214 



knowledge of which is necessary to a know* 

 ledge of it's distinct characters. Such a 

 method is more easily comprehended, than 

 the more general and abstract one which 

 Sir Joshua proposes ; and when allied with 

 it, is more likely to produce a just estimate 

 of the character altogether, than any other 

 method singly. 



Sir Joshua remarks, that custom, though 

 not the cause of beauty, is certainly the 

 cause of our liking it ; and that if we were 

 more used to deformity than beauty, defor- 

 mity would lose the idea now annexed to it, 

 and take that of beauty. If by being used 

 to deformity,* he meant a supposed case, 

 that the forms of visible objects on this 

 planet were universally what we now call 

 deformed, his position is probably true ; in 

 that case, however, custom would only be 

 another name for nature : but on any other 

 supposition, I rather think, he has given to 

 that second nature custom, a power which 



* In this place, I imagine Sir Joshua uses the word de- 

 formity in its common acceptation ; in others, he uses it for 

 any deviation from the central form. 



