On Tainting. 223 



public fpirit ; while thofe of a more elegant tarn exhibit ex- 

 amples of graceful addrefs, and incline the mind to adls of 

 beneficence and virtue. 



However much we may lament that hiftorical painting is 

 not fufficiently encouraged, yet we mull diflent from thofe 

 who fupport the old but erroneous opinion, that our love of 

 portrait-painting arifes from a national vanity. This ridi- 

 culous idea has been bandied about, both by foreigner and 

 native, till many who take up with opinions without exa- 

 mining them have believed it true. We boldly aflert, on 

 the contrary, that it is national virtue that gives it birth, and 

 a defire the moll rational, that of preferving the images of 

 thofe we love and delight in, conllantly before our eyes. It 

 argues great national beneficence and goodnefs ot heart. We 

 may in fome meafure judge of the difpofition of the mailer 

 of a houfe from the number of portraits he poflelfes : they 

 cannot be likenefles of his enemies. Hence his choice mull 

 be founded on love, and not, as the antients' was, on pride 

 and vanity. The portrait-painter therefore becomes morally 

 ufeful by increafing that focial tie that binds fociety together, 

 in keeping before our eyes the images of departed worth or 

 cxilting merit. It is only thofe who neither love nor are 

 beloved, that have no need of the portrait-painter. 



Among the number of our own national advantages, and 

 which fome may think fuperior to all others, we may ubferve 

 that the excellence of our artills has turned the balance of 

 trade in our favour. For whereas we formerly imported vaft 

 quantities of prints, we now fupply all Europe, and import 

 very few. Even for the decoration of our books we were 

 formerly obliged to apply to llrangers : but Heath has added 

 a tafte to that department of art unknown to former engravers 

 in the hillorical line. Among the topographical publications, 

 thofe prints that accompany the " Beauties of England and 

 Wales" mull be highly interelling for talie and beauty. 



In the beginning of the la(l century, the writers on the 

 continent amul'ed ihemfelves in endeavouring to aflign a 

 caufe for the dulnefs of us iflanders in not having produced 

 one hiftorical painter. Our nijrthern latitude, being involved 

 in fogs, was among the realons afligncd : but the caufe of 

 fuch abfurd inquiries has ceafed, and the mental capacity of 

 Britons no one will now dare to quellion. 



The confequence of our nation and the arts appear to have 

 advanced together. The firlt is evinced in our colonial pof- 

 feffionb ; and if we go back to the time of Henry Vlll., we . 

 ihall eaiily difcover the Hate of conunerce and the comfort- 

 Icfi fuuaiion of fociety compared witli the prcfcut. Hollin- 



