On Baf altes. 129 



phael, expreffion, compofition, and fine drapery; in' Titian, 

 colouring; in Parmegiano, grace; in Rubens, fine cbiaro- 

 J'curo, &c. Among the Britifh artifts we may confult Rey- 

 nolds for grace, colour, and a fine cbiaro-fcuro ; and in land- 

 fcape, !he great Wilfon, Gainfborough, and Barret, and the 

 works of many juftly celebrated living artifts. Much will 

 depend on induftry; if we fee a grace or beauty in a maftef 

 we muft endeavour to make it our own, not merely by copy- 

 ing it, but by inveftigating its caufe, in which we ihall b#» 

 helped by imitation. If a compofition ftrikes, a (ketch of the 

 whole mav be made : fo of the general difpofition of the co- 

 louring; for, after a. certain facility of hand is obtained, we 

 muft depend on our own exertions; therefore laborioufly 

 copying great competitions would be only lofs of time. Stu- 

 dies from particular parts may be made, fuch as are remark- 

 able for fome peculiar excellence; for, unfortunately, the heft 

 works have much of common-place matter in them. From, 

 what has been obferved it will be evident we mull, in the 

 firft inftance, either go to, or fufter ourfelves to be guided to 

 thofe works of art time has ftamped a value on, as it is eafier 

 to learn from that in which the choice is already made, re-* 

 membering till we can go alone we muft depend on the opi- 

 nions of others. But the ultimate end of our inquiry muft 

 be that independence refulting from atling on an original 

 principle, or feeking thole perfections in nature with which 

 art abounds, or, in other words, giving thofe energies to the 

 foul that leave it to a& free of all reftraint. 



XXII. OnBafaltes*. 



JL HAT the Giants' Caufcway, fituate near the northern 

 extremity of the county of Antrim, is one of the greateft 

 natural curiofities, not only in Ireland, but on the furface of 

 this globe, has long been acknowledged. It will therefore, 

 I doubt not, gratify your readers to communicate to them 

 fome curious remarks on the different opinions of naturaiiits 

 concerning the formation of the Giants' Caufcway, with 

 which the writer of this letter has been favoured by a gen- 

 tleman of difiinguifhed learning. and abilities,' who lif^Jong 

 made this wonderful production of nature the qbjeel : of his, 

 diligent inveftigation, and has difcovered properties tri it* 

 which had eicaped former ob fer vers, not excepting the i. 

 ingenious Dr, William Hamilton, whofe " Letters concern- 

 • From the Belfaft News-letter. • • 



in* 



