IN the commencement of an auspicious reign, and even in that early period of life when pleasure commonly is the sole pursuit, your Majesty has uniformly display’d to a delighted people, the noblest principles, ripened by early culture; and for that reason, you will be the more disposed to favour every rational plan for advancing the art of training up youth. Among the many branches of education, that which tends to make deep impressions of virtue, ought to be a fundamental measure in a well-regulated government: for depravity of manners will render ineffectual the most salutary laws; and in the midst of opulence, what other means to prevent such depravity but early and virtuous discipline? The British discipline is susceptible of great improvements; and if we can hope for them, it must be from a young and accomplished Prince, eminently sensible of their importance. To establish a complete system of education, seems reserved by providence for a Sovereign who commands the hearts of his subjects. Success will crown the undertaking, and endear GEORGE THE THIRD to our latest posterity. The most elevated and most refined pleasure of human nature, is enjoy’d by a virtuous prince governing a virtuous people; and that, by perfecting the great system of education, your Majesty may very long enjoy this pleasure, is the ardent wish of Your Majesty’s Devoted Subject, HENRY HOME. CONTENTS. _Vol. Pag._ _Introduction_, 1 1 Ch. 1. _Perceptions and ideas in a train_, 1 21 Ch. 2. _Emotions and passions_, 1 42 Ch. 3. _Beauty_, 1 241 Ch. 4. _Grandeur and sublimity_, 1 264 Ch. 5. _Motion and force_, 1 309 Ch. 6. _Novelty, and the unexpected appearance of objects_, 1 319 Ch. 7. _Risible objects_, 1 337 Ch. 8. _Resemblance and contrast_, 1 345 Ch. 9. _Uniformity and variety_, 1 380 Ch. 10. _Congruity and propriety_, 2 3 Ch. 11. _Dignity and meanness_, 2 27 Ch. 12. _Ridicule_, 2 40 Ch. 13. _Wit_, 2 58 Ch. 14. _Custom and habit_, 2 80 Ch. 15. _External signs of emotions and passions_, 2 116 Ch. 16. _Sentiments_, 2 149 Ch. 17. _Language of passion_, 2 204 Ch. 18. _Beauty of language_, 2 234 Ch. 19. _Comparisons_, 3 3 Ch. 20. _Figures_, 3 53 Ch. 21. _Narration and description_, 3 169 Ch. 22. _Epic and dramatic compositions_, 3 218 Ch. 23. _The three unities_, 3 259 Ch. 24. _Gardening and architecture_, 3 294 Ch. 25. _Standard of taste_, 3 351