44 



OF TASTE. 



BOOK I. 



CHAPTER V. 



OP THE EXERCISE OF THE FACULTY OF TASTE IN DISCERN- 

 ING COMBINATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS. 



Having slightly noticed the formation of the sense of taste, 

 by the union of the five elementary senses ; and having also 

 glanced at the combinations of the modifications of matter, 

 which are its objects ; the next thing, in a dissertation on this 

 subject would be to treat of exercise and its effects on that fa- 

 culty. Here, however, it is only necessary to make a few 

 general remarks. 



Taste, like every other faculty of the mind, is improved by 

 exercise. This consists in viewing, comparing, and judging 

 of such works of nature and art as are particularly distin- 

 guished for their excellence. It is by these means alone that 

 taste becomes delicate, sensible, and refined ; that the amateur 

 can judge with correctness, and the artist produce works wor- 

 thy of attention. A taste thus improved will, no doubt, receive 

 less pleasure from general objects, than that of a person desti- 

 tute of the power of judging with accuracy; but when it 

 does perceive true excellence, the pleasure derived will be 

 much more exalted and exquisite than that of the other. In 



