some it arises more from disappointment than feeling, and that others, who profess to be of this way of thinking, are of that class who prefer cheap pleasures, and have not any other reason for courting the charms of the bottle than because it requires no qualifications but those of which they are easily masters.

We

Although it has been found both difficult and inconvenient to attempt any definition of Beauty, we may be allowed to consider a little in what it consists, or where it resides. have had many disputes as to the seat of the soul, and the seat of honour; and it surely cannot be less important to discover the seat of Beauty, to prevent that purblind creature Man from making mistakes. But here, too, I am aware that we shall meet with many difficulties. The seat of Beauty is not laid down with so much geographical precision as one would expect, considering that it is the object of such general pursuit. It has changed its position, in my remembrance, four or five times; and I do not think, according to the most authentic accounts, that it has been stationary above ten years together for the last two centuries. I can remember that the seat of Beauty was once thought to be in the face; from that it mount, ed nearly a foot higher than the head; it then

the

very

descended in a fine flowing line, and hung gracefully over the shoulders; from which it disappeared so suddenly that the greatest beauties appeared to have taken an invincible dislike to hair. A few years ago, it seemed to have taken up its residence in the ancles; and thence it arose to the waist, from which with much difficulty it was dislodged by the wits and the caricaturists, assisted, in some measure, by reverend the clergy (who were tantalized by the prospect of mock-christenings). About three or four years ago, it quitted all these situations for the bosom, from whence it was again driven by the persecution of wit and decency, and by a sudden jerk fixed itself in the elbows and shoulders, where at present it seems to have acquired a tolerably quiet residence. How long this may last, is doubtful, as there are already symptoms of long sleeves, which threaten another removal of the seat of Beauty, but to what quarter I cannot presume to conjecture. During these revolutions, our lively neighbours, the French, went a considerable step farther in settling the important question. The French ladies, distrusting their own abilities to determine the seat of Beauty, and confiding in the superior judgment of those who were to be pleased, at once exposed nearly the

whole person

a scheme which was, to say

the least, very accommodating, since every lover might choose what he pleased.

Some feeble, but, no doubt, well-meant attempts, were made to introduce this fashion here; but, to the great surprise of the importers, the very persons for whose use and behoof it was tried, were the first to take the alarm, and hoot from society the few who had the courage to make the experiment. Some respect, however, might have been shown to what, we are told, was merely an error in judg ment, and to a mode of displaying beauty which must have cost them who tried it many sacrifices of all that is thought valuable, or decorous.

These frequent changes seem, therefore, to intimate that the seat of Beauty is never likely to be fixed -a circumstance from which those who contemplate various ages are apt to draw unfavourable conclusions, yet, perhaps, upon the whole, no great inconveniences can arise. We seldom hear any young man say, "I dislike elbows, and will wait until faces come in fashion." Every age seems content with its own species of Beauty; and the only conse quence is, that gentlemen who happened to be smitten with cork rumps will, after some years

of reflection, be apt to think they would have been happier if they had lived in an age of foreheads. Others, now disposed to look a little Jower, will chuckle to think that they once lost their hearts to Brutus's. Petty disputes and recriminations may probably take place, but without any very fatal effects, between those who have been captivated by a bosom plain or lappelled, by a cornelian broach or a pearl comb, by Moorish boots or Circassian sleeves; and it may be very harmlessly debated, whether it was wiser to be caught by the curls which Nature has given, or those which the ingenious Mr. Ross has sold.

These remarks lead to the consideration of a circumstance pertaining to Beauty, which has occasionally been noticed by writers on the subject, but not very fully discussed I mean, the imperfection of Beauty. It appears that while we allow Nature to have considerable powers in making many very sublime and conspicuous objects, such as rocks, mountains, rivers, and other things very much praised by poets and travellers, she generally fails in producing Beauty in the human form. This opinion may to some appear very singular; but it is amply confirmed by the many expedients contrived to improve her manufacture, and that,

not only where there seems to be room for improvement, but where the most nice and curious eye can discover no defect. Some of these expedients having already been hinted at, I shall close the subject with remarking that in certain cases the improvers have not always been so successful as the pains they take seem to deserve; and that in other instances they have so totally mistaken the original ideas of the architect, as to create a strange mixture of beauty and deformity, and of decays and repairs, and really make it doubtful whether the edifice is new or old, substantial or tottering.

་

The contest between Art and Nature in this affair has so long been carried on, that the oldest person now living cannot remember to have ever heard of a peace, or even an armistice. There is, however, a difference worth pointing out in the spirit and disposition of the parties. Nature acts entirely on the defensive; the war, therefore, on her part is just and necessary, and her friends may pray for the success of her arms with unfeigned ardour. The same cannot be said of Art, which plays the part of an invader and usurper, under the base pretence of being an ally and an auxiliary; and I would recommend to those who choose this side, to reflect how much mischief such a