[ ^^ ] 



in which the mind has a ftrong perception of fublimlty, whofe 



diredt operation is to agitate in a confiderable degree the afFedions. 



In proof of this obfervation I will venture to mention one of 



his own inftances of the fublime. When Ajax (for Dodor Prieftley 



has by miftake attributed the prayer to Diomede) prays that 



Jupiter would give him day and then deftroy him, the objed 



prefented to the mind does not feem fitted to fink it into an 



aivful Jlillnefs ; on the contrary, it is animated by a fympathetic 



heroifm. I will mention another inftance of moral fublimity, 



which may perhaps more fully illuftrate the obfervation. When 



Mr. Burke, in the glowing colours of his eloquence, paints to us 



the circumnavigation of charity, when he contrails the ordinary 



purfuits of travellers with the condud of him who defcended into 



dungeons to take the fcale of human mifery ; I do not think that 



the effed of this fublime image of adive benevolence is an awful 



Jlillnefs. The better principles of our nature triumph in the view, 



and we balance our forrow for the follies and vices of mankind 



by our exulting admiration of the philanthropy of a Howard. 



Dodor Prieftley has, in confirmation of his opinion, obferved 



that " deep and flow notes in mufic bear a nearer relation to 



" the fublime than fhrill and quick founds." Perhaps the moft 



fublime efl:ed which mufic is capable of producing, is produced 



by flow and folemn notes ; but I think it cannot be denied that 



there is much grandeur and elevation in the tumultuary parts 



of the chorufes of Handel, and fome of my friends of mufical 



flvill, whom I have confulted, agree that the effed of what is 



confidered as fublime in it is not in almoft any cafe an aivful 



milnef. 



Lord 



