450 THE TRIUMPH OF TASTE. 



precipitated his volatile body through the idea of a window, upon the 

 idea of the pavement beneath till this arose from a miracle of mind, 

 which was quite harmless though the fear that a philosopher, who 

 had put an end to his own existence, should destroy that of his fellow- 

 creatures, caused, at the time, some laudable preparations for general 

 safety. 



From a similar principle of enlightened intellect, it has been 

 affirmed, with an awful gravity suited to the practical importance of 

 the subject, that the sun is a body of ice, and not a vulgar lump of 

 material fire. This deduction is philosophically drawn from the ac- 

 knowledged ordinary fact, that hot bodies chill the surrounding 

 atmosphere, and that cold ones heat it ; or to render the doctrine 

 more lucid and intelligible, that a burnt finger is in reality only frost- 

 nipped. The discovery of this truth is likely to be of immense ad- 

 vantage to science and mankind. By a process still more severe, 

 have the inquiring energies of a modern philosopher discovered an 

 error in the hypothesis or demonstration concerning gavitation and 

 the system of the universe. He has, therefore, just upset the whole 

 Newtonian theory, and shewn up Sir Isaac as a mere old woman. He 

 is also a sublime instance of the peripetetic philosophy, walking him- 

 self into wisdom, political, abstract, and sympathetic. What but the 

 operation of taste a " relish of beauty of one kind or other," could 

 have converted a great general into an eminent statesman ? Previous 

 to this miraculous transformation, he did assure his countrymen that 

 the disposition to such a change would indicate absolute insanity on 

 the part of him, the deponent. The conversion has been made, and 



his Grace is a man of strict veracity ! Or what but a 



similar principle could alter the professed adamantine sentiments of 

 one who frequently did avow that the country would never witness 

 in him a Peal of changes ! 



Whence the brilliant multitude of gentleman novelists, who have 

 been excited, from the downy ease of affluence, to describe the instruc- 

 tive scenes of high life ; and by whose emanations of genius are the 

 more plebean orders informed of the great wisdom and virtue of their 

 superiors ? Or whence the noble philanthropists who refine the na- 

 tional manners by examples of duelling, gambling, boxing, and cock- 

 fighting ? Whence all modern talent ? 



In modern philosophy, in music, in poetry, in religion, in wicked- 

 ness, in every conceivable mode of life, Taste is the primum mobile, 

 the solvent of all mystery ; for " throughout the circle of human 

 nature, nothing is more universal than the relish of beauty of one kind 

 or other." The desire of being admired includes the essence and 

 endless modes of taste. Let, therefore, moral philosophers mitigate 

 their sufferings on account of the folly, the blindness, and misery of 

 mankind as they are termed by people who have no relish for 

 things so designated. Let critics suspend their severity ; let Owen 

 cease to agitate that part where brains should have been, assured that 

 every state is created by unerring necessity, and that to quarrel with 

 circumstances, as they are, insults his own doctrine, and degrades 

 4<r the rule of right, and the eternal fitness of things." Let Brougham 

 contort his pubislic visage without ridicule, till place shall allay his 



