give the vogue to that particular stile, to that particular taste or manner, according to which each of them was composed. Few men have an opportunity of seeing in their own times the fashion in any of these arts change very considerably. Few men have so much experience and acquaintance with the different modes which have obtained in remote ages and nations, as to be thoroughly reconciled to them, or to judge with impar|tiality between them, and what takes place in their own age and country. Few men therefore are willing to allow that custom or fashion have much influence upon their judg|ments concerning what is beautiful, or other|wise, in the productions of any of those arts; but imagine, that all the rules, which they think ought to be observed in each of them, are founded upon reason and nature, not upon habit or prejudice. A very little at|tention, however, may convince them of the contrary, and satisfy them that the influ|ence of custom and fashion over dress and furniture is not more absolute than over ar|chitecture, poetry, and music.
Can any reason, for example, be assigned why the Doric capital should be appropriated to a pillar, whose height is equal to eight dia|meters;
