diffent from it,' generally continues in the fame perfuafion. Children, which are early accustomed to virtuous and moral precepts, are undoubtedly more likely to become good members of fociety than if their education had been neglected. Thofe who in their infancy are taught the perfonal graces, have the eafieft carriage. In these instances, and many others, we confefs the full force of external impreffions, tho' we cannot so readily affent to their power of producing genius. But admitting, for a moment, that genius is not innate, yet if the means for acquiring it be not in our power, it is of very little fignification to the argument, whether a child is born with that propenfity to poetry, painting, or mufic, which we call genius, or whether he afterwards imbibes it: whether it be a property of the foul, or a quality of the body.

That these means are not in our power, is evident, from paft experience, and pre

fent

fent obfervation: if you cannot tell how to produce another Homer, Apelles, or Timotheus; should fuch beings again exift, it must depend upon fomething which does not belong to our efforts, and is beyond our knowledge.

Those who conceive genius to be nothing but a taste for the arts, very much under-rate its importance. Genius, indeed, poffeffes this taste, but its effence is a creative power to " body forth the fhapes of things unknown, and give to aery nothing a local habitation and a name.” Whoever read the original paffage without that thrill of delight always attendant on fublime expreffions? Who, but earnestly wished to equal its force. and beauty? But yet, out of the millions of men who have peopled this globe in long fucceffion, not one, no, not one ever did, perhaps, ever could conceive, and utter this idea in terms equally fublime!

If genius could be acquired, it seems unaccountable that we have not another Shakespeare-nay, a poet as much his fuperior as he is above all others; for why should we ftop, when by continual exertion we may at last ascend a height to look down on the top of Helicon? -feriens fidera vertice.

I have already hinted, that genius must not be mistaken for taste to relish the productions of others, or ability to imitate them. One half the world might be taught to copy high-finished drawings, as that kind of talent is by no means unusual. To produce effect with little trouble can only be attained by long practice, which induces facility. But original conceptions, and new arrangements of thofe forms and circumftances of which pictures are compofed, are the property of genius alone: they do not depend upon imitation, and can never be taught.

Perhaps

Perhaps the fubject may be farther illustrated by some obfervations with which mufic will furnish us.

९

Some perfons are born without ear, which no art can create. Let them hear mufic ever so often, let those who wish to give, and those who wish to acquire this fenfation, exert their utmost efforts -it is in vain-earlefs they were, and fo they will remain to the last moment of their lives.

Those who have an ear for mufic may become proficients in that art, in proportion to their ability-they may fing, or perform on an inftrument, and proceed in excellence, according to the extent of their practice, or opportunity for improvement-but all this is far fhort of genius. Perhaps, twenty perfons have an ear for one that wants it; but not one performer in a hundred has genius to create mufic of his own--the greater 0

number

number of practical musicians are as far from the invention of melody, as if they had never heard, or touched an inftrument; and, whạt makes altogether for the support of the first opinion, notwithstanding their utmost wishes and inceffant endeavours, it is not in the power of human art to give them this invention.

Should thofe unacquainted with mufic, say, that the want of fuccefs is because the proper means have not been tried-I can only reply, that no means which the knowledge and practice of the art can furnish, ever fucceeded to give ear and genius where nature had denied them; and it feems hard to fuppofe that perfons ignorant of the science should possess a fecret denied to profeffors.

This is intended as a fair enquiry into the different merit of the two opinions, and the result is undoubtedly in favour of the first. The caufe, or confequence of