1825.] 
to mere conveniences of life. In refer- 
ence even to those, taste has, aceord- 
ingly, become much less. correct than 
it would have been, if the subject had 
been examined upon more liberal and 
comprehensive principles. I cannot be 
persuaded, however, but that there is 
an intimate connexion between taste 
and morals, and between the formrer, 
especially, and all the higher powers of 
intellect; so much so, that when the 
opportunities are sufficiently presented 
for appreciating the quantum, the cha- 
racter and the direction of the taste of 
any individual, a tolerable judgment 
‘may be formed both of his moral and 
his intellectual character. 
But the objects of taste have not 
been more injudiciously circumscribed, 
than its characteristics have been erro- 
neously appreciated. The meretricious 
has been mistaken for the pure; anda 
fastidious delicacy, a shewy pretence of 
-elegance, and a sort of effeminate refine- 
ment—and, above all,a perpetual sacri- 
fice to the aristocracy of fashion—have 
been estimated as the accomplishments 
of a principle, whose elements ought to 
be sought in the eternal truth of nature, 
_and in the chaste and decorous union 
of the useful and the beautiful. 
A severe application of this principle 
of discrimination, would strip, per- 
haps, some of the most popular artists 
‘of the present day of no small portion 
of their high plumed reputation, and 
tear a feather or two from the. cap 
even of the President of our Royal 
Academy. But such an application 
would be a digression from the main 
object of the present essay; which is to 
shew the connexion of taste, not only 
with arts and morals, but with that 
dearer object of calculating inquiry— 
Economy. } ; : 
In this point. of view,, it may be 
thought worthy even of the general 
attention of a trading age. Cupidity 
itself may be influenced, in some in- 
‘stances, to court acquaintance with the 
graces; and the speculative improver 
of his hereditary domains may be in- 
duced to cultivate ataste for picturesque 
and architectural beattty, as a means, at 
once, of diminishing his expenditure 
and improving his rent-roll. Nay, if 
the subject be thus considered in the 
full extent of application, it may carry 
the united principles of taste, economy 
and comfort into .the parlour and the 
breakfast-room, and to the very hearths 
of those humble cottages, to which fru- 
gal competence, or decent industry re- 
-Monrniy Mac. No. 415. 
‘Economy of Taste. 
tires, for the enjoyment of the simple 
217 
gratifications of domestic life. 
Let it not be thought that I descend 
-too low, in the treatment of a subject 
which the arbiter elegantarium has 
hitherto regarded as all his own, if, 
around such a hearth, I make myself 
one of a simple circle, to derive an 
illustration of my principles ; and en- 
_deavour to shew how taste, comfort, 
and economy may be united together, 
and associated with those habits of 
order, which never fail to have a power- 
ful influence on the moral character of 
‘individuals, and to enlarge the sphere 
of their practical utilities. 
I might shew, even in asphereso hum- 
ble, and in matters ofsuch ordinary useful- 
ness as the form of a grate, and the fit- 
ting-up of a chimney, how those princi- 
ples of unadulterated taste which unite, 
in the most simple way, the convenient 
and the agreeable, may at once increase 
‘the warmth of the little apartment, 
diminish the consumption of fuel, ad- 
minister to cleanliness, and prevent the 
suffocating annoyance of smoke — so 
troublesome often to the lungs of guest © 
and. occupant, and so destructive: to 
every article of furniture and apparel. 
This might be illustrated without en- 
tering into the consideration of the de- 
gree of embellishment which may be 
superadded to the materials of which 
these necessary accommodations are to 
be constructed ;—whether marble or 
friestone, Dutch tiles, or mere plastered 
brick, and whitewash, are to beemploy- 
ed—with iron bars, or bronze, or polish- 
ed steel: these are preferences that 
must, in every case, be necessarily de- 
termined by the degree of expenditure 
authorized by the income of the master 
of the house—the style in which he 
aspires to live, and the number of ser- 
vants retained in his establishment : 
but I will observe, that, in these and in 
every other particular of household de- 
coration, if he be not strictly regulated 
by the contingencies and limits of his 
income, the principles of taste will -be 
violated quite as much as his conveni- 
ence will be trenched upon ; because he 
will find it impracticable to maintain that 
accordance of appearances —that correct 
keeping, as the artists would call it—that 
agreement and harmony of parts, which 
correctness of taste and respectability of 
estimation so imperiously demand, 
But with reference to the more gene- 
ral and elementary objects of taste, con- 
venience and. economy, experienced 
observation. may safely be appealed to, 
2¥F whether 
