the Influence of ¥afle on Morals . 229 
The doftrine may, probably, fuit the retired 
temper of the philofopher, or the apathy of the 
floic : but is ill calculated for “the bufy haunts 
of men,” and the tumults of focial life. The 
man of tade admires the beauty and exprefiion 
exhibited in the works of a Raphael, or a Michael 
Angelo, without feeling the flighted wilh to be¬ 
come an artid, and to rival thefe great mailers. 
May he not, in like manner, view the charms 
of virtue, and of a moral conduct, without mak¬ 
ing one Angle effort to become a moralid, or a 
virtuous man ? 
I Ihould imagine it impoflible for any perfon, 
poffeffed of the lead fenfibility, to read the cha*- 
racter of Sir C. Grandifon, drawn with fo much 
delicacy by Richardfon, and not admire and 
approve, the elegance of manners and purity 
of morals, with which he has adorned his hero. 
But is it certain, that he will beflow more than 
his approbation ? Will he entertain a fingl? 
thought, of copying the amiable portrait? To 
admire and reverence virtue, is a tribute extorted 
even from vice. The mod profligate, and wicked 
characters experience a fecret confcioufnefs, that 
every preference is due to virtue j and are not 
infenfible to her fuperior lovelinefs. But does 
this fenfe operate on the mind, with fufficient 
force, to influence, or to reclaim ? Video me- 
liora proboque deteriora fequor , mud be the 
language of every finner, whofe faculties are 
not utterly depraved. 
0.3 
“ It 
