6 INTRODUCTION. 



As the picturesque requires variety, it is considered by some 

 authors that smoothness must form one of its constituent parts ; and 

 that variety sometimes composes one of the essentials of beauty. 

 From this reasoning, it may be concluded that roughness must 

 also be one of the component parts of the beautiful ; therefore, to 

 avoid perplexity, it may be advisable to pause here, since many 

 volumes have been written upon these subjects without affording 

 a more satisfactory result than may be deduced from this brief 

 sketch. What is here gleaned from the writings of others, may 

 be considered sufficient to give a pretty correct idea of the gene- 

 rally understood distinguishing characteristics of the beautiful and 

 of the picturesque. 



Upon the subject of taste, a greater diversity of opinion has been 

 entertained than upon that of beauty. Alison says, " Taste is that 

 faculty of the human mind, by which we perceive and enjoy whatever 

 is beautiful or sublime in the productions of nature or art.'* 



We are told by another writer, that taste is only the improve- 

 ment of ideas. It may be said, every one has naturally a portion 

 of taste, which is principally dependent upon education, and im- 

 proved by cultivated and elegant associations. 



One author will not admit the possession of innate taste ; a second 

 asserts that taste proceeds from a conscious sense of beauty; a 

 third is of opinion that natural taste is that quick perception of the 



