47 



is their common, and vulgar vise, and 

 abuse; but whether there be certain quali- 

 fies, which uniformly produce the same 

 effects in all visible objects, and, according 

 to the same analogy, in objects of hearing 

 and of all the other senses; and which 

 qualities, though frequently blended and 

 united with others in the same object or 

 set of objects, may be separated from 

 them, and assigned to the class to which 

 they belong. 



If it can be shewn that a character com- 

 posed of these qualities, and distinct from 

 all others, does universally prevail; if it 

 can be traced in the different objects of 

 art and of nature, and appears consistent 

 throughout,— it surely deserves a distinct 

 title; but with respect to the real ground 

 of inquiry, it matters little whether such a 

 character, or the set of objects belonging 

 to it, be called beautiful, sublime, or pic- 

 turesque, or by any other name, or by no 

 name at all. 



Beauty Is so touch the most enchanting 



