258 On the comparative Excellence 



vince to aft upon our affeftions and paflions, the 

 impulfes of which have often as principal a fhare 

 in the direftion of our conduft, as the fuggef-. 

 tions of our judgment J and to regulate, correft, 

 and harnnonize them, by thofe means which Pro- 

 vidence has afforded us, becomes therefore a 

 part of our duty no lefs effential, than the im- 

 provement of many of the fciences, or the culti- 

 vation of our rational powers. 



To afcertain the particular rank to which the 

 arts are entitled, might perhaps be a matter of 

 fome difficulty. That they ought by no means 

 to interfere with the attainment of moral fcience 

 is certain; and perhaps feveral branches of natu- 

 ral philofophy, clofely connefted with the utility 

 of mankind, may have a ftronger claim on our 

 time and abilities; but that they are invariably 

 to be poftponed to the ftudy of nature, in all its 

 branches cannot be allowed. From the contem- 

 plation of heroic aftions, whether communicated 

 by the pen or the pencil, feelings are incited, 

 ftrongly connefted with. the firft and leading ob- 

 jeft of our purfuit, and of great importance to 

 the advancement of virtue and the improvement 

 of human life. 



I muft alfo remark, that as an unvaried appli- 

 cation to one purfuit, is not only irkfome to us, 

 but frequently defeats the end it aims at, thofe 

 occupations, by whofe afllftance the mind 

 can relax without debilitating, and amufe with- 

 out 



