On Genius. AOL 
those qualities of mind are produced, vivid- 
ness of conception, eagerness of purpose, 
and originality of sentiment, which we have 
already enumerated as characteristic of Ge- 
nius. The power of Genius will depend, I 
conceive, upon the degree of constitutional 
susceptibility; its tone and its character will 
be decided by the accidental circumstances, 
which call it into exercise, and which are, in 
fact, the occasion of its development. It 
has almost passed into a maxim, that what- 
ever a person likes, he does well; nor can it 
reasonably be doubted, that many of those 
characteristic qualities of Genius, which 
seem to be the gift of immediate inspiration, 
are really caused by the deep and enthusiastic 
interest, with which it pursues its favourite 
object. Upon what occasions are our con- 
ceptions so bright, distinct and glowing, as 
when we contemplate some approaching 
event with eager delight or shuddering ap- 
prehension ? When do we resolve and act 
with such decision and enthusiasm, as when 
our motives rest on some great question of 
happiness or misery, which arbsorbs our 
whole attention? When is our reason so 
discursive—so prompt to marshal and review 
its various trains of ideas—so quick to dis- 
‘cover the most delicate relations between 
3 E 
