293 



not like the habit men are in, of flying for 

 allusions to the inclination of the sexes 

 towards each other; for that being the 

 strongest of our inclinations, it draws all 

 others into its vortex, and thus becomes 

 the criterion of pleasures, with which it 

 has no further connection, than being de- 

 rived from the same animal functions with 

 therest/Vi ^miii ^iiVo ■■«' i\ 



"I agree with you entirely," said Mr. 

 Hamilton, " that in any case where that 

 inclination was really made the criterion 

 of other pleasures, or other tastes, '. , we 

 should reason on false grounds : I believe, 

 however, you will seldom fjncl any instance 

 of that sort. Do but recollect what women 

 you ha v|e kpown men to be passionately 

 in love with: some short and fat; some 

 tall and skinny ; some with a little turn-up 

 nose, a small gimlet eye, a dusky sk in, 

 or one covered with freckles : and yet did 

 you ever know one of these lovers so bi- 

 assed by his particular fancy, as to insist 

 u pott it that these were criteria, and . uni- 

 versal principles of beauty? or who was 



vol. in. x 



