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    derived from a general impression of its power of , producing pleasure ; or , finally , it may excite the feeling of beauty . So with the pleasures connected with knowledge , the solution of a difficult problem associated with a particular beneficial result , the applause of our instructor , 8 cc ., is hope or desire . The love of knowledge is enjoyment , arising from a general and

    liberal irrmression of its advantage : while the beautv of knowliberal impression of its advantage ; while the beauty of knowledge , as a theory or argument , is a still more abstract feeling . The tendency which the modification of feeling called love , has in these cases to pass into , and become a feeling of beauty , must easily be seen ; a familiar example of it is the change in our sentiments with regard to the features of our familiar

    acquaintance , in which , by constant association of pleasure with their appearance , we lose our consciousness of their plainness . And so it is with actions : the sentiment of moral approbation is pleasure , arising from a recognition of the general utility of the action ; while the beauty of ah action is pleasure , associated with it independently of any such anticipation ; and this is the sole difference in the two trains of association of ideas .

    There can be no occasion for a detailed exposition of the obvious difference between the emotions of imagination , proper , and what are sometimes , called imaginary terrors , imaginary hopes , Sec , that is , unfounded—unauthorised . Whether the grounds of the anticipation be true or false , the emotion is

    anticipative . The emotions of imagination then , arising under these conditions , are still subject among themselves to a great variety of inflections . Of these , of course the most important is their division into pleasurable and painful ; but this we have not

    now any need to discuss . Taste has but little to do in estimating . the power of objects to excite the pains of imagination ; its proper exercise is to appreciate degrees of excellence , and happily for man , however intense the pains of imagination sometimes become , as in the cases of hypochondriacism , inducing strange terrors and anticipations , the faculty is most assiduous as a minister of pleasure .

    The pleasures of the imagination ' are indeed a perennial spring of mental refreshment ; in them we are endowed with a rich umd of enjoyment to cheer us on our way , as in the passions an attraction is provided to allure us onward in strenuous and consistent exertion . The attention of man can never be long entirely withdrawn from the consideration of his position with respect to the

    surrounding powers , which influence his future condition . The n 4 jnd , if it do not spontaneously return , must , in the progress of things , be forced back from the flights of fancy , and disenchanted from the romance of imagination , by the importunate pressure from without . The grand current of every one ' s being

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    86 Is there a Standard of Taste ?

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1837, page 36, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1827/page/38/