184 
Dr. burnet’s Account of 
THAT reafon begins to dawn, and reflexion to ope- 
rate, in fome children much fooner than in others, muff be 
known to every one who has had an opportunity of com- 
paring the faculties of one child with thofe of another. 
It has, however, feldom been found, that the fenfes, by 
which intelligence is communicated to the mind, advance 
with even pace towards perfection. The eye and the 
ear, for inftance, which feem to afford reafon its princi- 
pal fupplies, mature at different periods, in proportion to 
exereife and experience; and not only arrive at different 
degrees of perfection during the ftages of infancy, but 
have different limits at every period of human life. An 
eye or ear that only ferves the common purpofes of exis- 
tence is intitled to no praife; and it is only by extraordi- 
nary proofs of quicknefs and discrimination in the ufe of 
thefe fenfes, that an early tendency to the art of painting 
or raufic is difcovered. 
Many children, indeed, feem to recognize different 
forms, perfons, founds, and tones of voice, in very early 
infancy, who never afterwards endeavour to imitate forms 
by delineation, or founds by vocal inflexions. 
As drawing or deflgn may be called a refinement of 
the fenfe of fight, and practical mufic of that of hearing ; 
and as a perfection in thefe arts at every period of life, 
from 
