FIRST LECTURE.

The difficulties of the talk prefcribed to me,if they do not preponderate are at leaft equal to thehonour of the fituation. If, to difcourfe on any topicwith truth, precffion, and clearnefs, before a mixed orfortuitous audience, before men neither initiated in thefubjedt, nor rendered minutely attentive by expectation,be no eafy talk ; how much more arduous muft it be tofpeak fyftematically on an art, before a feledt affembly,compofed of Profejfors whofe life has been dividedbetween theory and practice ; of Critics whofe tafte hasbeen refined by contemplation and comparifon ; and ofStudents , who bent on the fame purfuit, look for thebelt and always mod: compendious method of matteringthe principles, to arrive at its emoluments and honours.Your ledturer is to inftrudt them in the principles of * com-< pofition ; to form their tafte for defign and colouring;‘ to ftrengthen their judgment; to point out to them4 the beauties and imperfedtions of celebrated works of art;

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