270 BURKE. in the thirteen years which then had elapsed since his publication, and might have taken that opportunity of correcting his error. Such a supposition is improbable on many grounds; but we have evidence which will go near to prove it false, and shew, that soon after the publi- cation of Burke's Essay, Reynolds' Theory of Beauty was already formed.In the eighty-second number of the Idler, published in November 1759, which was allowedly written by Sir Joshua, the same doctrines are maintained with even more ability than in his lectures, and some pas- sages in this article seem specially directed against the Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful, which had then been before adverted to in any discussion connected with the subject on which it treats-" Whoever shall attempt to prove, (says he,) that a form is beautifal from a particular grada- tion of magnitude, undulation of a curve, or direction of a line, or whatever other conceit of his imagination, he shall fix on as a criterion of form, he will be continually con- tradicting himself, and find at last, that the great mother nature will not be subjected to such narrow rules." (vol. ii. page 2s9.) the public only two years, and would naturally be If to this internal evidence we add the external proof furnished by Mr. Burke's unequivocal disavowal, and Malone's very satisfactory statement, we hope the question will sit at rest. Perhaps it was not worthy so minute an investigation; but if posthumous reputation be the reward which has called forth the most important services man- kind has received, we are all interested in shewing, that whatever it may want in substance, it shall, at least be rendered as certain as the imperfect state of human dis- crimination will admit.
