242 On Colours. 
apply equally to their general relations or harmonies *: for the 
harmonies are as infinite as the hues of colours, and no more is 
designed in the Essay than to generalize or class the harmonies: 
—the examples given of them, therefore, like the former, are 
only indications of instances of classes. 
Mr. H. observes that the examples of the secondary colours 
are inferior in brilliancy to those of their primaries: but it is a 
principle in painting, to the value of which our great colourist, 
Sir Joshua Reynolds, has borne testimony, ¢hat the compounds 
of colours are inferior in brilliancy, &c. to their components ; 
because pigments, being imperfect in hue, have a neutralizing or 
lowering effect upon each other, and a chemical action by which 
they are in general mutually injurious. 
With respect to the denominations of the tertiary, colours, I 
have already remarked that those I have adopted do not express 
individual hues or tints, but genera or classes; and since the no- 
menclature of colours, in all languages, is confessedly imperfect 7, 
and | do not contend for tints or terms, I shall gladly change 
them for more significant appellations, if such can be found; 
but that [ am not in error as to the thing signified, is manifest 
from § 16, in which it is remarked ‘that blue predominates in, 
and gives its relations to, the olive, yellow to the citrine, and red 
to the russet.”” 
The use I have made of the double triangle in illustration of 
the relations of harmony in colours, in coincidence with Mr. H. 
is remarkable: yet, indeed, any trine figure migh thave supplied 
its place, though I have long preferred it for its simplicity, and 
as best suited to the philosophy upon which the Essay itself is 
founded. 
To conclude. I am pleased to find that my system of colours, 
in respect to their particular. relations, accords with the pre-. 
conceptions of one so well acquainted with the subject as your 
correspondent appears to be; and since my doctrine of Harmony 
in Colours springs as a consequence from the same premises, and 
accords with the first principles of music, I anticipate, without 
desiring to bias his judgement, a like concurrence of ideas with 
that part of my Essay which treats of the general relations or 
harmony of colours. 
I am, sir, 
Yours very respectfully, 
September 17, 1817. THE AUTHOR. 
* See some excellent observations relating to this subject by Mr. Tred- 
gold. Phil Mag. vol. xlix. p. 262. , 
+ See Phil. Mag. vol. xlix. p. 49, Ou the Ancient Names of Colours, by 
T.Yorster, esq. 
XLII. Re- 
