Excerpt from Quarterly Papers on Architecture, Vol. 1 The operations of the human mind are at all times, and under all circumstances, a source of interesting inquiry; hut there are difficulties attending the investigation, so subtitle in their nature, and so potent in their general hearings upon the question, that every opinion should he formed upon mature consideration, and suggested rather as a probable theory than an infallible truth. That certain effects are produced by certain causes, is a clear and simple proposition; hut when we attempt to analyze these causes, for the purpose of ascertaining why they have produced such effects, we find ourselves involved in a course of abstract reasoning, which usually accompanies metaphysical researches. The subject is one of great interest and importance to all who are engaged in intellectual pursuits; and perhaps that of Architecture may he considered as eminently connected with it. If then by careful examination and well directed study, we could trace (although but dimly) the apparent origin of some of those feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, which are generally excited by works of fine arty the result would he a valuable acquisition to the student, whose labours and whose hopes are directed to the same end. It is under these views that the author ventures to submit the following observations. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that rem