In the Specific Effence of each object itself, they diftinguishnd two parts; one of which was peculiar and characteristical of the clafs of things of which that particular object was ' an individual, the other was common to it with fome other higher claffes of things. Thefe two parts were, to the Specific Effence, pretty much what the Matter and the Specific Effence were to each individual body. The one, which was called the Genus, was modified and determined by the other, which was called the Specific Difference, pretty much in the fame manner as the universal matter contained in each body was modified and determined by the Specific Effence of that particular clafs of bodies. Thefe four, with the Specific Effence or Species itfelf, made up the number of the Five Univerfals, fo well known in the schools by the names of Genus, Species, Differentia, Proprium, and Accidens.

OF THE

IMITATIVE ARTS.

PART I.

I.

THE moft perfect imitation of an object of P ART any kind muft in all cafes, it is evident, be another object of the fame kind, made as exactly as poffible after the fame model, What, for example, would be the most perfect imitation of the carpet which now lies before me?-Another carpet, certainly, wrought as exactly as poffible after the fame pattern, But, whatever might be the merit or beauty of this fecond carpet, it would not be fuppofed to derive any from the circumftance of its having been made in imitation of the first. This circumftance of its being not an original, but a copy, would even be confidered as fome diminution of that merit; a greater or fmaller, in proportion as the object was of a nature to lay claim to a greater or fmaller degree of admiration. It would not much diminish the merit of a common carpet, because in fuch trifling objects, which at beft can lay claim to fo little beauty

R 2

PART beauty or merit of any kind, we do not always I. think it worth while to affect originality: it

would diminish a good deal that of a carpet of very exquifite workmanship. In objects of ftill greater importance, this exact, or, as it would be called, this fervile imitation, would be confidered as the most unpardonable blemish. To build another St. Peter's, or St. Paul's church, of exactly the fame dimenfions, proportions, and ornaments with the prefent buildings at Rome, or London, would be fuppofed to argue fuch a miferable barrennefs of genius and invention as would difgrace the most expenfive magnificence.

The exact refemblance of the correfpondent parts of the fame object is frequently confidered as a beauty, and the want of it as a deformity; as in the correfpondent members of the human body, in the oppofite wings of the fame building, in the opposite trees of the fame alley, in the correfpondent compartments of the fame piece of carpet-work, or of the fame flower-garden, in the chairs or tables which ftand in the correfpondent parts of the fame room, &c. But in objects of the fame kind, which in other refpects are regarded as altogether feparate and unconnected, this exact refemblance is feldom confidered as a beauty, nor the want of it as a deformity. A man, and in the fame manner a horfe, is handfome or ugly, each of them, on account of