396 



authority in the trials of heretics, has not jet 

 been acknowledged in the courts of phi- 

 losophy, or by the judicature of common 

 • sense/' 



I am persuaded that my friend never 

 meant seriously to accuse me of being pos- 

 sessed with the spirit of the inquisition ; it is 

 only his way of writing. Perhaps before 

 he indulged himself in it, he ought to have 

 examined his own expressions which gave 

 rise to my supposed mis-statement, and 

 to have been pretty certain that they do 

 not fairly admit of the interpretation I have 

 given tbem ; or at least sufficiently so* to 

 lead me into the mistake, if it be one, with- 

 out my having had any evil intention : the 

 reader must judge between us. The accu- 

 sation is, that I have supposed him to con- 

 sider the words beautiful and picturesque 

 as synonymous; not as generally so, for 

 then I should undoubtedly have misrepre- 

 sented him ; but with respect to visible 

 objects : in other words, that I have supposed 

 him to be of opinion, that, as far as visible 

 objects are concerned, there is no differ- 



