of a Country on its Inhabitants. 1 "] 5 
!c is, however, probable, that the pleafures in- 
fpired by fuch a fcenery as is above alluded to, 
which is rather of a luxurious tendency, may 
coincide with the effects of the climate, in which 
fuch profpeds are moftly produced, in contribu¬ 
ting to weaken and effeminate the mind and dif- 
pofition. However whimfical this notion may 
appear, it has been adopted by writers, in the 
higheft efteem for underftanding and difcernment. 
Perhaps, for the fame reafon, a beautiful and or¬ 
namented country has been thought to be favour¬ 
able to the fofter pafiions. “ Love,” fays Agatho 
in the banquet of Plato, “ refldes not in a body 
or foul, or any other place, where flowers never 
fpring; or, if they do fpring, where they are 
fallen, and the fpot quite deflowered. But, 
wherever a fpot is to be found fiowry and fra¬ 
grant, he there feats himfelf, and fettles his 
abode.” The beauty of the country, muft, no 
doubt, contribute to the improvement of the 
tafte of the inhabitants, both in arts and fcience. 
Tafte, which is in other words, the faculty of 
difcerning and relifhing beauty, is acquired by 
the comparifon of beautiful objects with one ano¬ 
ther, and, upon that account, is likely to be 
found in greater perfection, where thofe objects 
abound the molt, and where, of courfe, fuch com- 
parifons would be the molt obvious and eafy. 
Hence fprings, in a good meafure, I apprehend, 
the elegant and varied fancy of the eaftern peo-*- 
T 2 pie, 
