The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-02-03

apply to the arts are trained in
ferent method they are led IT.
from the eaiier parts of the %
what are more difficult, and a n
mitted to make new motionR S, who II
perfected in thofc which regulsP f'HGiy and II
it. The iciencs of criticilm l'I's' "'eo''
to be middle link, conneetin - -
rent parts of education into re TO eneage
This lcience furnilheth an inv
tunity to exerclfe the judgment E R,
to reafon upon fub;ectS that rear of good
-I.,c..,.,I c.,;I;,. 80, -, cable, he may 4
ally from the iimpler to the N
cafes and in due courie o---
cufom, which improves all f. DIS. II
beitows acutenefs upon thofe
lufficient to unravel all the SEEDS. /
philolophy. Nor ought it to b.
that the reafoning employed or SEEDS,
are of the fame kind with thoey) per pound
gulare our conduct. Mathe1b PSF '"'-"S'
metaphysical reaionings have
to improve focial intercourfe, TAR LANE
applicable to the common aft -
but iuit tafte in the fine arts, ,,.ed.
rational principles, furniihes { as. Cd.
jects for converiation, and prep IS od'
for acting in the focal fate wit As.
The icencc of rational critic. IS.
to improve the heart not lefs than the -
derltanding 1t tends, i'll the tirit place, to
moderate the ielhih affections by fweet-
ening and harmonizing the temper, it is a
flrong antidote 70 the turbulence of PATTON,
and violence of purluit : 1t pfocures to
man 70 much mental enjoyment, that in
order to be occupied, he is not tempted in
youth to precepitate into hunting, gaming,
drinking, nor in middle age to deliver him
ieIf over to ambition nor in cid age TO
ayarice. Pride and envy, tive difguitfu!
pahions, hnl in the contribution no enemy
more formidable than a deli cate and diff
corning tafc. The man upon whom
nature and culture have bcitowed their
blefiings, feels great delight in the vir-
tuous difpoGtions and actions Of others
He loves to cheriih them and publiih them
to the world. Faults and failings it is true
are not to him lefs obvious but thele he
avoids, and removes out of fight, becaule
theygive him pain. On the other hand, a
man void of taffe, upon whom the mott
ftriking beauties make but faint impreffi-
on, has no Joy but in gratifying his pride or
envy by the difcovery of errors and blemifh-
es. In word, there may be other paaions,
which for feaion diiturb the peace of To-
cicty more than thole mentioned but no
other patton is 70 unwearied an antagoniit
to the fweets of focal intercourfe. Thefe
paHions, tending a1iduou0y to their graft
fications, put a man perpetually in oppoii-
ton to Others, and diipole him more to re-
lifh bad than good qualities, even in a
companion. How different that difpolltion
of mind, when every virtue in companion
or neighbour is, by refinement of tafte, let
in its ltrongeft light, and defects or blemifh-
es, natural to all, are fuppreiIed or kept out
of view In the next place, delicacy OF
tafe tends not lels to invigorate the focal
affections than to moderate thole that are
(elhfh. To be convinced of this tendency,
we need only reflect, that delicacy of taite
neceharily heightentS our feniibility of pain
and pleaiure, and of courie our fympathy,
which is the capital branch of every focal
patton. sympathy in particular invites
communication of joys and forrows, hopes
and fears. Such exercile, foothing and IA
tisfacrory in itlelf, is neceGarily productive
of mutual goodwill and affection. One o.
Their advantage of rational Griffin is referv-
ed to the laf place, being of all the mott
important, which is, that it is great fuP-
port to morality. No occupation attaches
a man more to his duty than that of cult
yating tafe of the fine arts juit rclifh
OF what is beautiful, proper, elegant, and
ornamental, in writing or painting, in arch