LECTURE XXIII.

CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THESTYLE IN N\ 4 !4- OF THE SPEC-TATOR.

« IF we confider the works of nature and Art,e ‘ as they are qualified to entertain the imagina-“ tion, we fhall find the' laft very defective in“ comparifon of the former; for though they“ may fometimes appear as beautiful or ftrange,“ they can have nothing in them of (hat vaftnefs“ and immenfity which afford fo great an enter-^unment to the mind of the beholder.

I HAD occafion formerly to obferve , thatan introductory Sentence fhould always be fhortand fimple , and contain no more matter than isneceffary for opening the fubject. This fentenceleads to a repetition of this obfervation, as it con-tains both an affertion and the proof of that affertion ;two things which , for the mod part, butefpeciallyat firft fetting out, are with more advantage keptfeparate. It would certainly have been better, ifthis Sentence had contained only the affertion,ending with the word former; and if a new oneVOL. II. I

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XXIII.

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