The Dorians exhibited an order of building like the ftile of their Pindar,-like Efchylus, like Thucydides. The Corinthians gave their Architecture that appearance of delicacy and effeminate refinement, which characterises the language of Ifocrates. But the Ionians ftruck out that happy line of beauty, which partaking of the fimplicity of the one without its harfhnefs, and of the elegance of the other without its luxuriance, exhibited that perfection of ftile, which is adjudged to their great Poet and his best imitators.

Such an Art among fuch a people could not but produce the most exquifite models of beauty and magnificence. But those models are no more. And it is impoffible even in Idea, (which they can form most adequately, who are best acquainted with this study,) to

fpecies of compofition, the auftere, the florid, and the middle, by calling it one of the most useful pieces of criticism extant. For a character of this treatise, and of its illuftrious author, fee alfo Lord MON BODDO in his Origin and Progress of Language, Vol. II. p. 557. 560. 587. Vol. III. p. 105. &c. &c. The critical writings of Dionyfius never appeared to more advantage, than in the excellent ufe, which Lord Monboddo has made of them.

ence, the glory of the Universe; now ftrewed with the ruins of their paft magnificence; without feeling the most fenfible regret at the instability of human grandeur.

The remains however of antient Architecture have been examined and illuftrated with a degree of diligence which reflects great honour on the active and liberal curiofity of the present Age. Indeed that Study can want no recommendation which has thrown fo much light on History, Geography, and Chronology; and to the cultivation of which modern Architecture owes all its excellence.

d

3. As the gradation of this noble art points out the GENERAL progrefs of national manners and taste, the feveral nicer diftinctions of character, and the PECULIARITIES of private life, are more ftrikingly portrayed in the remains of antient PAINTING, in their BAS-RELIEFS, their MARBLES and COINS. The indefatigable spirit, with which Men

Fontanini "de Antiquitatibus Horta." p. xix:

of

of learned curiofity have conducted their refearches after the remaining monuments of Antiquity, (in the purfuit of which the English, by the general consent of foreigners, have eminently diftinguished themselves, and fome of the most valuable of which it is the envied boast of this univerfity to poffefs,) has brought to light Paintings, Statues, Coins, Marbles of private memorial as well as public inftitution, Temples, Villas, and even whole Cities, to the peculiar fatisfaction of thofe lovers of Antiquity, who had long confidered them as the irreparable prey of Time, and fuperftitious zeal, and the laft favage triumphs of uncivilized barbarity.

From the fugitive nature of colours, and the fragility of their materials, few are the remains of ancient Painting, when compared with those of Sculpture. The works of Apelles, Polygnotus, and Zeuxis, have left behind them the echo only of that reputation which once refounded from every fide of Greece: a fate which even fome productions of modern genius have fuffered from Time, accident, and the ignorance of

their

their poffeffors. But fortunately this loss is in fome measure compenfated by the ample and minute descriptions of their most excellent performances preferved in the writings of the Greek Poets, Travellers, Geographers, and others f.

These precious monuments of Antiquity comprehend the most certain teftimonies of domestic life, in the representation of their marriage ceremonies, funerals, and facrifices". From the fame fources, especially from the remains of Sculpture, is derived the most authentic intelligence of religious and political institutions.

The strict connexion which the study of the CIVIL LAW has with claffical learning, and the mutual affiftance which they lend to each other, appears no where more evident than from a diligent study of Coins and Mar

Winkelman's "Reflections on the Painting and Sculpture "of the Greeks." p. 2, and 76.

f Several of the Anthologic Poets; Paufanias; Strabo ; Philoftratus, Lucian, &c.-among the Latins, Pliny.

& Taylor's Elements, p. 278. Spanheim. Differtat. IX. P. 757. and Van. Dale Differtationes.

h Taylor, Pref. p. 7, 8.

bles;

bles'; on which so many important decrees were inscribed, and thus tranfmitted to pofterity. And it has been remarked by a very learned civilian, (one who perhaps owed the folid reputation, which his writings have acquired him, to uniting with his profeffional knowledge the most accurate and extenfive claffical erudition,) that the many great discoveries in antiquity, and the use of feveral curious monuments, which were unknown to former Ages, have afforded the present Times many happy opportunities of improvement on the wifeft fyftems of preceding Lawyers.

HISTORY has particular obligations to these Antiquities; by which its deficiences have been supplied, its obscurities illustrated, and its Chronology and Geography often accurately ascertained. Their great importance

1 A quorum numifmatum ac marmorum ftudio nunquam abhorrui, quinimo huic, non minus ac aliis fcientiis multis abhinc retro annis omni meo conatu incubui, quod fummopere ad exactam et omnibus abfolutam Romanæ Jurifprudentiæ intelligentiam pertinere cognoverim. PASCHAL. CARYOPHILUS de Thermis Herculanis But there can be no better teftimony of the great Utility of Coins and Marbles in illuftrating the Civil Law, than the very useful application, which TAYLOR has made of them in every part of his Elements.