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tense dry frost, hardly any snow on the ground; 14th to 26th, cloudy, and often bazy and foggy, air coldish, but little frost; 26th, to end, fine mild weather, wind westerly almost the whole of the month; barometer, on the 24th, higher than for several years before.

March. During the first five days we had fine mild spring weather, wind west; all the rest of the month the wind being uniformly easterly, the weather proved cold and dry, with the exception of the 24th, and part of the 25th, when we had a fall of snow, though it dissolved immediately after. The hills, however, continued very white, vegetation made hardly any progress this month, but the ground was dry, and in good condition for agricultural labours.

April proved an uncommonly severe month. First three days rather clear and sharp. On the 4th we had a violent storm of wind and rain from the southwest, which was followed by ten days of fair moderate weather, wind west and north-west. The next ten days resembled the middle of winter, having heavy falls of snow on the 17th, 18th, and 21st, air feeling very cold, with northerly winds: 26th to 29th, cold rather abated, shifting from north to east, and shifting to the west on the 29th, the air turned sensibly milder. Vegetation as yet very backward, and grass made little appear

ance.

May. During the whole of this month, the weather was mild and favourable to vegetation, and in a great measure compensated for the backwardness of the former part of spring. We had not many, either very cold or warm days, but always moderate and agreeable weather, with frequent refreshing showers. On the 7th and 9th, we had thunderstorms, accompanied with hail of an unusually large size. Winds this month rather variable, mostly inclining to the south of east and west. Swallows appeared the first week.

June. First three days agreeable enough, brisk wind from south-west, 4th to 10th, coldish weather, often cloudy and misty, with a good deal of rain; wind rather easterly, 10th to 30th. In general, serene, agreeable, and moderately warm; sometimes clear, but of tener cloudy and hazy; no rain except on the 14th and 22d, when we had some heavy showers, wind rather westerly.

July proved very warm throughout. First half was quite dry, so that the pas ture was looking rather brown; during

the last fortnight, however, we had a great deal of rain, frequently accompa nied with thick mist, wind rather easterly, often calm. The rain proved favourable to the grass fields, which by the end of the month recovered their verdure, also to the late corn as yet light in the ear, but rather retarded the ripening of the forward and heavy crops in the low country.

August. We had a great deal of rain the first ten days, but the weather afterwards gradually improved, and the last fortnight was favourable, both for ripening and cutting down the corn. This month has been uniformly warm, with the exception of the 26th, 27th, and 28th, which felt rather cool. Till the 13th, we had either easterly winds or calms, but after that the west wind prevailed till near the end of the month, when it veered rather to the south. Harvest commenced in this neighbourhood about the 15th, and got by degrees more general to the end of the month, when the greater part of the crop of the country adjacent, was actually cut down. Crop in general good, except wheat, which has suffered by the blight.

September.-First fortnight, weather rather unsettled, frequently rain; but from the 15th to the end, in general fair, and favourable for the conclusion of harvest, which even in late and remote parts of the country, was pretty well advanced by the 30th; 1st to 8th, wind was westerly, thence to the 15th, east and northeast, and often misty; 15th to 22d, winds rather variable, hitherto the weather had continued mild, some days quite warm, but after the 22d (autumnal equinox), we had a sudden change from heat to cold; from that time, to the end of the month, west and north-west winds prevailed, and felt very sharp. Potatoes, by this time, ascertained to be an abundant and excellent crop.

October-First six days serene and pleasant, wind westerly: 7th and 8th were very stormy, wind shifting from south to north. Next four days were tolerably agreeable, but weather getting colder, wind north-west. 12th to 20th, air exceedingly cold, with north and north-west winds; snow lying on the ground on the 14th. A storm of wind and rain on the 20th, brought about a milder temperature; wind changing to south-west; but till the 29th, we had a great deal of windy, showery weather, barometer keeping very low. The last three days were serene and pleasant,

barometer

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barometer rising very quick. This month has been distinguished by frequent high winds and showery weather. On the 7th, 8th, 14th, 20th, and 25th, we had heavy gales which did a good deal of mischief at sea.

November-To the 5th, mild weather, often quite clear; thence to the 15th, dark and gloomy, sometimes inclining to wet, but upon the whole, very little either of rain or evaporation; hitherto wind was easterly, often calm, cold, though but little frost, and barometer kept up. On the 15th, wind shifting to south-west, we had three days of windy showery weather, quite mild. On the 18th, we had a gale from the north-east, but on the 19th, wind shifted to due west, and continued so till the 27th; weather sometimes clear, and sometimes cloudy, with slight show ers, coldish, but not frosty. On the 27th a frost set in, wind north, but only continued to the 29th, when a storm of wind and rain from the south brought us soft weather again. Upon the whole, this month has been tolerably agreeable; no severe cold, and only two or three days of high wind.

December.-First fortnight, in general mild weather, wind westerly. Heavy

quently, the mean heat of each month is the result of nearly a hundred different observations, yet it is astonishing how nearly the monthly and annual mean of the thermometer, at Edinburgh, agrees with that at Carlisle, though the latter lies about ninety miles due south from the former, and in a different situation. Edinburgh being contiguous to the east coast of Scotland, and Carlisle to the west coast of England.

The barometer is higher at Carlisle than at Edinburgh, but this may be accounted for by the different elevation of the two; tire place of observation, at Carlisle, being only seventeen yards and fifty feet higher than the sea, while the greater part of Edinburgh, though less than two miles distant from the sea, is more than three hundred feet elevated above its level. The variations of the barometer, however, at the two places, bear a pretty exact proportion to each other. Edinburgh, G. W. Feb. 24, 1809.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

I think, to be regretted

showers on the 1w, ad, coth, and oth, I that, amongst all the modern listed

veries and improveinents, no method has yet been put in practice for communi cating the exact degree of time in which a composer of music would have his works performed. Dr. Crotch, indeed, and perhaps one or two others, have sug gested a method by which this difficulty may be surmounted, but I fear the plan is not likely to be generally adopted.

barometer rising. On the 15th, wind shifting to north, weather grew sensibly colder. On the 17th, we had a heavy gale from north, accompanied with a little snow, and a most intense frost set in which continued till the 24th. On the 23d snow began to fall, and continued without intermission till the middle of the next day, when it lay about nine inches deep; that afternoon a thaw Nevertheless, for want of some such commenced, which dissolved the snow in expedient, it is no uncommon thing to the low country in four or five days, hear composers complaining of the inthough the hills were still spotted. On justice done to their music, even at the the 23d, wind shifted from north to east, principal concerts in London, by its being and south-east, in which quarter it re- performed either too fast, or too slow, mained all the rest of the month, weather although in other respects it may have very gloomy and disagreeable, with a every possible advantage. great deal of rain and sleet. Barometer, last half of the month very steady.

Remarks.-The above Abstract and Register, is for the sake of a comparison arranged, as nearly as possible, in the same manner as a similar communication from a correspondent at Carlisle, inserted in the Magazine for February.

By the highest and lowest of thermometer, is to be understood the mean heat of the warmest and coldest days of each month.

The mean heat of each day is ascertained by three observations, conse

And not only new music, but the more ancient is also affected by this want of a criterion for judging of the exact time in which it ought to be per formed, to give it proper effect.

This must be obvious to any person who occasionally frequents different cathedrals, and pays the least attention to this subject, as he will find a considerable variation in the time of performing the same services and asthems; and

See the Monthly Magazine for January, 1000, p. 941.

even in the same choir, he will hear them played faster or slower, by different persons at the organ.

And although most of these times must, of course, be wrong (as there can be but one proper time strictly belonging to any composition, or movement), yet every one will justify his own measure. The advocate for slow time, for instance, will say he disapproves of hurrying the solemn compositions for the church; whilst another will be no less offended by the dragging, languid style, in which they are sometimes performed, as though dulness were a necessary characteristic of church music.

In concerts too, one leader will play all quick movements with such rapidity, that half the orchestra are puzzled to keep up with him, and nothing is distinctly articulated; whilst another, by falling into the opposite extreme, will mar the effect of the performance, and communicate to it a languor and want of energy, which does not belong to it.

And although it is by no means to be supposed, that leaders will always be in extremes, yet the precise medium is difficult to hit; and as where matters are left to the opinions of individuals, such opinions will always vary; leaders and conductors will in general be inclined, in some degree, to lean towards one extreme or the other.

It is true that nothing can be more clearly laid down, than the proportion of the different notes to each other, in the Time Table. But yet, if neither of these be fixed as any standard, the only end that can be answered by this accuracy, is to enable the performers to keep to such time as the leader happens to set out with.

In the general divisions of time, into years, months, or days, the greater divisions being fixed, and exactly ascertained by the motions of the sun and earth, the smaller ones are accurately subdivided from them.

Also in all measures of length, weight or quantity, there are fixed standards for the pound, or gallon, or yard; so that it is not left to opinion to decide how much ought exactly to constitute any particular weight, or measure, that may be required.

It will, however, probably be observed, that the analogy between the tables just alluded to, and the Musical Time Table will not hold good; because, while the. former are subject to no variation whatever, the latter is so essentially altered

by the terms adagio, allegro, and others, insomuch that although in the Time Table, one minim is said to consist of four quavers, yet these are played in an adagio movement, much slower than even minims in allu-breve time. Were indeed these vague terms abolished, and a standard framed and adhered to for the semibreve, minim or crotchet, then slow music might be written in breves, and semibreves; andantes in minims and crotchets; allegros and prestos in quavers, semiquavers and demisemiquavers; and the analogy would be preserved throughout, so that the degrees of mu sical time might be regulated by the general divisions of minutes and seconds, with as much certainty and precision as the measures of length or weight are by the foot or the pound. But as matters stand, all that can well be done is, to fix separate standards for the different mea. sures of adagio, largo, andante, allegro. and presto, which are all that I think necessary to be particularly defined and ascertained; the terms, larghetto, aile. gretto, prestissimo, and the rest being either diminutions, or accelerations of their principals. And this order, or arrangement of them, appears to me to be the most generally acknowledged; it being the general rule to reckon the time in adagio movements by quavers (that is, 8 in a bar in common time, or 6 in. triple) and in largo movements by crotchets (or 4 in a bar in common time, or 3 in triple). As for the others, presto is universally allowed to denote the greatest degree of quickness, and andante forms the medium between largo and allegro. There is one more term sometimes used as a mark of time, namely, vivace, which however seems more properly to relate to the manner of touching the instrument, or of bowing; as music may be played, spirituoso, (or with spirit) without accelerating the time.

Although I am far from presuming to fix this point myself, or absolutely to determine any standard for the 5 degrees of time before-mentioned, yet by way of doing something towards it, and exciting others better qualified to set about it, I

venture to suggest the following scale, which may be observed by means of the pendulum proposed by Dr. Crotch, in the paper of the Mouthly Magazine before alluded to.

Let there be, for adagio time, a pendulum of 50 inches, to vibrate the quaver; or si uld one of that length be found inconvenient,

inconvenient, it may be shortened to 7
inches and a half, and every other vibra-
tion reckoned.

In largo movements, one of 24 inches
to vibrate the quaver.
Andante ditto 167 inches, to vibrate
Allegro ditto

45 the crotchets.

Presto ditto, 10 inches to vibrate the minim: from the strictness of which rule, however, some deviations may be made, according to the respective meaning of the words lurghetto, allegretto, allegro, assai, and prestissimo.

In the cathedral full-services, and in anthems, consisting chiefly of semibreves and minims, perhaps about 100 minims, 50 semibreves, or 25 bars in alla-breve time in a minute, may be considered as a good standard. In triple time, how ever, the minims, &c. should be played rather slower, or not so many in a mi

nute.

With regard to the manner of using this pendulum, it certainly may be managed by the person at the piano-forte, immediately previous to the performance of any new glee, or piece, without being observed by any of the audience. At least, at rehearsals, it may be used for every different movement in new music, according to the general rules proposed, er according to any particular one that may be appointed by the author, as is the case in Dr. Crotch's publications.

In cathedrals too, a pendulum,may be suspended upon a look in the organ loft, at the side of the keys, so as to be set in mation whenever required, immediately before beginning a service or anthem, by which means the length of the pendulum being marked in the organ book, at the beginning of each composition, different, organ players may be able to accompany the same pieces, without varying the time.

After all, however, the remarks here offered are only, as I said before, suggestions; and should they excite the at tention of any of the more eminent professors of music, my end will be fully answered, whether they agree with me in regard to the precise number of vibra tions, or not; all I wish being, that some thing may be determined upon the subjeet, and that what ought to be matter of fact, or certainty, may no longer he mere matter of opinion. Your's, &c. M.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

Na late perusal of the first part of
Ovid's Metamorphoses, my atten

tion was insensibly drawn to the many coincidences, in the account given by him, concerning the creation and primitive ages of the world, and that of Moses. in the Book of Genesis. It may not, perhaps, be entirely without interest to some of your readers, if I present you with some sentences of the greatest similarity, and by juxta-position make the coincidences appear the more conclusive. They will be strongly demonstrative, that the ideas, imbibed by the Roman poet. respecting these primitive times, sprang originally from the Hebrew source; and hence they will tend to evince, without adducing any other proof, that a knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures extended, and that their contents were, in some degree at least, accredited beyond the limits of the Jewish nation,

In the beginning, God created the
heaven and the earth; and the earth was
without form and void; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. And the
spirit of God moved upon the face of the
waters. And God said, let there be light
and there was light." Gen, i. 1. 2. 3.
"Ante mare et tellus, et, quod tegit omnia,
cœlum,

Unus erat toto naturæ vultus in orbe,
Quein dixere chaos; rudis indigestaque
moles."
Ov. Met. 1, 5, 6; 7.
"Hane Deus, et melior litem natura dire
mit."
Owe Met. 14-21. ·

In this last sentence too, it is worthy of remark, that the word "Deus," does not seem, as if intended to be applied to any heathen deity, but rather as alluding to the one supreme God; although the poet, in a subsequent verse, appears at a loss to what deity he ought to ascribe the great work of creation; since he speaks of him thus,

Quisquis fuit ille deorum."

Ov. Met. 1, 32. This circumstance brings to my recollection, the inscription on the altar, at Athens," Agrola Osw," as mentioned by St. Paul; and they both together clearly demonstrate, to what a pitch of igno rance, with respect to the divinity, ido latry had reduced two of the most refined** and learned nations at that time, on the face of the earth. But to proceed":

"So God created man in his own image; in the image of God created he him." Gen. i, 27.

"Finxit in effigiem moderantum cuncta de-
orum."
Ov. Met. 1, 35.
The golden age of the poet depicts
lively colours the innocence and
happiness

in

happiness in which the scriptures represent our first progenitors to have lived in Paradise :

44 Aurea prima sata est ætas, quæ, vindice

nullo,

Sponte sua, sine lege, fidem rectumque

colebat,

Pena metusque aberant, &c.

Ov. Met. 1, 88, et seq.

The fall of man, and the consequent wickedness of the human race, are likewise designated with great perspicuity in the poet's iron age:

"De duro est ultima ferro. Protinus irrupit venæ pejoris in ævum Omne nefas: fugere pudor, verumque fidesqué." Ov. Met. 1127, et seq.

"There were giants in the earth in those days." Gen. vi. 4.

“And they said; go to, let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven." Gen. xi. 4.

"Affectâsse ferunt regnum cœleste gigantas, Altaque congestos struxisse ad sidera mouOv. Met. 1, 152, 153.

tes."

Again; "And God saw that the wick edness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen. vi. 5.

"Quà terra patet, fera regnat Erinnys: In facinus jurâsse putes."

Ov. Met. 1, 241, 242. Again; "And behold I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die." Gen. vi. 7.

«Pœna placet diversa, genus mortale sub

undis

Perdere, et ex omni nimbos dimittere cœlo."

Ov. Met. 1, 260, 261.

Again; "And the Lord said unto Noah, come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." Gen. vii. 1. Thus the poet, speaking of Deucalion, and his wife Pyrrha, says,

"Non illo melior quisquam, nec amantior æqui

Vir fuit, aut illa metuentior ulla deorum." Ov. Met. 1, 322, 323. Again; "And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his son's wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood," Gen. vii. 7.

"And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat," Gen. viii. 4,

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"Mons ibi verticibus petit arduus astra duobus,

Nomine Parnassus, superatque cacumine
nubes:
Hic ubi Deucalion (nam cætera. texerat
æquor)

Cum consorte tori parva rate vectus adhæsit."

Ov. Met. 1, 316, et seq.

Again; "And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and took of beast, and of every clean fowl, and clean every offered burnt offerings on the altar." Gen. viii. 20.

"Flectunt vestigia sanctæ Ad delubra Deæ." Ov. Met. 1, 372, et seq! "Procumbit uterque

Pronus humi." Ov. Met. 1, 375, et seq. "Atque ita, si precibus, dixerunt, numina justis

Victa remollescunt, si flectitur ira deorum." Ov. Met. 1, 377, et seq.

Without adding any comments on the above extracts, I shall, just request permission to close this communication with a sentence of Ovid, concerning the final destruction of the world, which is closely connected with some already quoted, and which is in strict consonance with the belief of Christians, both as to the certain future occurrence of that event, and also as to the element which is destined to ascomplish it:

"Esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur, affose Quo mare, quo tellus, correptaque regis tempus, Ov. Met. 1, 256, et seq.

Ardeat.

cœli

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SIR,

A Correspondent, who signs himself amused us all here (Totnes), by his ob"a Native of Totnes," has lately servations, in your valuable Magazine of January last, on Mr. Windeatt's ingenitory and present state of our place. Our ous communication respecting the histown, it is true, is but a little one, and our numbers but few, and though we may resemble the smallness, as well as (par don a little local vanity) the beauty of poor Anna Bullen's neck, yet we do not possess a sufficient quantity of her philosophy, calmly to subinit to the unmerited stroke of your anonymous Correspondent. These papers have afforded us much matter for harmless discussion, and there are some who have no doubt reason to bless. the writers, even were it only that they have postponed the fate of many a cha

racter,

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