A CONTENT S. Vol. Pag. Introduction, Ch. 1. Perceptions and ideas in a train, Ch. 2. Emotions and paffions, 42 Ch. 3. Beauty, Ch. 4. Grandeur and fublimity, Ch. 5. Motion and force, Ch. 6. Novelty, and the unex pected appearance of ob jects, Ch. 7. Rifible objects, Ch. 8. Refemblance and contrast, Ch. 9. Uniformity and variety, Ch. 10. Congruity and propriety, Ch. 12. Ridicule, Ch. 18. Beauty of language, Ch.20. Figures, Ch. 21. Narration and defcription, Ch. 22. Epic and dramatic compo- Ch. 23. The three unities, Ch. 24. Gardening and architecture, 3 294 Ch. 25. Standard of taste, Appendix, 3 351 3 375 In defcribing the fcale of founds made in The reference intended, vol. 2. p. 419. ELE- INTRODUCTION. T HE five fenfes agree in the following particular, that nothing external is perceived till it first make an impreffion upon the organ of fenfe; the impreffion, for example, made upon the hand by a stone, upon the palate.by sugar, and upon the noftrils by a rofe. But there is a difference as to our confcioufnefs of that impreffion. In touching, tasting, and smelling, we are conscious of the impresfion. Not fo in seeing and hearing. When I behold a tree, I am not fenfible of the impreffion made upon my eye; nor of the impreffion made upon my ear, when I liften to a fong *. This difference in the manner of perception, diftinguishes remarkably hearing and feeing from the other fenfes; and diftinguishes ftill more remarkably the feelings of the former from those of the latter. A feeling pleasant or painful cannot exist but in the mind; and yet be caufe cause in tasting, touching, and smelling, we are conscious of the impreffion made upon the organ, we naturally place there alfo, the pleasant or painful feeling caused by that impreffion. And because such feelings feem to be placed externally at the organ of fenfe, we, for that reason, conceive them to be merely corporeal. We have a different apprehenfion of the pleasant and painful feelings derived from seeing and hearing. Being infenfible here of the organic impreffion, we are not misled to affign a wrong place to these feelings; and therefore we naturally place them in the mind, where they really exift. Upon that account, they are conceived to be more refined and fpiritual, than what are derived from tasting, touching, and smelling. The pleasures of the eye and ear being thus elevated above thofe of the other external fenfes, acquire fo much dignity as to make them a laudable entertainment. They are not, however, fet upon a level with those that are purely intellectual; being not lefs inferior in dignity to intellectual pleasures, than fuperior to the organic or corporeal. They They indeed resemble the latter, being like them produced by external objects: but they also resemble the former, being like them produced without any fenfible organic impreffion. Their mixt nature and middle place betwixt organic and intellectual pleasures, qualify them to affociate with either. Beauty heightens all the organic feelings, as well as thofe that are intellectual. Harmony, though it aspires to inflame devotion, difdains not to improve the relish of a banquet. The pleasures of the eye and ear have other valuable properties beside those of dignity and elevation. Being sweet and moderately exhilerating, they are in their tone equally distant from the turbulence of paffion, and languor of inaction; and by that tone are perfectly well qualified, not only to revive the fpirits when funk by fenfual gratification, but alfo to relax them when overstrained in any violent purfuit. Here is a remedy provided for many diftreffes. And to be convinced of its falutary effects, it will be fufficient to run over the following particulars. Organic pleasures A 2 have 1 |