THE TRIUMPH OF TASTE. 



THAT man is a most dignified animal, capable of endless refinement 

 arid elevation, and that he is not allied by continuous degrees, or 

 lineal descent, to monkeys, oysters, or potatoes, is no longer a position 

 of contested validity ; but is now received as a truth which demon- 

 stration has removed beyond the bound of rational suspicion. Univer- 

 sal, however, as may be the approval of this splendid fact, it is 

 possible that general esteem may sink into particular indifference, 

 that while admiring the vast edifice of human grandeur, we may 

 overlook or neglect the more minute excellence of its component 

 parts. It is, therefore, to countervail the effects of such a contin- 

 gency, that attention is directed to those miracles of mind and 

 triumphs of taste, which slight observation will enable us to discover 

 in the present enlightened generation of mankind. 



As parsons adduce their text at the commencement of a sermon, so 

 may we be allowed to state the " first principles" of our projected dis- 

 course, namely, that all the improvements all the elegant moves 

 whether visible or invisible of these our modern times, do all arise 

 from that grand primum mobile, Taste. To wit 



Sight is the great inlet to the mind, and is the " remote" or " prox- 

 imate" cause of the most of the phenomena to which our subject 

 alludes. Most especially does it seem to influence the fair descen- 

 dants of Eve, to whom as in duty bound by politeness we first 

 address ourselves. Who hath not thought that these sweet inhabitants 

 of a corrupt and unruly world, must possess great sensibility of taste, 

 or, to speak phrenologically, must have size and colour well developed 

 in their metaphysical containers ? No one can deny that the faculty . 

 of size manifests itself in the magnitude of a certain concomitant of 

 the head, called a bonnet, which seldom fails to exhibit a variety of 

 colours which would make Harlequin blush at his paucity of hues. 

 Other parts in the dress of these " angels of light," display due pro- 

 priety of decoration. The arms, for instance, #re regarded as espe- 

 cially deserving of notice and distinction, and are therefore furnished 

 with a splendid establishment of sleeve. The old ideas of proportion 

 are grown quite obsolete, and receive the just contempt of antiquated 

 absurdity. It is evident, that the arms ought to be as broad in 

 appearance as the shoulders or waist ; in this respect Nature com- 

 mitted a sad mistake. Another member of the corporation, which 

 ironically takes the chair, is rendered by art of great importance and 

 bustle. Now these, with other astonishing things that might be 

 mentioned, do surely demonstrate, that, as Blair says, in speaking of 

 Taste, " throughout the circle of human nature, nothing is more 

 universal than the relish of beauty of one kind or other." 



In another department of modern fashion, is taste obtaining a 

 miraculous triumph. For ages previous to the period when Brougham 

 gave marching orders to universal intellect, it was the opinion of our 

 unenlightened ancestors, that English songs were suitable to English 

 people. What a delusion ! What a degrading absurdity ! How 



