Is fit for treasons, strategems and spoils."

Shakespeare.

been particularly attached to music, and the poet was sensible every remark favorable to it, would have a proportionate influence on the reputation of his play. I do not, Sir, consider these considerations by any means conclusive, that the author was not of the opinion, which the lines express; but they are sufficient to shew, it does not necessarily follow that he was of that opinion.

What then is to become of music THIS motto is constantly repeat-and musicians, if the great barrier ed by those persons, who having to the inroads of censure and dissome knowledge of music, are not able to defend their own preposession, and attack the indifference of others in a manner more worthy of the art in which they delight; and they conceive a quotation from Shakespeare, an authority in affairs of taste as incontrovertible, as their epforcement of it, is dogmatic..

respect, is thus prostrated in the dust? Perhaps, says a favorer of the art, though Shakespeare may not necessarily be of the opinion suggested in the motto, under some views of the subject, yet experience and observation of the science itself may convince us, that he believed it in its full force. For

The truth is, Sir, the sentiment in if experience proves the assertion the motto is not absolutely correct; to be just, we have no reason to and I apprehend that Shakespeare doubt the sentiments of Shakesdid not intend it as his own notion peare. True; and what says reaof the subject. Two considerations son and observation. enforce this idea. It is a character+ It seems reasonable to presume, istical speech, coming from a lover from the motto, that as those perto his mistress, who was extrava- sons who have no music in themgantly attached to the harmony of selves, and are not moved with consound. Besides, in this as in many cord of sweet sounds are fit for treaother of his observations, Shakes- sons, so those who derive from harpeare makes use of a panegyric mony the most exquisite enjoy on a popular subject to add interest ment, are the most worthy mem and effect to a scene otherwise bers of society. Yet, what is more rather flat and insipid. The Eng-common than the captious behavior hish nation are, and always have of musicians, upon the most trivial

Q

But the motto at the head of this

inaccuracy in a favorite tune, or an interruption to a refined concert.-letter implies very poetically a still

The twang of a jews-harp and the grating of a saw would not only set then in a rage on such an occasion, but would induce them to gratify themselves on the agressor by the severest punishment they could inflict. It is not uncommon, says Mr. Stevens, to see those persons who would think one half of a day not ill imployed in setting two strings into concord, should make use of the other half to excite a

further idea, than I have yet noticed."
It may be rendered thus-The per-
son who has no music in himself,
that is, has a discordant mind, is not
to be affected with concord of sweet
sounds, and therefore is not fit to be
trusted. This idea pre-supposes
a connection between the external
senses and the mind, so intimate,
that the organ of susceptibility in
the ear being deficient, the senti-
ments of the heart must conse-
quently be wrong. This idea is
opposite to all experience, that it is
almost useless to reason upon it.
There is no more propriety in
presuming a man bad, because his 3

quarrel among their rivals. The
Enraged Musician, painted by the
inimitable Hogarth, is evidence in
this case, certainly as strong as the
uncertain authority of Shakespeare.
Philip of Macedon checked Alexan-ear is imperfect, then because his
der his son for loving music too
well; it would lead him into indul-
gences of passion equally inconsis-
tent with the rigors of war, and the
discipline of government. Dryden,
describes Alexander's susceptibility
to the passions excited by music,
in his celebrated ode on St. Cecilia's
day. Thus we find musicians to
be no better than any other set of

men.

eye or palate may be. Yet any one would think it an absurdity to call a man a villian, because he could not discover the sublime appearances of nature, from the imperfection of his sight. The mind and hearing have in truth no intimacy of connection. Though music may sometimes raise the soul to rage or kindle soft desire, the argument rather strengthens against

the

Let us now examine whether fondness for the art, than the indifpersons without capability to enjoy ference to it. If the mind is supposevery nicety of sound, are singu-ed to be in any degree formed by larly treacherous, cunning or bar- the power of music we shall soon barous. Experience will here also hear of a connection between the warrant a negative to every ques- taste and reason. That those who tion of this tendency. It must be are not able to relish the feast of an evident on reflection even within epicure, must be considered defithe sphere of our acquaintance, that cient in intellect or humanity. I some of the best disposed and most hope, Sir, we shall hear no more of benevolent persons have no sensi- the authority of Shakespeare, in bility to the enthusiasm of harmony. praise of music, or in reprehension Pope, though he wrote an ode on of its opponents. music in imitation of Dryden's on the same occasion, was so far from being a musician, that his ear was extremely bad, and he derived no satisfaction from the influence of weet sounds.

HORATIO.

The Wanderer inserts the foregoing without acceding to the principles it contains, and he will be happy to admit the communica

tion of any correspondent who may feel inclined to take up the cudgels of controversy.

The following extract from an account of the environs of Naples, translated from L'Archives Litterature, is selected for the beauty of its description. Speaking of the general effect of the scene, the author continues:

panding in the air, exhibits a resemblance of those lofty pines, whose bare and branchless stems are crowned by a vast canopy of verdure. The cloud continues to grow more black and more extersive; but a luminous blood red spot appears in the midst of the chaos. The vapors become red, and impregnated with fire; the luminous portion increases, and the substances discharged by the volcano glow with every tint, and exhibit every possible shade of color. Here the flame resembles that of the funereal torch, there it is of the most lively vermilion; farther off it is white, and dazzles the eye with its excessive brightness; in another part it is of a murky mixture of purple and of soot; over the mouth of the furnace the vapors hover in the form of a golden cloud; and those which, from their distance, are incapable of reflecting the light, shroud the whole scene in a sablé veil, which, by the clashing.contrast, heightens all the colors, and imparts double brilliancy to the phenomenon.

You must not imagine, added he, that a spectacle like this can ever become indifferent to the lovers of the arts and of nature. Though always the same, it is ever new. Calms and tempests, the state of the sky, the different appearances of the sea, the singular operations of Vesuvius, every day exhibit a new picture, impart to it life and motion, and incessantly furnish fresh causes for admiration, fresh food for the eager curiosity of the spectator. The pleasures afforded by this scene of enchantment are not limited to the time when the sun illumines our hemisphere. Night, which elsewhere effaces images, and renders one of our senses in some measure useless, here contributes very often to augment our delight, and surpasses even day itself in the grandeur and variety of the prodigies it displays to the view. Let us suppose that an eruption is at hand, or is beginning to manifest itself, while the disk of the moon is reflected and multiplied in each of pors crowns the mountain, and the waves that roll at the bottom of emits to a considerable distance inthe gulf, the valcano emits a hol-numerable sparks; and now again low and ominous sound. To the lightnings, bursting from the bosom murmurs of the Nereids succeed of the abyss, cut through the surthe bellowings of the Cyclops; the rounding smoke in their zig-zag sons of Eolus escape roaring from course. One moment the flame the caverns of Vesuvius, and fre- assumes the figure of a column. quent lightnings darting from the whose height is thrice that of the mountain proclaim to mortals an volcano; and the next it is an imawful crisis of nature. The column mense tongue, which wavers for of smoke becomes thicker, and ex-sometime in the air, then suddenly

But other wonders appear at the mouth of the volcano. Sometimes showers of ignited stones shoot upward to an immense height, and their parabolic descent is a grand imitation of our artificial fire works; at others, an arrow of fire flies towards heaven, which it seems to penetrate. Now a tuft of ardent va

returns, and seems to lick the edge of the terrific gulf.

PUNNING.

An essay on "false genius," by the author of "Essays after the manner of Goldsmith," possesses considerable force of observation, and applies the lash of ridicule and censure to the prevalent follies of the world with various success. Take this extract on punning as a fair example of his

manner.

I SHALL say a few words, before I dismiss this Essay, on the present taste for funning, become so fashionable, and which talent appears to be expected from every man who calls himself a dramatist. We often hear it said, "I dined a few days ago with Mr., the author of the new comedy, and I think that I never was so much disappointed. It is true that he attempted some puns, but they were wretched; and for the soul of me I could not see any thing to laugh at, though almost every one at table seemed mightily pleased with them."

Meanwhile the sides of the mountain are incapable of containing the melted substances which rise and press against them. A dreadful noise announces a rupture; the mountain opens with a vast effort, and its inflamed entrails are exposed to view. Rivers of lava already roll beneath the new bridge which is just formed the fiery torrent, the image of Phlegeton, rushes into the valley that separates Somma from Vesuvius; its devastating stream increases at the expense of every object which it meets, and acquires an extent of several miles. The strongest trees disappear before it, like feeble blades of grass before the scythe of the mower; forests, gardens, houses, palaces, are all whelmed beneath the burning deiuge; and the very spot where they existed is so changed, that it can no longer be recognized. The ardent Now the truth is, that river continues advancing with a punning, though described by Dr. dull and dismal noise, rolling along Johnson as the lowest species of with it calcined stones and billows wit, is nevertheless wit, and is, on of glowing ashes. It has already the contrary, sometimes of the first crossed the road, and is proceeding order. Perhaps the best pun that towards the sea; and when it has was ever made, was said, where it passed the rocks on its shore, the might least be expected, on board fiery mass plunges into the deep. a ship, and by a naval officer, AdThe collision of these hostile ele- miral Lee; it is mentioned in Charments throws up to the very skies nock's Naval Biography, and detorrents of vapor, whose roaring, serves being repeated. Admiral whose dazzling colors, and the Lee, when only a Post Captain, behorrible agitation they produce in ing on board his ship one very rainy the air, cause the terrified spectator and stormy night, a gale of wind to imagine that the world is about blowing at the time, the officer of to be dissolved, and to be reduced the watch came down to his cabin, to that chaos from which it sprung." Sir," cried he, "the sheet anchor If to the spectacle of an erup is come home."-" Indeed," antion you now add that of a storm; swered the Captain, "I think the if accident produces at the same sheet anchor is perfectly in the moment one of those tremendous right of it: I don't know what the tempests which are alone sufficient d would stay out such a night to desolate nature, what pencil can as this."It is impossible not to then trace the horrors of the scene? feel the wit and humor of the ideas what pen can describe them? which constituted this pun.