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13 profession is a more analagous case; for its necessity though great, is of a moral nature; and the clergy have always, where their power and influence were not secured by the strong arm of authority, called into their associations the pious and sober-minded of the laity. As to the purchase of old paintings, which is another subject of long and vehement complaint in the Notes to this 'Discourse,' we must again differ from the author. 'No disease,' he says, 'has infected infant art so inveterate, and so retarding to the progress of taste as this.' Many quotations are added to show the little chance there is of any genuine old pictures being procured now, and the bad effects of collecting them, even if they could be obtained. Mr. Morse does indeed, among his censures, introduce this cautious salvo: that he "would not by any means altogether condemn the collecting of pictures by the old masters;" but he clearly thinks it much better to employ living artists, and even without much regard to their merit. To this effect he cites twice with great applause, from Opie's 'Lectures,' one of the grossest absurdities that ever were uttered, namely, 'that he who employs the humblest artist in the humblest way of his art, contributes more to the advancement of national genius, than he who
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