The summit of excellence seems to be an assemblage of contrary qualities,
but mixed, in such proportions, that no one part is found to counteract
the other. How hard this is to be attained in every art, those only know
who have made the greatest progress in their respective professions.

To conclude what I have to say on this part of the subject, which I think
of great importance, I wish you to understand that I do not discourage
the younger students from the noble attempt of uniting all the
excellences of art, but to make them aware that, besides the difficulties
which attend every arduous attempt, there is a peculiar difficulty in the
choice of the excellences which ought to be united; I wish you to attend
to this, that you may try yourselves, whenever you are capable of that
trial, what you can, and what you cannot do: and that, instead of
dissipating your natural faculties over the immense field of possible
excellence, you may choose some particular walk in which you may exercise
all your powers, in order each of you to be the first in his way. If any
man shall be master of such a transcendant, commanding, and ductile
genius, as to enable him to rise to the highest, and to stoop to the
lowest flights of art, and to sweep over all of them unobstructed and
secure, he is fitter to give example than to receive instruction.

Having said thus much on the union of excellences, I will next say
something of the subordination in which various excellences ought to be
kept.

I am of opinion that the ornamental style, which in my discourse of last
year I cautioned you against considering as principal, may not be wholly
unworthy the attention of those who aim even at the grand style; when it
is properly placed and properly reduced.