On Learning and the Arts: 447 
impertinent to the object, of the present essay ; 
especially if it shall ‘appear that learning is as 
innocent of the guilt, which may be imputed to 
modern, as to antient manners. 
Accurately to define the characters of antient 
urbanity and modern politeness, may be no easy 
task, nor is this difficulty peculiar to the present 
subject, as there are many instances, in which 
we cannot define, what we strongly feel. Cicero 
has given a definition of urbanity, which may 
apply to the civility of any day, as it is a mere 
definition of the abstract principle. Had he 
illustrated it. with a familiar instance in the man- 
ner of his day, we should have been better able 
to estimate the standard of Roman urbanity. We 
have not a history of the private life of the 
Romans, but from some incidental facts which 
are recorded, we may decide that their manners 
were not so dressed and elegant and delicately 
finished as those of modern Europe, Yet we 
must allow to Greece and Rome all that polish 
which answers to their high condition of pros. 
perity and cultivation. The wants of nature 
are common to all, but a richer possession of the 
external conveniences and accommodations of 
life cannot fail to awaken an artificial taste, the 
idea of a grace which may be superadded to 
every enjoyment. All of the polite and elegant 
which the collision of man with man can be:ex. 
VOL, ¥. R 
