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the medium of fight diredlly, and of fight alone : fo does fculp- 

 ture alfo, unlefs we admit the touch, to which fculpture, as an 

 imitative art, may be faid to appeal, in fome faint degree ; as 

 for inftance, a blind man, by handling an exquifite flatue, may 

 form ideas of fymmetry, grace and beauty. Mufic, which, in a 

 fmall degree, is an imitative art, is confined to the fenfe of hear- 

 ing. As to the reprefentations of the theatre, which carry the 

 delufions of the imitative arts a? far as they will go, they are 

 confined, to the fight and hearing, and want the fufFrage of the 

 touch. Thus, we find, in every one of the imitative arts, there 

 is a deficiency of teftimony, a certain link of the chain of evi- 

 dence, that invariably accompanies the reality of exiftence, is ever 

 wanting. 



I FIND I have, unawares, been betrayed into a degree of pro- 

 lixity, of which I little dreamed ; and, at the fame time, I fear, , 

 that I have but imperfedlly exprefled my meaning, and failed 

 of attaining that fullnefs and precifion, which the fubjedt deferves. 

 I know not well how to excufe my raOinefs, in prefuming to 

 obtrude this hafty flcetch on the Academy ; and, I truft, that 

 the candour of my readers will afcribe this temerity to the true 

 caufe — a wifli to amufe them, at a vacant hour, and not to any 

 difregard of their judgment. 



