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such a line is so far from being the most 

 common, that, we can easily recollect the 

 very few examples we have seen of it. 



The more extended position, " that the 

 " most general form of nature is the most 

 " beautiful/' must, I imagine, relate to a sup- 

 posed central form, not to such as actually 

 exist : for, with respect to the human figure, 

 to which he principally refers, we can 

 never cast our eyes round any place of 

 public resort, without perceiving that the 

 proportion of handsome persons of either 

 sex is comparatively small ; much more so 

 of those who are really beautiful : but if 

 habit and custom determined our prefer- 

 ence, we should certainly prefer medio- 

 crity to beauty, as being infinitely more ac- 

 customed to it, 



The illustration which he has drawn from 

 the naturalist, is not, I think, perfectly in 

 point, The aim of the naturalist is directed 

 towards the ascertainment of the species; 

 he compares the different leaves, not as the 

 painter compares other objects, for the pur- 

 pose of discovering whether there be any ol 



VOL, III. R 



