the Influence of Tafle on Morals. - 225 
hour j” and many popular opinions are governed 
by no better motive, than fancy or caprice. 
To me, I own, it does not appear furprifing, 
that writers on tafte have generally been led 
to fuppofe, that its influence muft be friendly 
to virtue. When a fubjeft has been long con¬ 
templated, the mind becomes, in fome meafure, 
enamoured of it, views it with complacency, 
and, from an over-weening fondnefs, bellows 
attributes and perfections, which are not 
naturally its own. How often has this been 
the cafe, with l'ome new difcovery in philofophy ! 
Its ingenious advocate is feldom willing to con¬ 
fine its effects, to the rank it juftly holds. He 
would have it confidered, not only as a law of 
nature, operating in its proper fphere ; but 
as a great and univerfal caufe, to which all 
other caufes muft be fubordinate •, and will 
even attempt to folve all the phenomena .of 
nature by its means Thus, electricity was 
lately a favourite theory, which, for a while, 
feemed to bid fair for univerfal empire in the 
philofophical world. And thus, fome ufeful dif- 
coveries in medicine have been rafhly exalted into 
panaceas, or univerfal remedies. The fame 
fpecics of enthufiafm has , indeed , at different 
periods, prevailed in every fcience. Hence, the 
vaft variety of new theories, and fyftems, which 
have fprung up; and for awhile amufed the 
world, and which have, at length, yielded their 
Vol. I. ufurpation 
