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Its dangerous tendency, added to its fi'equency, must plead my exeiise
for taking notice of the following vulgar mode-of expression: "I do not pro-
"fess to understand these matters, but I know what pleases me."  This may
be the standard of perfection with those who are content to gratify their own
taste without inquiring how it may affect others; but the man of good taste
endeavours to investigate the causes of the pleasure he receives, and to
inquire whether others receive pleasure also. He knows that the same prin-
ciples which direct taste in the- polite arts, direct the judgment in morality;
in short, that a knowledge, of what is good, what is bad, and what is indif-
ferent, whether in actions, in manners, in language, in arts, or science, con-
stitutes the basis of good taste, and marks the distinction between the higher
ranks of polished society, and the inferior orders of mankind, whose daily
labours allow no leisure for other enjoyments than those of mere sensual, indi-
vidual, and personal gratification.
"' In most countries novelty, in every form of extravagance, broad humour,
"6,and caricatures, afford the greatest delight to the populace. This preference
" is congenial with their love of coarse pleasures, and distinguishes the mul-
titude from the more polite classes of every nation. The inferior orders of
" society are therefore disqualified from deciding upon the merits of the fine
"arts; and the department of taste is consequently confined to persons en-
"lightened by education and conversant with the world, whose views of na,-
"ture, of art, and of mankind, are enlarged and elevated by an extensive
".range of observation."  Kett's Elements of General Knowledge.
Those who delight in depreciating the present by comparisons with former
times, may, perhaps, observe a decline of taste in many of the polite arts;
but, surely in architecture and gardening, the present aera furnishes more
examples of attention to comfort and convenience than are to be found in
the plans of Palladio, Vitruvius, or Le N6tre, who, in the display of useless
symmetry, often forgot the requisites of habitation. The leading feature in
the good taste of modern times, is the just sense of GE N ERA L UTILT Y.