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fantastic or unnatural, as in a vFllage ; and 

 where the lover of painting, and the lover 

 of humanity, may find so many sources of 

 amusement and interest.'' All the liberal 

 arts arc justly said to soften our manners, 

 and not suffer them to be fierce and savage. 

 None, I believe, has a juster claim to that 

 high praise, than the art of paintjng. AVho- 

 ever has looked with delight at Gainsbo*- 

 roughVreprescntationsof cottages and their 

 inhabitants ; at Grcuze's interesting pic- 

 tures ; at the various groups and efiects iii 

 those of the Dutch masters, Avill certainly 

 feel from that recollection, an additional 

 delight in viewing similar objects and cha- 

 racters in nature : and I believe it is diffi- 

 cult to look at any objects with pleasure 

 (unless where it arises from brutal or tumul- 

 tuous emotions) without feeling that dis- 

 position of mind, which tends towards kind- 

 ness and benevolence; and surely whatever' 

 creates such a disposition, by increasing our 

 pleasures and enjoyments, cannot be too 

 much cultivated. 1 have just mentioned 

 Gainsborough's pictures, and will here add' 



