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Gothic ; in all cases fashion has degenemted into mere pedantry, a 

 natuml result where the spectator is pleased by mle, or because others 

 have so approved or performed ; instead of appreciatiug by self-identifica- 

 tion with the ideal of the artist. That a work may be readily classed as 

 belonging, to any individual style, or school, is generally evidence of its 

 imperfection ; for exclusive n ess is fatal to the thorough adoption of the 

 work by the observer, as the expression of his own thoughts or ideal ; 

 and, therefore, the less traces of individuality are apparent, the more 

 readily and generally will it be understood, and accepted as belonging 

 to all men, and to all time. 



If then ideal excellence in art is so very indeterminate, it may be 

 asked why should any time be spent in the investigation of its nature ? — 

 why endeavour to comprehend the indefinable ? The essential character 

 of all fine art, is to express emotions and sentiments, which cannot be 

 subjected to the restraints of ordinary intercourse and media. The 

 feelings cannot be subjected to the rules of intellectual logic ; they are 

 correlative forces which cannot be controlled by the reasoning faculties, 

 though they may influence, and be influenced by them, to an extent, 

 which humanly speaking is infinite. But there is a logic of the 

 feelings, as of the intellect — from certain known or assumed premises, 

 the heart impatiently flies to its conclusions, whilst the reason plods its 

 steady course ; and, it is only by repeated investigation of the two series 

 of results — the intellectual and the emotional — that ultimate correctness 

 can be attained ; but when attained, the enjoyment supplied by works of 

 art, as well as their more perfect execution, will be promoted. Meanwhile, 

 the investigation gives a keener relish to artistic pleasure, and tends 

 to correct the indiscriminate encouragement of all kinds of productions, 

 some of which are unduly stimulated by the prejudices wliich prevail in 

 its absence. 



However noble commerce may be in its effects, considered as a w^hole, 

 its detail influence is generally allowed to be contracting ; its devotees, 

 even when favourably disposed towards literature and art, are prone, 

 when on 'Change, or in the counting-house, to test all values by a brief 

 standard whose scale is L. s. d. The daily influence of such a practice 

 is very likely to blunt the perception for enjoyments, which so far from 

 favourably affecting the scale, precipitate it below zero, and are classed 

 amongst minus quantities. Men of science, also, naturally acquire a 

 habit of appreciation far too exclusively intellectual for the atmosphere 

 of art. Poets of all kinds are the amanuenses of the emotions, and if 

 he who peruses the eff'usion, has no ready perception for traits of feeling, 

 the vocation of the poet has ceased, as far as that person is concerned ; 



