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fo as to be formed and moulded

into innumerable fhapes. Hence weapons, armour, and coin; hence all thofe various tools and inftruments, which impower her to proceed to farther ends more excellent.

Nor is the fubtle air lefs obedient to Art, whether it adminifters to pleasure or use**. Does not Art

alfo give birth to founds which charm and elevate the foul with all the powers of harmony.

Under Art's inftruction, ships are wafted over the immeasurable

* The aerial excurfions lately made by balloons, is a conquest over a fubtle element, greatly astonishing, and probably may be followed by new discoveries.

ocean,

ocean, through numberless dangers and difficulties, by which knowledge and the intercourse of nations are promoted. To fay how the influence of Art is feen on earth, would be to teach the meanest what he already knows; fuffice it but to mention, fields of arable and pasture, lawns and groves, gardens and plantations, cottages, villages, caftles, towns, palaces, temples, and fpacious cities.

Nor does the empire of Art end in fubjects thus inanimate; its power also extends through the various race of animals, who either patiently submit to become her flaves, or are fure to find in her an irre

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fiftible foe.

The faithful dog, the patient ox, the generous horse, and the mighty elephant, are all content to receive the inftructions of Art, and readily to lend their natural inftin&t or ftrength to perform the numerous useful offices which are ordained for them.

If there be found any fpecies which are ferviceable when dead, Art fuggefts the means to inveftigate and take them; if any be fo favage as to refufe being tamed, or of natures fierce enough to venture an attack; it is Art that teaches us to fcorn their brutal rage, to meet, repel, purfue and conquer. Such indeed, is its amazing influence on

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inferior objects, on natures inanimate, or at best irrational.

But whenever it chooses a fubje&t more noble, or aims at the cultivating of the mind itself, then it becomes truly divine, the ever flowing fource of those fublimer beauties of which no fubject but the mind alone is capable. Thus are exhibited to mankind, the admired tribe of poets and orators, the facred train of patriots and heroes, the god-like lift of philofophers and legislators, the forms of virtuous and equal governments, where private welfare is made the fame with that of the public, where crouds themselves prove disinterested, and virtue is made a national, popular characteriftic.

Is

Is not Art the fource of all thefe wonders? Should we not, therefore, give her due praise, through whom, whatever we do, is done with elegance and beauty; without whom, what we do, is ever graceless and deformed.

Venerable powers! by what name fhall we addrefs thee? Shall we call thee ornament of mind, or art thou more truly mind itself ? 'Tis mind thou art, most perfect mind, not rude, untaught, but fair and polished; in fuch thou dwelleft, of fuch thou art the form; nor is it thing more poffible to separate thee from fuch, than it is to feparate thee from thy own existence.

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