Chapter I: Front Matter

ELEMENTS

OF

CRITICISM.

In THREE VOLUMES.

VOLUME I.

EDINBURGH:

Printed for A. MILLAR, London;

AND

A. KINCAID & J. BELL, Edinburgh,

TO THE

KING.

SIR,

The fine arts have ever been encouraged by wise princes, not singly for private amusement, but for their beneficial influence in society. By uniting different ranks in the same elegant pleasures, they promote benevolence: by cherishing love of order, they inforce submission to government: and by inspiring delicacy of feeling, they make regular government a double blessing.

THESE considerations embolden me to hope for your Majesty’s patronage in behalf of the following work, which treats of the fine arts, and attempts to form a standard of taste by unfolding those principles that ought to govern the taste of every individual.

IT is rare to find one born with such delicacy of feeling, as not to need instruction: it is equally rare to find one so low in feeling, as not to be capable of instruction. And yet, to refine our taste with respect to beauties of art or of nature, is scarce endeavoured in any seminary of learning; a lamentable defect, considering how early in life taste is susceptible of culture, and how difficult to reform it if unhappily perverted. To furnish materials for supplying that defect, was an additional motive for the present undertaking.

TO promote the fine arts in Britain, has become of greater importance than is generally imagined. A flourishing commerce begets opulence; and opulence, inflaming our appetite for pleasure, is commonly vented on luxury and on every sensual gratification: Selfishness rears its head; becomes fashionable; and infecting all ranks, extinguishes the _amor patriæ_ and every spark of public spirit. To prevent or to retard such fatal corruption, the genius of an Alfred cannot devise any means more efficacious, than venting opulence upon the fine arts. Riches so employ’d, instead of encouraging vice, will excite both public and private virtue. Of this happy effect, ancient Greece furnishes one shining instance; and why should we despair of another in Britain?

IN the commencement of an auspicious reign, and even in that early period of life when pleasure commonly is the sole pursuit, your Majesty has uniformly display’d to a delighted people, the noblest principles, ripened by early culture; and for that reason, you will be the more disposed to favour every rational plan for advancing the art of training up youth. Among the many branches of education, that which tends to make deep impressions of virtue, ought to be a fundamental measure in a well-regulated government: for depravity of manners will render ineffectual the most salutary laws; and in the midst of opulence, what other means to prevent such depravity but early and virtuous discipline? The British discipline is susceptible of great improvements; and if we can hope for them, it must be from a young and accomplished Prince, eminently sensible of their importance. To establish a complete system of education, seems reserved by providence for a Sovereign who commands the hearts of his subjects. Success will crown the undertaking, and endear GEORGE THE THIRD to our latest posterity.

The most elevated and most refined pleasure of human nature, is enjoy’d by a virtuous prince governing a virtuous people; and that, by perfecting the great system of education, your Majesty may very long enjoy this pleasure, is the ardent wish of

Your Majesty’s

Devoted Subject,

HENRY HOME.

CONTENTS.

_Vol. Pag._
_Introduction_, 1 1

Ch. 1. _Perceptions and ideas in a
train_, 1 21

Ch. 2. _Emotions and passions_, 1 42

Ch. 3. _Beauty_, 1 241

Ch. 4. _Grandeur and sublimity_, 1 264

Ch. 5. _Motion and force_, 1 309

Ch. 6. _Novelty, and the unexpected
appearance of objects_, 1 319

Ch. 7. _Risible objects_, 1 337

Ch. 8. _Resemblance and contrast_, 1 345

Ch. 9. _Uniformity and variety_, 1 380

Ch. 10. _Congruity and propriety_, 2 3

Ch. 11. _Dignity and meanness_, 2 27

Ch. 12. _Ridicule_, 2 40

Ch. 13. _Wit_, 2 58

Ch. 14. _Custom and habit_, 2 80

Ch. 15. _External signs of emotions
and passions_, 2 116

Ch. 16. _Sentiments_, 2 149

Ch. 17. _Language of passion_, 2 204

Ch. 18. _Beauty of language_, 2 234

Ch. 19. _Comparisons_, 3 3

Ch. 20. _Figures_, 3 53

Ch. 21. _Narration and description_, 3 169

Ch. 22. _Epic and dramatic compositions_, 3 218

Ch. 23. _The three unities_, 3 259

Ch. 24. _Gardening and architecture_, 3 294

Ch. 25. _Standard of taste_, 3 351

_Appendix_, 3 375

In describing the scale of sounds made in pronouncing the five vowels, _vol._ 2. _p._ 239. it ought to have been mentioned, that the letter _i_ must be pronounced as in the word _interest_, and other words beginning with the syllable _in_; the letter _e_ as in _persuasion_; and the letter _u_ as in _number_.

The reference intended, _vol._ 2. _p._ 419. is to _p._ 404. of the same volume.