the Influence of 'Tafte on Morals. ~ 227 
But let us, for a moment, fuppofe that fuch 
an union is really eftablifhedj and that tafte can 
take cognizance of the merit or demerit of 
actions, with the fame eafe and precifton, that 
it pronounces on the abilities of the ftatuary, or 
of the painter. Will it neceffarily follow, that 
fuch a tafte muft always be productive of a vir¬ 
tuous conduCt ? It will not be difputed,* that 
tafte generally operates in fome favourite direc¬ 
tion. It does not embrace all the beauties of 
nature, or of art, with equal relHh ; nor explore 
every fcience, even of thofe efteemed elegant and 
refined, with the fame keennefs of difcernment. 
The painter is not always poflefied of an ear 
finely tuned to mufic; nor the mufician always 
delighted with the elegance and vigour of 
poetical compofition. Nature feldom produces 
an accomplifhed mafter, unlefs her efforts have 
been directed to one particular objeft. And in 
vain would be the attempt to rife to excellence, 
in any art or fcience, fave that, which is con¬ 
genial to the tafte. Some men, indeed, feem to 
be poffelfed of, what may be termed, a general 
tafte j and are capable of, at leaft, moderate 
attainments in every branch. But tafte, like 
every other energy, perhaps is weaker, in pro¬ 
portion as it is diffufed. 
Brown’? Eflays on the Charaderiftics, Sed. II. 8. 
0^2 Upon 
4 
