niality and harmony of nature; and who hath a fimilar fenfe and feeling for all emendations and additions of art and constraint. He is no phyfiognomist who doubts of the propriety, fimplicity, and harmony of nature, or who has not this phyfiognomonical effential; who fuppofes nature selects members to form a whole, as a compofitor in a printing-houfe does letters to make up a word; who can fuppofe the works of nature are the patch-work of a harlequin jacket. Not the most infignificant of infects is fo compounded, mush less man, the most perfect of organized beings. He refpires not the breath of wisdom, who doubts of this progreffion, continuity, and fimplicity of the ftructure of nature. He wants a general feeling for the works of nature; confequently of art, the imitator of nature. I fhall be pardoned this warmth. It is neceffary. The confequences are infinite, and extend to all things. He has the mafter-key of truth, who has this fenfation of the congeniality of nature, and, by necessary induction, of the human form.

All imperfection in works of art, productions of the mind, moral actions, errors in judgment; all fcepticism, infidelity, and ridicule of religion, naturally originate in the want of this knowledge and fenfation. He foars above all doubt of the Divinity and Chrift, who hath them, and who is conscious of this congeniality. He alfo who, at firft fight, thoroughly understands and feels the congeniality of the human form, and that from the want of this congeniality arifes the difference obferved between the works of nature and of art, is fuperior to all doubt concerning the truth and divinity of the hu

man countenance.

Those who have this fenfe, this feeling, call it

which

which you pleafe, will attribute that only, and nothing more, to each countenance, which it is capable of receiving. They will confider each according to its kind, and will as little feek to add a heterogeneous character as a heterogeneous nofe to the face. Such will only unfold what nature is defirous of unfolding, give what nature is capable of receiving, and take away that with which nature would not be incumbered. They will perceive in the child, pupil, friend, or wife, when any difcordant trait of character makes its appearance; and will endeavour to restore the original congeniality, the equilibrium of character and impulfe, by acting upon the ftill remaining harmony, by cooperating with the yet unimpaired effential powers. They will confider each fin, each vice, as deftructive of this harmony; will feel how much each departure from truth, in the human form, at least to eyes more penetrating than human eyes are, muft be manifeft, must distort, and must become difpleafing to the Creator, by rendering it unlike his image. Who, therefore, can judge better of the works and actions of man, who lefs offend or be offended, who more clearly develop caufe and effect, than the phyfiognomift, poffeffed of a full portion of this knowledge and fenfation??

CHAP.

CHA P. V.

Defcription of Plates I. and II.

WE E fhall occafionally introduce fome figures,

in order to support and elucidate thofe opinions and propofitions which may be advanced. These plates refer to objects that have been already alluded to in the preceding pages.

Defcription of Plate I. Number 1. piece.

See the Frontif

This is a boldly fketched portrait of ALBERT DURER. Whoever examines this countenance, cannot but perceive in it the traits of fortitude, deep penetration, determined perfeverance, and inventive genius. At least, every one will acknowledge the truth of these obfervations, when made.

Number 2. MONCRIEF.

There are few men capable of obfervation, who will clafs this vifage with the ftupid. In the afpect, the eye, the nofe efpecially, and the mouth, are proofs, not to be mistaken, of the accomplished gentleman, and the man of tafte.

Number 3. JOHNSON.

The most unpractifed eye will easily discover, in this fketch of Johnson, the acute, the comprehenfive, the capacious mind, not easily deceived, and rather inclined to fufpicion than credulity.

Number 4. SHAKESPEARE..

How deficient must all outlines be! Among ter thousand can one be found that is exact? Where