PART I. OF TASTE. 49 



consider those regions as most beautiful which most resemble 

 their native country ; the lover thinks those females most en- 

 chanting, whose features, forms, or manners, bear most relation 

 to those of his mistress, &c. 



4. Association of Ideas. — From habit, a particular person 

 may have certain ideas which present themselves to his imagi- 

 nation whenever he views a certain class of objects ; and at 

 the same time another person, of a taste equally delicate and 

 cultivated, may be totally destitute of such impressions, or 

 what are called associated ideas. This alone would not be pro- 

 ductive of disputes, if the person having such ideas could, in 

 judging of real merit, so entirely divest himself of them as to 

 be in the situation of the other ; but this is rarely to be ex- 

 pected. Could it indeed be effected, the first and most impor- 

 tant advantage which would result from it would be the forma- 

 tion of a standard of taste : but until men's judgments shall 

 enable them to lay aside all false associations, and agree in 

 what is general nature, a perfect standard in taste cannot be 

 produced. And as this, in all probability, can never take 

 place in the full extent of the word, it is the safest and best 

 way, 1st, to lay aside all differences about trifling objects; 

 and, 2dly, to treat the opinion of those who differ from us in 

 important particulars with deference and respect, or pass them 

 over in silence ; according as they may be agreed in their general 



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