THE MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY. AUGUST, 1804. FOR THE ANTHOLOGY. ON TASTE. THE arts and sciences have fometimes been confidered the fole fubjects, which Tafte particularly regards. The charms of mufic, the beauties of profe and poetic compofitions, the breathing canvafs, and the fculptured life, together with a few monuments of natural grandeur and finished art, have been thought to form the only sphere of her action. This is too limited an acceptation of the term. A moment's contemplation on the nature and operations of taste will convince us that, it equally refpects the conduct of human life. Tafte is fomewhere defined, to "confift of a nice harmony between the fancy and the judgment." To this we may add, that, 'forming a union of the powers of reafon and of foul, it enables us to view the various objects that furround us, through the medium of juft propriety." Tafte, like air, pervades the regions of universal knowledge. Embracing each art, and every fcience, fhe exhibits to the mind their every quality, and then di- No fingle qualification, how ever brilliant, will ever entitle to the inheritance of a juft taste. She is a coy mistress whose favour is hardly won. She fits in the feat of the Mufes; but fhe refides there only, where are combined all the Virtues, and where all the Graces happily unite. To become bleft, at length, with her fociety, is to be bleft indeed. At once an instructive and delightful companion fhe corrects our paft mistakes, and rectifies our prefent misapprehenfions; aids our conceptions of men and things; enlarges our knowledge of the world; and unfolds to our pleafing view the fecret fprings of human happinefs. It is, in fine, this fpiritual, but not vifionary, being, that repreffes the violence of bafe defires, invigorates the mental powers, ftrengthens the the moral perceptions, cherishes fenfibility, originates fentiments the most exalted and juft, and ferves as a microfcope, through which to furvey mankind: it engenders enterprize, animates purfuit, faves from oblivion the valuable, which had elfe been loft, and revives and produces, by an energy almoft divine, all that is eftimable and all that is grand. Valuable as is the acquifition of tafte, it is yet in a melancholy manner obvious that, very few experimentally know its worth. If we examine, with critical eye, the condition of the greater part of men, it will feem as if chance, and not reafon, had fupplied them with motives of action. Happinefs is undoubtedly the goal, to which all would tend; but an infinitude of means diftracts their various and unftable defigns. A midst an endless diverfity of aims, This we are unhappily true! compelled to believe, when we daily witnefs the most glaring contradictions in the fentiments and practice of many, who plainly verify that unpleasant maxim, "A little learning is a dangerous thing." It cannot, I think, be difficult to find the origin of facts, which occafion thefe remarks. Whoever examines will eafily perceive that, their caufe is a deficiency of tafte. We want difcernment in the most important concerns of life. Either from lack of opportunity to discover the bent of native difpofition, or from the wilful perverfion of our judgment, originate the evils of which we complain. Trufting too confidently to the dim light of imitative genius, fome have mistaken the path, which has conducted their model to an honourable fame. Others, more inconfiderate ftill, relying folely on the force of nature, have blindly rufhed on projects which they were never In a calculated to compass. word: With fome few exceptions, we may fafely affirm that, moft men, through ignorance of themselves, have, by a wrong direction of their exertions, erected everlasting barriers to their honour and felicity. To the inconveniences and dangers arifing from this falfe tafte, or rather, to an entire want of any tafte, the feafon of youth is very particularly expofed. The delufive glare, that furrounds almost every object, cannot fail of deceiving the young and inexperienced. In this fever of life, when the fenfible world arrayed in all its charms, promises ten thousand pleasures that vanifh at the touch, it is no wonder if, unwary and credulous, we be led into the endless mazes of errour. It is fcarcely poffible, but that the favours of fortune, and the flatteries of friends, fhould intoxicate the brain, and caufe us oft to deviate from the path, deline ated in the moments of cool deliberation. Allured by the calls of falfe ambition, we are often deceived, and often fuffer for our folly. We are apt to mistake the vagaries of fancy for reafon's dictates, and, moving on the pivot of fome darling paffion, ftill to urge the purfuit, unconfcious whither we may be carried by an Inconceivably injurious to ourfelves, and to fociety, are the confequences of fuch heedlefs precipitancy. We hereby detriment the interefts of fcience and virtue. To a To what other caufe, than to the mifapplication of our powers, or the premature exercise of them, in a profeffional line, both which are the effects of a bad tafte, are owing the prejudices which are frequently formed against literature? Truly to none. failure in this refpect, may we impute all the fcandal, juftly thrown on useless and dishonorary characters, which are made fo by the mere circumstance of early placing themselves in a sphere, where, at the latest period, neither nature nor propriety would have dictated their motion. Hence the profeffions are not feldom followed for the fake of convenience only, or that they might raise their incumbents one grade above the ignoble vulgar. Hence oft they hide the groffeft incapacity; and are affumed many times to conceal other than harmlefs defects. Hence, under the fable garb of a clergyman, are fometimes, not to fay frequently, found the more fable qualities of vice and ignorance; and thence the pulpit, facred to the counfels of God, is rendered defpicable by its devotees. Mifguided notions, too, it is modeftly presumed, have conducted fome to the bar, whom love of the rights of humanity and of justice never diftinguished. And it is well known that, numerous pretenders to phyfic, by the ignorance and credulity of the populace only, have been refcued from oblivion. Not, however, in the profeffions alone, but in each walk of life will there be found empyrics; and it is a facred truth, blush, O humanity! that all, more particularly the learned, orders of men, have, at times, been filled with characters, whofe inclinations have fuffered either voluntary or involuntary violence, and the bias of whofe minds has been perverted; in confequence of which their lives have been damned to an inglorious obfcurity. To prevent thefe flagrant abfurdities, and to expunge impofture from the community, is the province of just taste. Were a more general attention bestowed on its cultivation, its abundant fruits would convince us that, it is not an exotic in our northern clime. The fubjects of civil and religious fociety, like plants in a garden, that is ridden of noxious weeds, would inftantly feel the falutary effect. Every individual would find the avenues to felicity far lefs numerous, but proportionably more broad and deter minate. Intereft and pleasure, therefore, forcibly impel us to make fo enviable an acquifition. Neither is it in vain that we ftrive. Tafte has its foundation in the organization of man: Its ingredients are all within us. Like truth, however, they lie deep, and muft be drawn forth with painful affiduity. The grand obstacle in the way of many towards the poifeffion of true tafte, is a fruitlefs with to become excellent in all things. They aim at univerfal tafte. Their love of rectitude and beauty hurries them indifcrimin ately to embrace a multiplicity of objects. But fuch is a prepofterous attempt. It is almost arrogance : at beft, it is an unreasonable stretch of the human powers, and a fure barrier towards arriving at perfection in any, the moft trivial purfuit. The many failures of this fort may serve as a perspective, through which we may view the very monuments of folly, which fuch endeavours might lead ourfelves to exhibit. But fo far from prefumption is it, to afpire at excellence in the line of our judicious choice, that, to despair of it is the property of indolent minds alone, and argues an irrefolute and unworthy spirit. Notwithstanding the practicability of the attainment, it is not unattended with laborious exertions. The road to greatnefs is befet with thorns; and though, at a diftance, the mount wear a goodly afpect, and the diamond glitter from afar, yet craggy rocks, and frequent precipices impede a rapid accefs. A long feries of toil and perfeverance, in a courfe of virtuous habits, muft mark our progress to the envied fummit. Thofe, then, whom youth and genius excite to fame, who pant for the rewards of eminence, will not difregard the only rational methods of early forming a taste, that hall enable them to bear with fortitude the calamities of life, and copioufly to enjoy the fmiles of fortune. If we rightly examine thofe |