lofe their relifh, and beget fatiety and difguft. To relieve us from that uneafiness, nothing can be more happily contrived than the exhilerating pleasures of the eye and ear, which take place imperceptibly, without much varying the tone of mind. On the other hand, any intenfe exercife of the intellectual powers, becomes painful by overstraining the mind. Ceffation from fuch exercife gives not inftant relief: it is neceffary that the void be filled with fome amufement, gently relaxing |