On Genius. 423 
celebrated actress, in the midst of her fa- 
mily, instructing her daughter. in dancing. 
When the lesson was ended, she saw the 
child warmly applauded by the family circle, 
and fondly caressed by her mother. Clairon 
contrasted her own situation with that of the 
happy girl whose performances she had just 
witnessed. From that day forth, she de- 
lighted to repair to this chamber, and gratify 
herself with watching the theatrical studies 
of the family opposite. That association of 
pleasure with the motions, attitudes and 
declamation of the stage, which gave the 
impulse to her Genius, was now fixed; and 
it was strong from the force of contrast. 
Nor would I desire a more convincing ex- 
ample of the effect of accidental circum- 
stances, in determining the particular sphere 
in which Genius is to operate. 
In the early life of the late President of 
the Royal Academy, we meet with a cir- 
cumstance, which pleads more strongly in 
favour of an original predilection for some 
particular art, than any with which I am 
elsewhere acquainted.(z) Benjamin West 
was born in a retired part of North America, 
among a settlement of Friends. At the age 
of seven years, when he had never seen an 
engraving or picture, he was one day left 
(z) Galt’s Life and Studies of Benjamin West, &c. p, 10, 
