1 86 Dr. burney’s Account of 
what is commonly called mufical genius would doubtlefs 
be more frequently dilcovered if experiments were made, 
or the mothers or nurles were mufically curious. How. 
ever, fpontaneous efforts at forming a tune, or producing 
harmony upon an inftrument fo early, have never come 
to my knowledge. 
The arts being governed by laws built on fuch pro- 
ductions and effects as the moft polifhed part of man- 
kind have long agreed to call excellent, can make but 
fmall approaches towards perfection in a flate of nature, 
however favourable may be the difpofition of thofe who 
are fuppofed to be gifted with an uncommon tendency 
towards their cultivation. Nature never built a palace, 
painted a picture, or made a tune: thefe are all works of 
art. And with refpect to architecture and mufic, there 
are no models in nature. which can encourage imitation: 
and though there is a wild kind of mufic among favages, 
where paffion vents itfelf in lengthened tones different 
from, thofe of fpeech, yet thefe rude effufions can afford 
no pleafure to a cultivated ear, nor would be honoured ' 
in Europe with any better title than the howlings of 
animals of an inferior order to mankind. 
All therefore that is really admirable in early attempts 
at mufic is the power of imitation ; for elegant melody 
and good harmony can only be fuch as far as they cor- 
refpond 
