74 



but to shew how much such a striking 

 irregularity might accord and co-operate, 

 with the same sort of irregularity in the 

 character of the mind. The playful, un- 

 equal, coquetish Roxalana, full of sudden 

 turns and caprices, is opposed to the 

 beautiful, tender, and constant Elvira ; 

 and the effects of irritation, to those of 

 softness and languor : the tendency of the 

 qualities of beauty alone towards mono- 

 tony, are no less happily insinuated. 



Although there are no generally received 

 standards with respect to animals, yet those 

 who have been in the habit of breeding 

 them and of attending to their forms, have 

 fixed to themselves certain standards of 

 perfection. Mr. Bakewell, like Phidias or 

 Apelles,had probably formed in his mind an 

 idea of perfection beyond what he had seen 

 in nature ; and which, like them, though by a 

 different process, he was constantly endea- 

 vouring to imbody. It may be said, that this 

 perfection relates only to their disposition to 

 produce fat upon the most profitable parts ; 



