39^ 



ils structure : that is, whether compared witfe 

 other temples, its frame appears to be of a mas- 

 sy, or a delicate kind. " So far," stays Mr. Knight, 

 f* from being of a delicate frame, or with little 

 appearance of strength, it is remarkable for no- 

 thing more than the compact firmness of its con- 

 struction, &c." It is here particularly necessary 

 to keep in view the nature of the objects of which 

 we are speaking. Delicacy of frame, by which 

 JVIr. Burke meant to characterize very different 

 objects, and which is so obviously applicable to 

 a number of them both natural and artificial, must, 

 when applied to a temple, which, though compa- 

 ratively small, is by no means diminutive, and of 

 course strongly and firmly built, appear incon- 

 gruous, if full allowance be not made for the 

 quality of buildings in general, and unless a com- 

 parison be made between it and a variety of other 

 temples. I must admit that it cannot be said of the 

 temple of Tivoli, even with the utmost degree oi 

 allowance and indulgence, that it has " little ap- 

 pearance of strength," but that is Mr. Knight's 

 manner of stating the principle, not Mr. Burke's ; 

 and as he has on a former occasion omitted some 

 words altogether, so here he has, indeed, trans- 

 cribed them right in his quotation, but altered 

 them in his statement ; Mr. Burke's words are 

 " fifthly, to be of a delicate frame, without any 

 remarkable appearauce of strength:" I hardly 



