is to be found among the Titles of the exalted JEHOVAH. In one very remarkable Peculiarity, this minute Fabric resembles that facred Edifice, the Porch being loftier than any other Part of the Building. The Porch, I call that femicircular Lodge, which stands somewhat prominent from the Head; and is -not foft and finking as Flefh, left it should abforb the Sound, rather than promote the Repercuffion; not hard and stubborn as Bone, left it should occafion painful Inconveniencies, when We repofe Ourfelves on either Side-but of a cartilaginous Substance, covered with a tight Expansion of Skin, and wrought into irregular Bends and Hollows. Which, like circling Hills, or furrounding rocky Shores +, collect the wandering Undulations of the Air; and tranfmit them, with a vigorous Impulfe, to the finely ftretched Membrane of the Tympanum t The Delicacy. The Mechanism of the Ear, like a Root planted (y) in the Earth, is funk deep into the Head, and concealed from public View. Whereas, the Ball of the Eye, like fome finely-wrought (y) Pilafter on a Building, is prominent on the Face, and prefented to general Obfervation. Pfal. xciv. 9. * Compare 1 Kings vi. 2. with 2 Chron. iii. 4.' Alluding to thofe expreflive Lines, where Echo seems to live in the Sound, as well as in the Sense: Vocemque inclufa volutant Littora, pulfati Colles Clamore refultant. VIRG. So called, because it refembles a Drum, both in Figure and Ufe. Being a fine Skin, expanded upon a Circleof Bones, and over a polished reverberating Cavity.—It is affected by the Vibrations of the external Air, as the Covering of the War-drum is by the Impreflions of the Stick. It is also furnished with Braces, which strain or relax it at pleasure; and accommodate its Tenfion either to loud or languid Sounds. The Avenue, or narrow Entry, is fecured from the infinuating Attempts of Infects, by a Morass (fhall I fay?) of bitter and viscous Matter: disgustful to their Tafte, and embarraffing to their Feet.-The Hammer and the Anvil; the Stirrup and the Drum; the winding Labyrinths *, and the founding Galleries; thefe, and other Pieces of Mechanifm, all inftrumental to the Power of Hearing, are beyondDefcription curious. Amazingly nice must be the Formation, and inconceivably exact the Tenfion of the auditory Nerves! Since they correfpond with the fmallest. Tremors of the Atmosphere, and easily distinguish their moft fubtile Variations. With the gentle Gales that fan Us, or even with the ruder Blafts that affault Us, thefe delicate Strings are but little. affected. Whereas, they are perfect Unifons with those fine, thofe fignificant Agitations of the Air, which the acuteft Touch is unable to difcern. Thefe living Chords, tuned by an Almighty Hand, and diffufed through the echoing Ifles, and fonorous Cells-thefe receive the Impreffions of Sound,. and propagate them to the Brain. Thefe + give t Existence * Of this Kind is the auditory Tube; intended to foften and qualify the rufhing Sound. Left, if the Incurfion were direct, it might be too impetuous, and injure the delicate Expanfe of the Tympanum.-While this is defigned to moderate, the Concavities of the inner Structure are prepared to heighten and invigorate the Sound, by calling in the auxiliary Force of an Echo.-Such Intentions, fo varying, nay so oppofite, concur to form this admirable Organ! + Elegantly ftyled, The Daughters of Mufic. For this Phrafe may refer, as well to the Organs which diftinguish, as to thofe which form, the harmonious Accents. Ecclef Existence to the Charms of Mufic, and reciprocate the rational Entertainments of Difcourfe. Thefe treat my Afpafio with the Melody of the Woodland Choirs, and afford me the fuperior Pleasure of my Friend's Conversation. The Eye perceives only the Objects that are before it; whereas, the Ear warns Us of Transactions, that pass above Us, behind Us, all around Us.-The Eye is useless, amidst the Gloom of Night; and cannot carry its Obfervation, through the bolted Door, or the closed Window-fhutter. But the Ear admits her Intelligence, through the darkest Medium, and the minutest Cranny.-The Eye is upon Duty, only in our waking Hours; but the Ear is always expanded, and always acceffible *: a Courier, which never tires a Centry, ever in his Box.-To fecure a Resource, in cafe any Misfortune fhould difable. one of the hearing or feeing Organs, our all-gracious MAKER has given Us Duplicates of each. As there are tremulous Concuffions impreffed upon the Air, difcernable only by the Inftruments of Hearing; there are also odoriferous Particles, wafted by the fame aerial Vehicle, which are perceivable only by the Smell. The Noftrils are wide at the Bottom, VOL. II. --- that xii. 4. Methinks, I am always defirous to add any appofite Expreffion, or parallel Paffage from the BIBLE. As I find, Writers of Tatte and Politenefs are ftudious to embellish their Works, with Quotations from the Claf fics. And I perfuade myself, the Reader will allow me to gratify this favourite Inclination. Because, every Portion of that inestimable Book, however minute, is like the Filings of Gold, or the Sparks of a Diamond. Is fure, when properly applied, to add Worth, and impart Beauty. * Auditus autem femper patet. Ejus enim Senjus etiam dor mientes egemus. A quo, cum Sonus eft acceptus, etiam e Somm excutimur. De Nat. Deor. that a large Quantity of Effluvia may enter; narrow at the Top, that, when entered, they may clofe their Ranks, and act with greater Vigour Fine, beyond all Imagination, are the Steams which exhale from fetid or fragrant Bodies. The very best Microfcopes, which difcover Thousands and Thoufands of Animalcules in a Drop of putrified Water, cannot bring one Individual, among all these evanefcent Legions, to our Sight. They fail, in numberlefs Squadrons, clofe to our Eyes, close by our Ears; yet are fo amazingly attenuated, that they elude the Search of both. Nevertheless, fo judiciously * are the olfactory Nets laid, and fo artfully ahun? prideaux ar's to comnesTada la mort their * The Keenness and Sagacity of this Senfe, furnished the evangelical Prophet with a beautiful Metaphor, to difplay the Accuracy of the MESSIAH's Judgment in fpiritual Things. Ifai. xi. 3. implies his Faculty or Senfe of Smelling; which Expreffion is accommodated to our Language, and pro perly enough tranflated, Shall make Him of quick Underftanding. q. d. "He fhall judge, not according to ex"ternal Appearance, but according to the State of the "inner Man. Unfeigned Self-abafement, Affiance in a "REDEEMER's Righteoufnefs, and Faith purifying "the Heart; thefe Endowments, though not obferved, 66 or, if obferved, not valued by the World; these fhall "be the Teft of his Approbation, and the Objects of his Efteem. Thefe conftitute, what is called in the "next Words, The Fear of the LORD.C "In determining the Reality of thefe Qualities, He fhall be unerringly exact, and infallibly true. Let Hypocrify put on every Mak, and practise all her Wiles, they fhall avail nothing before the ROOT and OFF"SPRING of David (Ver. 1.) As thofe extremely fubtle Effluvia, which efcape the Inquifition of every other Senfe, are eafily and perfectly distinguished by "the Smell; fo, thofe Receffes of the Breaft, and those ་ Secrets of the Heart, which lie too deep for all hu 66 man their Meshes fized, that they catch these vanishing Fugitives. They catch the roaming Perfumes, which fly off from the opening Honeyfuckle; and take in the ftationed Sweets, which hover round the expanded Rofe. They imbibe all the balmy Fragrance of Spring, all the aromatic Exhalations of Autumn, and enable Us to banquet even on the invifible Dainties of Nature. Furnished as We are with these feveral Organs, Not a Breeze** Flies o'er the Meadow, not a Cloud imbibes Another Capacity for frequent Pleafure, our bountiful CREATOR has beftowed, in granting Us the Powers of Tafte. By means of which, the Food that supports sour Body, feafts our Palate; first, Qua tu visie ora di gio 2 210 treats man Difcernment; even they are naked and open, "are obvious and palpable, to his divinely fagacious "Understanding." ་༈ *9 * See that very elegant Poem, THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION, Book III.Tis true, I am no Profelyte to the Author's Principles, either political or moral; to his Republican Adminiftration, or his Shaftesburian Ethics. Much lefs can I admire that pompous and folemn Whim, of making Ridicule the Teft of Truth. Which feems just as fuitable to the Fitnefs of Things, as to place Harlequin in the Seat of Lord Chief Juftice.-But if We look for the Glow of Imagination, and the Harmony of Numbers; Energy and Luftre of Defcription, with Correctness and Delicacy of Tafte; I know not any didactic Poem, which prefents Us with all thefe Graces in fuch high Perfection. |