39^ STUDIES OF NATURE. 



eafy feelings of diforder, uglinefs, languor, and 

 difguft. They extend equally to all the king- 

 doms ; arid though I have limited myfelf, in the 

 fequel of this Work, to an examination of their 

 cffe6ts in the vegetable kingdom only, it is impof- 

 fible for me, however, to deny myfelf the pleafure 

 of indicating them, at leaft, in the human figure. 

 It is here that Nature has combined all the har- 

 monic expreffions in their higheft degree of excel- 

 lency. All I can do is to trace a feeble fketch of 

 it. To acknowledge the truth, this is not precifely 

 the proper place, neither have I leifure to arrange 

 more than a part of the obfervations which I have 

 colleded, on this vaft and interefting fubjedl. But 



put it down. If Nature had not been poflelTed of more intelli- 

 gence than I am, the greateft part of her Works would utterly 

 difappear. It is veiy aftonifliing that Philofophers, who have 

 purfued fo many curious refearches refpefting the nature of co- 

 lours, fhouid never have fuggefted a fyliable refpeéling their 

 contrafts, without which nothing would be diftinguifliable ; or 

 «ather, their forgetfulnefs is not furprizing : Man is inceflantly 

 purfuing the illulion which efcapes him, and neglefls the ufeful 

 truth which is lying at his foot. 



The harmonies of colours have, befides, a mighty influence 

 upon the paflions : but I mud not prefume to fay any thing with 

 regard to this, in a Country where the Women employ them 

 with fuch unbounded fway. To the Women I (land indebted 

 for the firll idea I had of fludying the elements of the Laws, by 

 which Nature herfelf ftrives to communicate pleafure to us. 



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