H TO A FRIEND. On the Sight of a Lady's Portrait. APPY the pencil that from time fhail fave, What Youth and Nature to thy Hannah gave ; Studious the fubject tracing, ftill to find Till age's fober judgment well combine REVIEW OF NEW MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS. A Concife Introduction to the Art of Playing the Violoncello, including a fhort cofy Treatise on Mufic. To which is added, thirty Progreffive Leffons. By Jofeph Reinagle. 8s. Goulding, Phipps, and D'Almaine. We have perufed this didactic publication with much fatisfaction. Seldom have we feen fo much information comprised in the fame compafs. The author fuppofes his reader a tyro in the art he is about to communicate, and omits nothing that is neceffary to be explained. After laying down the first and general elements of mufie, he proceeds to the holding of the violoncello, the pofition of the hand, the holding the bow, the boring ;" and after a variety of exemplary exercifes for the pofitions, gives the fingering of the twentyfour fcales, leffons for the use of the thumb, elucidations of the chromatic and diatonic fcales, a table of positions, and a dictionary of the terms commonly used in mufic. All these particulars, and every requifite intelligence, are fo clearly explained, and fo judiciously arranged, as to infure much and fpeedy improvement to the young practitioner, and to authorize our recommending it to the perufal and ftudy of every one who wishes to become accomplished on that manly and charming inftrument the violoncello. Harmonia Sacra, being a Collection of anthems, from the best and most approved authors, ancient and modern. Selected and arranged by John Page of St. Paul's Cathedral. This refpectable and elegant affemblage of cathedral compofitions has, at length, reached its ninetieth and laft number. After fedulously perufing the work, from the anthem of P. Arnold, with which it commences, to that of Mr. Bufby, by which it is concluded, we have the pleafure to find ourselves authorized in faying, that it forms the nobleft and most complete body of church mufic hitherto published in this country; and while it ferves to per petuate the fame of the great mafters from whofe labours it is compiled, reflects much honour on Mr. Page's tafte and judgment. IS. "Roy's Wife of Alldivalloch," a favourite Scotch air, arranged as a rondo for the pianoforte, by T. Haigh. Rolfe. "Roy's Wife of Alldivalloch," as arranged by Mr. Haigh, forms one of the prettiest rondos and improving exercises for the piano-forte that we have ever heard. The pailages, though familiar to the finger, call it into ufetul action, and gratify the ear with much vivacity of effect. Three Sonatas for the Piano-forte, with Accompaniments for a Violin and Violoncello, ad libitum: Compofed, and dedicated to John Cleaver Banks, Efq. by Mugio Clementi. 85. Prefton and Son. Mr. Clementi has written thefe pieces with an eafe of execution, and familiarity of ftyle and effect, which do not frequently form the characteristics of his mufic. The paffages are at once calculated to give grace to the found and gratification to the ear. Each fouata is fo excellent in its kind, as to be capable of recommending the book; and the chromatic intricacy, which generally diftinguishes the pages of this ingenious compofer, and frightens the juvenile pracwork. tioner, forms no feature of the prefent favourite Overture in Parts, for a large or fmall band; published by fubfcription, for the uje of country concerts. 45. Gouding, Phipps, and D'Almaine. This overture (compofed, as we underftand, by Mr. Marh) is conftructed for violins, flutes, hautboys, horns, a tenor, and bafs. It comprizes three movements, the first of which opens in a friking and fpirited ftyle; the fecond poffeffes much fweetnefs; and the third is bold and animated. The parts are arranged with confiderable judgment, and the general effect evinces evinces the compofer's ingenuity and skill in orchestral compofition. "The Weary Woodman," fung at the nobility's concerts; adapted for the piano-forte and barp; compofed by Mr. Moulds. 15. Rolfe "The Weary Woodman," though not in the first rank of Mr. Moulds's compofi tions, is, in respect to air and characterif tical propriety, a production of confiderable merit. The paffages are not remarkable for their originality, but flow out of each other with ease and nature, and difplay to advantage the compofer's qualification for this fpecies of writing. "Ab, gentle Hope," a favourite fonnet from the Children of the Abbey, written by Mrs. Roch. The mufic by Mr. Hook, IS. Longman and Clementi. The pleafing, eafy melody of this little ballad cannot fail to procure it much public notice. The subject of the words has been fuccefsfully confulted, and the arpeggia bafs is calculated to heighten and improve the effect. "Ce Fancied Fields,” a new song, compofed by Mrs. Kingston. The words by William Gilbert, Efq. 15. Riley. The air of this ballad, though not particularly ftriking or interefting, is fmooth and natural. The introduction of the misor of the original key at the words "In foft embraces wrapt," is judicious, and the refumption of the major at the line, "O'er imagined charms," is produc tive of much fweetnefs of effect. useful execution, form the principal traits of Mr. Steibelt's prefent work. Each of these fonatas is conftructed with a confist ency of paffages and unity of effect, which do much credit to the judgment of this juftly admired compofer, and form a strong barrier between himself and those raw authors, who, fertile in ideas, but unfkilled in their arrangement, produce, for regular compofition, heterogeneous maffes of undigefted conceptions. Quintetto for the piano-forte, violin, flute, tenor and violoncello; compofed, and dedicated to William Ottley, Efq. by M. P. King. 4. Goulding, Phipps, and D'Almaine. Mr. King has exhibited much taste and fancy in this quintetto, and much knowledge of effect in the arrangements of its feveral parts. We difcover confiderable novelty in its various paffages, and they have the additional merit of connection. The movements are judiciously contrasted, yet preferve a family feature in their ftyle; and prefent to the ear that confanguinity of ideas which real judges always expect, and which the real mafter can always command. Thomas and Mary, a new English ballad; the poetry and mufic by Mrs. Kingfion. IS. Longman, Clementi, & Ca. Mrs. Kingston has evinced much inge nuity, both in the words and mufic of this little 'production. Her melody gives much force to the fentiment of the poetry, and is pleafingly fancied. The recitative, largo, is judicioufly applied to the words, And now appear'd the maid," and its alternate repetition with the air, is calculated to awaken the fympathy of the au "What can affuage the Stormy Wind," a favourite tanssonet, fung by Mr. Incledon at the elity's concerts. Inferibed to John Henry Burger, Efq. compofed by J. Moorehead. Is ód. Goulding, Phipps, and D'Almaine. We find in this compofition fome pleaf-ditor. ing traits of melody, and paffages ftrikingly appropriate to the fentiments of the words. In two or three particular inbances, the accent, we must confess, is not perfectly correct, yet the aggregate effect is fo proper and fo forcible, that we cannot but treat the compofition as an ingenicus one, and as creditable to Mr. Moorebead's rifing talents. Three Sonatas for the Piano-forte, with an accompaniment for the violin to the two last, compofed by D. Steibelt. 8s. Coni and Duffsk. Liveliness of fancy, depth of fcience, and "Orphan Befs, the Beggar Girl," as fung by Miss Leake at the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane. The mufic by Mr. Hook. 15.. Longman, Clementi, and Co. expreffion, is one of the most respectable "Orphan Befs," in the points of air and ballads which have appeared for a long time. The general caft of the melody is engaging and characteristic, and the modulation into the relative minor, at the words, "Poor Orphan Befs !" is highly interefting. MONTHLY MAC, No. 55. H VARIETIES, VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL. WE E had formerly occafion to notice the new inftitution established in this city, under the patronage of THE KING, which is incorporated under the title of THE ROYAL INSTITUTION of Great Britain. The great object of this institution is to teach the application of fcience to the comforts and conveniences of mankind; and, we are happy to find, it is in fuch forwardness, that Dr. GARNETT, the late able profeffor of phyfics and phi. Jofophy at Glafgow, who has been appointed Profeffor of Natural Philofophy and Chemistry, will be able to open three courfes of lectures; one on phyfics, another on chemistry, and a third on the ap plication of the fciences to the arts and manufactures, and the common purposes of life, early in the month of February. A profpectus of the inftitution is, we underftand, in the prefs, and will very thortly be published. We are happy in being able to announce, that letters have been received from Mr. HORNEMANN, the African traveller.—It will be remembered, that this gentleman was in Egypt when BONAPARTE entered Kahira; and he sent home his laft difpatches from thence under the feal of that General.—After leaving that country, he proceeded with a caravan to Fezzan, which lies weftward of Egypt; and in his way passed through the Oafis of Ammon, where Mr. BROWNE had been before him here he was strictly examined as to his being a Frank, and it appears that he counterfeited the Muffulman fo well, that he was difmiffed with gifts and bleffings. From this place he proceeded to Mourzouk, the capital of Fezzan, intending to take the caravans to the fouthward, with a view to profecute his original defign of exploring the countries bordering on the Niger; but being too late for that feafon, he proceeded towards the fea coaft, to Tripoli, from which place he dates his letters. He fays, his intention is to return to Fezzan, and take the next caravan to the fouthward; and when he arrives on the borders of the Niger, to choose an easterly or weiterly course, as circumftances may then dictate. The Principal difficulty in travelling that country is overcome in him, as he has adopted the habits and manners of the people fo well, that he is taken for a Muffulnan wherever he goes, and is not even suf. pected of being a stranger amongst them. This facilitates his progrefs in that country very much, and encourages him to pursue his intentions with much more confidence and cafe. Mr. Hornemann informs us, that every merchant and trader with whom he had conversed on the subject, who had travelled into the interior and eastern parts of Africa, declared (without a fingle exception) that the Niger runs into the Nile !!! W fhall forbear making any comments on this remarkable fact; nevertheless we would wish to recal to the attention of our readers, the effay which we inferted in lait month's Magazine, by Profeffor Heeren, which contained a tranflation from Hero. dotus, fhewing that this opinion was entertained in his days; and, if it should be confirmed, will fhew how far the moderns are behind the ancients in their knowledge. of the geography of that country. Since thefe letters have been received, Mr. Hornemann'sjournalshave alfocometohand. They contain the particulars of his route from Egypt to Tripoli; and are written in the German language, Mr. Hornemano being a Hanoverian. They are now tranflating; and when finished will probably be laid before the public. A very interefting Tour through Greece in the Years 1797 and 1798 has just made its appearance at Paris. It was undertaken by Stephenopoli the Naturalift, at the request of Bonaparte, while at the head of the victorious army of Italy, and alfo at that of the Directory, the object of both being to ascertain the real state of the country, and the political difpofitions of its inhabitants. Stephenopoli, being himfelf a native of Greece (a Mainot) and well acquainted with the modern Greek tongue, has enriched the work with a va riety of new and curious observations and facts, equally interefting to the antiquarian and politician. An English translation is in forwardness. Dr. Saunders is preparing for the prefs, a Treatife on the Ufe of the Warm and Cold Bath, and on the Medical Properties of fome of the most celebrated Mineral Waters, chiefly British, as deduced from Chemical Analyfis. From the reputation and experience of this phyfician, we may expect this work to prove highly interetting to the medical reader, A third A third edition of Dr. JENNER'S Inquiry on the Cow-pox, enlarged with an appendix, is in the prefs, and will speedily be published. Mr. Coxe's Tour in Monmouthfhire is in the prefs. It is to be embellished with a great number of views from the very beautiful drawings of Sir Richard Hoare, a new map of the county from actual furveys, and many other plates. Dr. GARNETT, late Profeffor in Anderfon's Inftitution at Glasgow, but recently appointed to the Profefforfhip in the Royal Institution of Great Britain, is about to publish an Account of his Tour through the Highlands and Part of the Western Isles of Scotland, which is alfo to be illuftrated by a great number of beautiful engravings of views in that interetting and picturesque country. Mr. LYSONS's Account of the Middlefex Parishes which did not come within the plan of his "Environs of London," will foon be published in an uniform manner with that work. Mr. HAYLEY is again in the preis, with a Poetical Effay on Sculpture, accompanied by extenfive hiftorical notes. It is addreffed to his friend, Mr. FLAXMAN. Dr. DRAKE'S "Literary Hours" will foon be republished with confiderable additions. Dr. HAGER of Vienna, of whofe learned oriental researches made in Sicily we fhall give an interesting account in our next number, is about to publish at London a Chinese Dictionary, in one large volume in folio, which he began to collect at the Royal Library at Berlin, fo well furnithed with Chinese materials, and which he has lately augmented and improved by a large dictionary received from China, and by fome others already exifting in London. Mr. COLQUHOUN is preparing for the prefs, a Treatife on the Commerce and Police of the River Thames: containing an hiftorical view of the trade of the Port of London; the depredations committed on all property imported and exported there; the remedies hitherto applied; and the means of future prevention, by a complete fyftem of river-police; with an account of the functions of the various magiftrates and others exercifing or claiming jurifdiction on the river: and of the penalftatutes against maritime offences of every defcription. A method has been lately discovered of producing a degree of artificial cold much more intenfe than was ever before known. It confifts in the fimple mixture of fulphuric and muriatic ether; an inftantane ous evaporation takes place at the moment of union, accompanied by fo rapid an abforption of heat, as not only to congeal mercury, but even to reduce the gazeous, nitrous acid to a liquid form. In the Tranfactions of the Societé Philomathique, is a Memoir by Montgolfier and Argand, on a new Hydraulic Machine; which in principle, and even in the plates which accompany it, is so perfect a refemblance of Mr. Boulton's patent for raifing water" (See M. Mag. for Auguft, 1798), that they muft both neceffarily have had one common origin. It is of fome importance to Mr. Boulton's credit as a natural philofopher, and to his right as a patentee, that this fingular circumftance fhould be explained. The fulphat of ftrontites, a mineral lately difcovered near Bristol, has fince been found near Toul, in the department of La Meurthe; at Mefnil Montant, near Paris; and in the Island of Sicily: from its general refemblance to the ponderous fpar (fulphat of barytes) this latter may have been frequently mistaken for it. An ingenious method of fupplying the place of Horn for Lanthorns, &c. has been lately practifed in France. It confifts in dipping a piece of network of very fine brafs-wire in a strong decoction of ifinglafs, which fills up the meshes, and is converted by drying into a hard tranfparent plate. It may be made of any thickness by dipping the netting a fufficient number of times, and when varnished, for protection against the effects of moisture, is found to be as durable as horn. A German tranflation of Dr. WOODVILLE's Treatife, &c. on the Cow-pox, is announced in the Jena Literary Journal; and likewife of Colquhoun's Police of the Metropolis, with an appendix by the tranflator relative to the Police of German Cities. But few experiments have yet been made with the view of afcertaining in what way common manures promote the growth of vegetables; from what has been done, it would however feem, that fuch fubftances merely fupply the carbonaceous principle which is effential to all plants. The refult of practical attempts likewife fupports this fuppofition, as it is found, that the effects of thefe matters are for the moft part in proportion to the quantity of this principle contained in them. The utility of turnips is fo great, that every fact refpecting them demands the attention of the farmer. These crops fhould not be fown too foon, as they are very apt to mildew, and by that means be destroyed H 2 destroyed. The best kinds are thofe that ftand deep in the ground, as they are lefs affected by frofts. In this respect too, much depends on the fituation of the ground on which they are fown. If the afpect of it be towards the south, in case of fevere frofts, they are very liable to be deftroyed by the repeated freezing and thawing that must take place; they should therefore be first removed or fed off. Where the afpect is northerly, they will be less expofed to danger from this caufe. Soda has been applied to many domeftic purposes with much effect and advantage, and it will be found equally useful in the dairy, in those hot seasons where the milk. veffels cannot be kept fweet without much labour and difficulty. The ufe of a little of this fubftance not only renders them clean, and perfectly free from fmell, but corrects the tendency which the wood, under fuch circumstances, has to spoil the milk. The cultivation of food for the purpose of feeding hogs has been little attended to by the farmer. It is certain, however, that those animals, when kept in the moft advantageous ways, afford very confiderable profits on almost every defcription of farm. Clover, potatoes, and carrots are articles with which they may be fed, and even fattened, when properly managed, at a very fmall expence. The parinip is likewife well known to be ufeful in this way; and probably the root of the white beet, if it were properly tried, would be found ftill more ufeful, as experiment has Thewn it to contain the faccharine principle in a large proportion, and it can be culti vated with very little difficulty. Juvenile Prizes.-The following are the first fet of monthly prize fubjects and questions, which are addreffed to the notice of the youth of Great Britain, by the editors of the Monthly Preceptor. 1. For young gentlemen not exceeding fixteen years of age. Is Hiftory or Biography the more improving study. The beft answer or production will entitle the writer to receive a prize, value three guineas, confifting either of a pair of twelve-inch globes, of a planetarium and tellurium, of a compound microscope, of an electrical machine and apparatus, of an achromatic telescope and ftand, or of a felection of valuable books. The fecond beft will entitle the writer to receive a prize, value one guinea and wards, confifting either of a pair of fix-inch globes, of a portable microscope,of a tellurium, of a planetarium, of a compicte cafe of drawing inftruments, of a refracting telescope, or of a felection of valuable books. up The third and fourth aufwers will entitle the writers to receive a prize, value five fhillings, confifting of fome moral book. The answers not to exceed in length three printed pages of fuch books as Enfield's Speaker, or Mavor's British Nepos. 2. For young ladies not exceeding fourteen years of age.-The translation of that paragragh in the fecond book of Fenelon's Telemaque, beginning" Pour mieux fupporter l'ennui de captivité," &c. and ending, "la gloire aux plaifirs." Four prizes to be diftributed for the four beft tranflations, of the fame kind and value as in the preceding question. 3. Mathematical queftion for boys not exceeding fixteen. To find the roots of the and to explain the process by which they equation 2.943271x —x3—1.94353929. are found; in which explanation it is expected that no conjecture shall be made, a fatisfactory reafon for that con without jecture. Four prizes to be diftributed of the fame kind and value as in the first question. Candidates for the prizes muft fign their refpective productions with their names, and their communications must be accompanied by a letter from their tutor, governess, or inftructor, attefting the age of the young lady or gentleman, and that he or she is the fole and unaided author of the paper which is tranfmitted. The anfwers to the first fet of queftions must be received (poft paid) by the publisher, T. Hurft, Paternofter-row, on or fpectus of the work may be had gratis of all the bookfellers. before the twelfth of February. The Pro The lovers of letters in France felicitate each other on the refults which in general have followed the public exercifes that have taken place in the central fchools at the end of the feventh year. But they expect a ftill happier from the plan juft mentioned, and which has been execution of a new plan (fimilar to the propofed in England), which the minister of the interior has addreffed to the profeffors and librarians of the fame schools. Defirous, as he tells them, of directing the public inftruction to the end of its defign, he wishes to give it one general or common direction. One great step towards which, he obferves, will be by preparing feventh year by an UNIVERSAL COMthe means of finishing the course of the PETION among all the fchools. The happy idea of establishing a species of conteft or rivalry among fo great a number of fchools, fpread over a whole nation, would appear at first view to offer great difficulties, but it is thought they will be overcome by the ardor with which the experiment will be made. The firft fuggeftion on the occafion is, that a first judg ment |