The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (2.1788)

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fuppofing ourfelves to be perfect patterns of wifdom and
virtue, it feems to me more reafonable to treat ourfelves
(as I am fure we muft now and then treat others) like
humourfome children, whofe fancies are often to be
indulged in order to keep them in good-humour with
themfelves and their purfuits. It is neceffary to ufc
fome artifice of this kind in all procefles, which, by their
very nature are long, tedious, and complex, in order to
prevent our taking that averfion to our ftudies, which
the continual fhackles of methodical reftraint is fure to
produce.5

This is true in fact: Time znd occafion happen to
all, and not infrequently do they impede a traveller
in his path, fome times even fo ftrongly as to make
him quit it.

* It is of no ufe to prefcribe to thofe who have no
talents ; and thofe who have talents will find methods
for themfelves, methods dictated to them by their own
particular difpolitions, and by the experience of their
own particular neceffities/-

1 Afto a haoit is acquired of drawing correctly from
the model (whatever it may be) which he has before
him, the reft, I mould think, may fafely be left to
chance ; always fuppofing that the Student is employed,
and that his ftudies are directed to the proper object.'

This is to be taken cum grano Jklis. Not to chance, Sir
J. not to chance. The hufbandman does not truft to
chance for the culture of his ground, or for the fertility
of his feed ; but with laudable diligence fows, weeds,
and harrows, in patient expectation of rewarding har-
veft.

The