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Hence every man is esteemed and respected in proportion to the dignity of his character, fentiments, and actions. And from the instances now given we difcover, that the sense of the dignity of human nature is fo vigorous, as even to prevail over felf-partiality, and to make us defpife our own tafte compared with the more elevated tafte of others.

In our fenfe of a common ftandard and in the pleasure individuals give us by their conformity to it, a curious final cause is difcovered. An uniformity of taste and fentiment in matters of importance, forms an intimate connection among individuals, and is a great blessing in the focial state. With refpect to morals in particular, unhappy it would be for mankind did not this uniformity prevail it is neceffary that the actions of all men be uniform with refpect to right and wrong; and in order to uniformity of action, it is neceffary that all men think the fame way in these particulars: if they differ through any irregular bias, the common fenfe of mankind is appealed to as the rule; and it is the province of judges,

that rule.

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in matters especially of equity, to apply The fame uniformity, it is yielded, is not fo ftrictly neceffary in other matters of taste: men, though connected in general as members of the fame state, are, by birth, office, or occupation, feparated and distinguished into different claffes; and are thereby qualified for different amusements: variety of tafte, fo far, is no obftruction to the general connection. But with refpect to the more capital pleasures, fuch as are best enjoy'd in common, uniformity of taste is neceffary for two great ends, firft to connect individuals the more intimately in the focial life, and next to advance these pleasures to their highest perfection. With respect to the firft, if instead of a common tafte, every man had a taste peculiar to himself, leading him to place his happiness upon things indifferent or perhaps difagreeable to others, these capital pleasures could not be enjoy'd in common: every man would pursue his own happinefs by flying from others; and instead of a natural tendency to union, remarkable in the human species, union would be our averfion.

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averfion: man would not be a confistent being his intereft would lead him to fociety, and his tafte would draw him from it. The other end will be beft explained by entering upon particulars. Uniformity of tafte gives opportunity for fumptuous and elegant buildings, for fine gardens, and extenfive embellishments, which pleafe univerfally. Works of this nature could never have reached any degree of perfection, had every man a taste peculiar to himself: there could not be any fuitable reward, either of profit or honour, to encourage men of genius to labour in fuch works. The fame uniformity of tafte is equally neceffary to perfect the arts of mufic, fculpture, and painting; and to fupport the expence they require after they are brought to perfection. Nature is in every particular confiftent with herfelf. We are formed by nature to have 1a high relish for the fine arts, which are a great fource of happiness, and extremely friendly to virtue, We are, at the fame time, formed with an uniformity of taste, to furnish proper objects for this high relish; if uniformity of taste did not prevail, the

fine arts could never have made any figure.

Thus, upon a fenfe common to the fpecies, is erected a standard of taste, which without hesitation is apply'd to the taste of every individual. This ftandard, afcertaining what actions are right what wrong, what proper what improper, hath enabled moralifts to establish rules for our conduct from which no perfon is allowed to fwerve. We have the fame standard for ascertaining in all the fine arts, what is beautiful or ugly, high or low, proper or improper, proportioned or difproportioned. And here, as in morals, we juftly condemn every tafte that fwerves from what is thus afcertained by the common standard.

The discovery of a rule or ftandard for trying the taste of individuals in the fine arts

as well as in morals, is a confiderable adSvance, but completes not our journey. We have a great way yet to travel. It is made yout that there is a standard: but it is not made out, by what means we shall prevent mistaking a false standard for that of nature. If from opinion and practice we endeavour to ascertain the ftandard of nature,

we

we are betray'd into endless perplexities. Viewing this matter hiftorically, nothing appears more various and more wavering than taste in the fine arts. If we judge by numbers, the Gothic taste of architecture will be preferred before that of Greece; and the Chinese tafte probably before both. It would be endless, to recount the various taftes of gardening that have prevailed in different ages, and ftill prevail in different, countries. Defpifing the modeft colouring of nature, women of fafhion in France daub their cheeks with a red powder. Nay, the unnatural swelling in the neck, a disease, peculiar to the inhabitants of the Alps, is relished by that people. But we ought not to be discouraged by fuch untoward inftances. For do we not find the like contradictions with refpect to morals? was it not once held lawful, for a man to expose his infant children, and, when grown up, to fell them for flaves? was it not held equally lawful, to punifh children for the crime of their parents? was not the murder of an enemy in cold blood an univerfal practice? what stronger inftance can be gi

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