ences On Gentlemen Artists-Coincid-On Literary Thievery-On Pope's Epitaphs-The Hermit--The Restraint of Society-On RhymeOdd Numbers-Late-Use of Accumulation-On a Reform of Parliament-Authors fhould not exceed common Judgment—On the joining Poetry with Mufic-Almanacks Authors improperly paired- The Cup-bearer, an Indian Tale-On Beauty-AnOdd Character-Something beyond us neceffary-Influence of Appellations-On Executions--A proper Length neceffary for Mufical and Literary Productions-Aboulhamed and the Brahmin-On Antiquities-On Deriva tion-On Climate-On Poetical and Mufical Ear-On Mental and Corporeal Pleasure. EXTRACT. CHARACTER OF GAINSBOROUGH, AS A MUSICIAN. "GAINSBOROUGH's profeffion was painting, and mufic was his amufement-yet there were times when mufic feemed to be his employment, and painting his diverfion. When I firft knew him he lived at Bath, where Giardini had been exhibiting his then unrivalled powers on the violin. His excellent performance made Gainsborough enamoured of that inftrument; and conceiving, like the fervant-maid in the Spectator, that the mufic lay in the fiddle, he was frantic until he poffeffed the very inftrument which had given him fo much pleasure; but feemed much furprised that the mufic of it remained behind with Giardini! He had fcarcely recovered this shock (for it was a great one to him) when he heard Abel on the viol-di-gamba. The violin was hung on the willow-Abel's viol-di-gamba was purchafed, and the houfe refounded with melodious thirds and fifths from morn to dewy eve!' Many an adagio, and many a minuet were begun, but none completed. This was wonderful, as it was Abel's own inftrument, and therefore ought to have produced Abel's own mufic! Fortunately my friend's paffion had now a fresh object -Fifcher's hautboy; but I do not recollect that he deprived Fischer of his inftrument; and though he procured a hautboy, I never heard him make the leaft attempt on it. Probably his ear was too delicate to bear the difagreeable founds which neceffarily attend the firft beginnings on a wind inftrument. He deemed to con tent himself with what he heard in him in private--not on the hautboy, public, and getting Fifcher to play to but the violin; but this was a profound fecret, for Fifcher knew that his reputation was in danger if he pretended to excel on two inftru The next time. I faw ments Gainsborough, it was in the character of king David. He had heard a harper at Bath-the performer was foon left harplefs-and now Fischer, Abel, and Giardini were all forgotten-there was nothing like chords and arpeggios! He really ftuck to the harp long enough to play feveral airs with variations, and, in a little time, would nearly have exhaufted all the pieces ufually performed on an inftrument incapable of modula. tion (this was not a pedal harp), when another visit from Abel brought him back to the viol-digamba. He now faw the imperfection of fudden founds that inftantly die away-if you wanted a flaccato, it was to be had by a proper management of the bow, and you might alfo have notes as long as you please. The viol-di-gamba is the only inftrument, and Abel the prince of muficians! This, and occafionally a little flirtation with the fiddle, continued fome years; when, as ill luck would have it, he heard Crofdill-but, by fome irregularity of conduct, for which I cannot account, he neither took up, nor bought the violoncello. All his paflion for the bafs was vented in defcriptions of Crofdill's tone and bowing, which was rapturous and enthufiaftic to the laft degree. "Many years paffed away, when upon feeing a theorbo in a picture of Vandyke's, he concluded (perhaps because it was finely painted) that the It was at this time that I heard Fifcher play a folo on the violin, and accompany himself on the fame inftrument: the air of the folo was executed with the bow, and the accompaniment pizzicato with the unemployed fingers of his left hand. theorba theorbo must be a fine inftrument. He recollected to have heard of a German profeffor, to whom he immediately applied, and purchafed it with a book of airs, composed for that inftrument, at the enormous price of twenty guineas. "In this manner he frittered away his mufical talents; and though poffelfed of ear, tafte, and genius, he never had application enough to learn his notes. He fcorned to take the firft ftep, the fecond was of course out of his reach; and the fummit became unattainable." P. 147. AS A PAINTER, &c. "HIS groups of figures are, for the most part, very pleafing, though unnatural; for a town girl, with her clothes in rags, is not a ragged country girl. Notwithstanding this remark, there are numberless inftances of his groups at the door of a cottage, or by a fire in a wood, &c. that are fo pleafing as to difarm criticism. He fometimes (like Murillo) gave interest to a fingle figure-his Shepherd's Boy, Woodman, Girl and Pigs, are equal to the best pictures on fuch fubjectshis Fighting-dogs, Girl warming herfelf, and fome others, fhow his great power in this ftyle of painting." P. 156. 4 Cavern in the Island of Vulcano. 7 Cafile of Lipari. 8 Front View of Campo Bianco. ANALYSIS, CHAP. I. A Visit to Vefuvius "He had no relifh for hiftorical painting-he never fold, but always gave away his drawings; commonly to perfons who were perfectly ignorant of their value. He hated the harpfichord and the piano-forte. He difliked finging, particularly in parts. during the Time of an Eruption— He detefted reading, but was fo like Little Notice taken by the NeapoSterne in his letters, that, if it were litans of the smaller Eruptions of this not for an originality, that could be Volcano-Phenomena obferved by copied from no one, it might be the Author on his Arrival at Naples pofed that he had formed his ftyle-His Approach near the Crater upon a clofe imitation of that author. prevented by Showers of ignited He had as much pleasure in looking Stones, and acid-fulphureous lumes at a violin as in hearing it.—I have feen him for many minutes furvey-Extraordinary Phenomenon relaing, in filence, the perfections of an tive to thele Showers-Explication inftrument, from the juft proportion of that Phenomenon-Remarks on of the model, and the beauty of the the Congelation of a Torrent of workmanship. Lava-Obfervations on a Stream of Lava, flowing within a CavernProjected Experiment for meafuring the Quantity of Heat in the flowing "His converfation was fprightly, but licentious-his favourite fubjects were mufic and painting, which he treated in a manner peculiarly his own. "The common topics, or any of a fuperior caft, he thoroughly hated, Lava-Other Obfervations on the ed ed by it in its Paffage-Length, Breadth and Termination of this Torrent--Phenomena of this Eruption of Vefuvius compared with thofe of preceding ones---Erroneous Opinion of fome Naturalifts, that the Lava is not fluid, but of the Confiftence of Pafte-Compofition of this LavaObfervations on a Lava of Vefuvius, which flowed in 1785-Proofs that the Shoerls and Feltfpars, found in the Lava, exifted previously in the primordial Rocks. Chap. II. The Grotto of PofilipoSolfatara-The Pifciarelli.The City of Naples founded on volcanic Subftances Different Opinions relative to the Origin of volcanic Tufas -Thofe of Pofilipo appear to have been formed by thick EruptionsLava on the Road to Solfatara defcribed-Specular Iron found in one of these-Solfatara is not an isolated Mountain, as has been fuppofed by fome-Sulphures of Iron (Pyrites), Lavas of Solfatara, and the Pifciarelli -Obfervation on the Decompofition of Lava, and the Shoeris and Feltfpars which are found within it; as alfo on the fulphureous-acid Fumes, which inceffantly exhale from this Volcano-Conjecture that Solfatara has arifen out of the Sea-Method lately employed to extract, more abundantly than formerly, Alum and Sal Ammoniac from this VolcanoCritical Difquifition relative to a curious Phenomenon in the Vicinity of Solfatara; from which M. Ferber conjectures that the Level of the Sea has, there, funk nine Feet. Chap. III. The Grotto del Cane.Errors of Ferber relative to this celebrated Grotto-Experiments of the Author, and the Abbé Breiflak, relative to the mortiferous Vapour Description of the Grotto-Conjec ture that the Vapour was anciently more extenfive-Its mean Height Its Heat greater than that of the Atmofphere--Confifts of carbonic Acid, Gas mixed with atmospheric Air, and azotic Gas-This carbonic Acid, according to the Abbé Breiflak, is the Produce of the Carbure of Iron contained in volcanic Subftances, and combined with Oxygen. The me phitic Vapour exhibits no Signs of Magnetifm or Electricity Phenomena which accompanied the burning of feveral Subftances placed within the Vapour-Remarks of the Author on the Experiments of the Abbé Breiflak, and his Conjectures on the Origin of this carbonic Acid. Chap. IV. Lakes of Agnano and Averno Monte Nuovo-Promontory and Cavern of Mifeno-Rock of burnt Stones--Procida.-The Lake of Agnano once a fpacious volcanic Crater Tenches and Frogs found in this Lake-The abfurd Report that monftrous Animals are produced there, detected by Vallifneri-The Lake of Averno prefents the Mouth of another ancient Volcano-It is falfe that Birds cannot approach this LakeNo deleterious Exhalation emitted by it-Volcanic Substances of Monte Nuovo-Lavas found there of the Nature of Pumice and Smalt--Sođa grows in a little Cavern of its Crater -Peculiarity of amphibious Animals obferved here-The Cavern of MiTeno abounds in Sulphate of Alumine (Alum) and Pumice-Well of Water full of gafeous Bubbles-Valcanic Crater till difcernible on the Promontory of Mifeno--Pumices found there containing FeltfparsLava, Pumices, and Enamels of the fame Nature, found on the Rock of burnt Stones, and at Procida-Great Friability of this Enamel, not common to volcanic Enamels, and its probable Caufe. Chap. V. Ifchia.-The Caftle of Ifchia, founded on a Rock of Lava and Tufa-Singular Species of Swallows, which make their Nefts at its Top, and on the higher Eminences of the Iland-Lava of the Arfo defcribed-Its Pumices originate from the Horn-ftone-The Opinion of fome volcanic Naturalifts, that the Lava of the Arfo, which flowed in 1302, ftill fmokes, ill-foundedLavas and Pumices fcattered between the City of Ifchia and the ArfoConical Mountain, called the Rotavo, compofed of Lavas and Pumices Is the only one in the Ifland which contains contains Enamels-The high Mountain of St. Niccola, probably at firft rofe out of the Sea-Volcanic Subftances of that Mountain-Some of thefe volcanic Substances yield Sulphate of Alumine (Alum-Excurfion round the Shore of Ifchia-Volcanic Productions found there-Ferrugineous Sand abundant on that Iland-Is found to be cryftallized -Inquiries concerning its OriginNo prifmatic Configuration in the Lavas which fall into the Sea-The Affertion of fome modern Writers, that the Lavas of the Shores of If. chia are a Nidus for the Pholades, greatly to be doubted-The Stoves of Ifchia, the only probable Indication of a remaining internal Conflagration-Confiderable Diminution of this Ifland-Difference between the volcanic Materials of Ifchia and thofe of the other Phlegrean Fields-Singular Property of the Feltfpars of the Ifchian Lavas, which melt in a Glafs Furnace, whereas thofe of other Lavas are almost always infufible by its Heat. Chap. VI. The Valley of Metelona, near Caferta.-The Tufa found in this Valley, compofed of Fragments of Pumice, furrounded by calcareous Earths-Pieces of Enamel mixed with it-This Tufa different from other volcanic Tufas-Probability that it communicates with the Volcanos of Naples and its Environs, and, perhaps, alfo with thofe of the Agro Romano and TufcanyMeans propofed to afcertain whether the Bay of Naples be the Remains of an ancient volcanic Crater, and to what Distance within the Sea the Roots of Mount Vefuvius and thofe of Ifchia extend. Chap. VII. Journey to Mount Etna. -Comparison between Vefuvius and Etna The Lavas of the latter Volcano begin to appear, from the Sea, at the Distance of thirty-feven Miles from Mellina-Different Epochs of the flowing of thefe Lavas-Modern Catania almost entirely built of Lava, as was the ancient City, which was deftroyed by an Earthquake in 1693 VOL. II.-No. I. Remarks on the Obfervations of Mr. Brydone, relative to Etna--Uncertainty of the Opinion of Count Borch, that the Age of the Lava may be calculated by the Quantity of vegetable Earth produced by TimeFruitlefs Attempts to render culti vable the Eruption of 1669-The Thinness of the Cruft of vegetable Earth the Canfe of the Fertility of the lower Region of Etna-Monte Roffo--Eructation of its Lavas Abundance of Shoerls on this Mountain-Chemical Analysis of these Shoeris-Feitfpars not always more difficult to fufe than Shoerls-View from Monte Roffo of the whole Current which, in 1669, flowed into the Sea-Calamities fuffered at different Times by St. Niccolo dell'Arena from the Fruptions of Etna-Lavas of the middle Region-Its great Celebrity for luxuriant Vegetation, and the Loftinefs of its Trees-Great Antiquity of these two Regions-Grotta delle Capre-Nature of the Lavas of that Grotto. Chap. VIII. Continuation of the Journey to Etna.-Upper Region of Etna-Deftitute of Vegetables-Its Lavas-View of the rifing Sun from thofe Heights-Lavas which iffued from the principal Crater of Etna in the Months of July and October 1787-Difficulty of croffing those Lavas to arrive at the Summit of Etna-After burning eleven Months and more, fome Places not yet extinguifhed-Other Difficulties-Arrival at the Top of Etna-Clear View of the great Crater-Circumference of the great Crater, with other Particulars-Etna a bifurcated Mountain-Another smaller Crater --Obftacles ufually met with in a Journey to Mount Etna--Comparifon of what the Author obferved within the Crater of Mount Etna, with the Obfervations before made by M. Riedefel, Sir William Hamilton, Brydone, and Borch-Phyfical Caufes of the Changes in volcanic Crates-Ancient Accounts of these Changes-Large Maffes have fometimes fallen from the Top of Etna iuta into the Crater-No fenfible Diminution of the Height of this Mountain in the Times of which we have any Account-Various Phenomena obfervable in the Smoke which at different Times has exhaled from the Etnean Furnace-No Inconvenience experienced by the Author from the Thinnefs of the Air on the Top of Etna-The Effect of this different on different Individuals-Extenfive and admirable Profpect from the Summit of Etna. Chap. IX. the Author defcended with Eafe and VOL. II. INTRODUCTION. known to the Ancients, and studied THE Volcanization of these Iflands by feveral of the Moderns-A wide Field for Obfervation, nevertheless, left to others-Felicuda and Alicuda, two of thefe Iflands, first examined of this Volcano vifible, by Night, - of the Volcano, when feen at a small Appearances obferved in the Smoke Diftance-Explosions of the Volcano The Alterations in the Volcano, Symptoms of the Changes of the Atmosphere, according to the Opi nion of the People of StromboliSigns of good and bad Weather deduced from thefe Alterations-Obfervations on thefe Prognoftics made five and thirty Days--Phenomena of by the Author, during a Stay of the Volcano obferved at the Distance of two Miles from the Crater-Quality of the Ashes ejected at that Time Quality and Origin of the Sand which occupies a confiderable Part of the Ifland-Internal Conftructure of the Itland-Conjectures that the Crater of this Volcano was anciently at the Summit of Stromboli-The fland formed of a fingular but bis furcated Mountain--Incontrovertible Teftimonies that for more than a Century the Crater of this Volcano has been fituated towards the Middle of the Mountain-Error of Sir Wil liatn Hamilton in placing this Crater at the Summit-The Opinion, generally admitted, of the Intermiffions of the Conflagration of Stromboli, probably not well founded - The Eruptions at that Time much weaker than they frequently are-The Declivity of the Mountain to the West the only Place where the ejected Matter falls into the Sea-Abfurd Reafon affigned by the Inhabitants of the Eolian Ifles why that Part of the Sea into |