%2% On Palnfing, 



What has been the fate of thofe people whofe lawgivers 

 forbid the praftice of one part of the elegant arts ? It appears 

 thev well knew, that where art refides, wifdoni will ever be 

 of the party ; and dreaded the downfall of opinions built on 

 a falfe bafe. 



Wifdoni is power, and power is what preferves a nation ; 

 hence thofe who {hut the door againrt knowledge are wilfully 

 feeking their own deftrui-lion : fuch is precifdy the prefcnt 

 fiate oTthe Turkifli empire. 



Ye gotls ! what juftice rules the ball ! 



Frci-dom aiut arcs together fail : 



Fools grant w hate'er ambition craves ; 



And men once ignorant are (lives. PoPE. 



What was the fate of Crete, that was fo renowned for her 

 tvifdom, valour, and laws ? How did (lie fink under the 

 tyranny and opprcflion of Rome? With their freedom de- 

 parted tlieir arts, their fciences, their valour, and their vir- 

 tues. With the lots of liberty we iofe all the ardour nature 

 has furniflied us with to ftrengthcn and fupport the flame of 

 genius and the ardent glow of valour: wilhrtut it we become 

 dclHtute of vigorous rei'olution, and fink below the natural 

 virtue and dignity of our fpecies. 



Drawing iiiav be faid to poflefs a divine virtue in its crea- 

 tive power, and to be a perpetual miracle, as it preferves the 

 images of diftant objects, and the likencfs of thofe we love. 



Without riflcing our lives on the boiRerous ocean, we may 

 enjoy at home, in a fmall book, reprefentalions of the fineft 

 produ6lions of nature and art fituated in the remoteft regions 

 of the world. 



The wealth of a flate, and the degree of clviliz.ation of its 

 inhabitants, afe (hown in the perfection of the elegant arts : 

 no country ever flourilhed without them. 



To fpeak of the power of drawing in a very limited point 

 of view: without it we could not have maps and charts; 

 without them wc could not navigate ; and without navigation 

 we could not poflefs the. advantages of commerce. Its appli- 

 cation to Ihip-building nuifl be obvious, as every part is 

 made to a fcale. As a n>ere power of imitation, it unquef- 

 tionably fets man at the head of creation, no other animal 

 having made e.en the attempt. 



The arts have not oidy an influence on our manners but 



paffions, and, taken in a national point of view, are highly 



ufcful. The pictures reprei'cnting gallant adlions or noble 



achievements ruufc and fiimulate to aCls of lieroifin and 



6 public 



