which there were horses as smooth, and with 

 coats as fine as these ; and I particularly 

 remember your remarking, how admirably 

 those in the larger picture (I think it 

 was by Rubens) harmonized with all the 

 surrounding objects : surely, that which 

 is in perfect harmony in a picture, must 

 often, at least, be so in nature ; and can- 

 not be like what irritating roughness is to 

 the touch. 



" It is true, that I have not much at- 

 tended to these subjects ; but some of our 

 earliest ideas are, that smoothness is pleas- 

 ing, and roughness unpleasing to the eye, 

 as well as to the touch; and these first ideas 

 always prevail, though we afterwards learn 

 to discriminate, and to modify them. In 

 the same manner, bright and clear colours 

 are more pleasing to the eye than such as 

 are dingy; and, therefore, almost all men, 

 I believe, would think the colours of these 

 horses, and of this fresh turf, more beauti- 

 ful than those of the old ragged horses, of 

 the ass, and of the shaggy pasture in which 

 they were feeding. 



