well received by the public, most of was admitted a Doctor of Music at the songs being encored.. the Congress of the Bards, held at Carwys in 1567, by order of Queen Elizabeth. Musical Phenomenon. We think the managers did not do justice to it, in not having it given out for the next night (as is usual upon such occasions) for it was cer- CASIMIR BACCHER, a boy who has tainly throwing cold water upon it astonished all Paris by his performafter its warm reception. Incledon, auces on the harp, has just arrived Munden, Bellamy, and Mrs. Kemble, in this country. His taste, skill, and did ample justice to their songs: and knowledge, have excited surprise and we have no doubt, but that with their admiration in the best judges and exertions, and the addition of two most able performers. As this extraor three well painted new scenes, that ordinary boy is under the patronage this opera will prove very productive of some persons of distinction in this to the theatre next season. country, it is not certain that he will CENSOR. be permitted to exert his talents in public. Mr. Barthelemon is about to publish by subscription an elegant collection of genuine Welch Airs, decyphered from a manuscript in the original notational characters selected from the book of Gwylin Penlyn, who SIR, On account of the length of the correspondence between Mr. Barthelemon and Mr. Hawkins, we are under the necessity of postponing several articles till next month. To the Editor of the Apollonian Critic. July 93d, 1807. It was not till last night that I knew of Mr. Barthelemon's having publetter desiring Mr. Pratt to put certain queries to me concerning the Claviole, and report my answers through the same respectable medium. Not having heard from Mr. Pratt on the subject, I presume he is unacquainted with the publication, and as I always prefer the simplest way of effecting a purpose, I think it best to come forward myself, giving a short account of the affair, and laying before your readers some documents, to shew that Mr. Barthelemon ought not to persist in claiming a share of the profits which may arise from the Claviole." I am well aware, Sir, that this is not a subject interesting to the public, but, as Mr. Barthelemon has improperly brought the thing before your readers, by writing, or consenting to the writing of the paragraph in your 6th volume, which induced Mr. Pratt to undertake my vindication, and Mr. Barthelemon's reply to Mr. Pratt, containing queries already fully answered in private, I am compelled in my own defence to meet him on the same ground. Understanding some time before the Claviole was made public, that Mr. Barthelemon declared himself the inventor of it, I wrote the follow ing letter: June 224, 1805. "MY DEAR FRIEND, "As I should miserably deplore any event that would lessen the affectionate intercourse which has so long subsisted between us, I feel it my duty to guard as much as I can against every possible breach of friendship. "I shall shortly bring before the public the musical instrument which was the subject of conversation betwixt you and me before I went to America. "As my memory does not furnish me with any particular hints you gave me in that conversation, and as I at present believe the invention was original with myself, it appears prudent that we should have a clear understanding before the instrument is made public, and for that purpose I see no way so proper, as for you to commit to writing the particular ideas you think you communicated to me, and lodge the paper in the hands of some person, who will produce it when the instrument is faished; this will prevent any misunderstanding. Wishing you all happiness, I remain, your affectionate friend, Mr. Barthelemon, JOHN J. HAWKINS, 66 caprice; but much more we think, to us sincere pleasure to say, that taking the want of judgment in the mana- them as a collection, we consider them gers, in permitting (as they have done much the best that Vauxhall has prolatterly) their singers to introduce duced for several years. The two, songs, composed by any Jack-a-dandy however, which seem least deserving music-master, or fiddler in a theatre, of our commendation are, "Never who has the means of bebing their try him" and "The Young Gypsey venality; though the words of them has conquered my Heart." In the sym be an insult to common sense, and phony of the former, there is a show the music betray the grossest igno- of labour and modulation, that, as an rance of the elements of the science. introduction to simple comic ballad, And yet the authors of which, are not appears almost as ridiculous to us, as ashamed to be seen nightly under the a parson in full canonicals dancing a orchestra, vehemently applauding and hornpipe. The latter is a collection encoring the compositions of their of as common-place passages as we own stupid brains. ever saw, put together for the purpose It will perhaps be said, that some of of patching up a new song. Come the late songs of Mr. Hook's, to whom, Jockey," Catch me if you can," and at least, we cannot impute ignorance "O I am the Boy to be easy," are of the science, are nevertheless of very lively pleasing ballads of the the most contemptible description. comic, as are the " Cottage that stands This we admit, and we have accord- by the Sea," and "Beneath the weepingly, on former occasions, reluctantly ing Willow," of the serious cast. But bestowed censure upon them. We the three upon which we can bestow say reluctantly, because we know of our most unqualined praise, are, no modern composer who has pro-. "The Squeeze of the Hand," "Mary duced a greater number of deservedly of the Dale," and "He's gone away popular ballads than has Mr. Hook. from me." The first is remarkable for But if he will, through carelessness, an uncommonly tasteful symphony, condescend to place himself upon a and an originality in the melody, level with such wretched scribblers rarely to be met with in modern as we have noticed above, he must songs. The second is distinguished be content to share their censure. by a singularly elegant accompani We are aware that the managers of ment; and "He's gone away from Vauxhall Gardens, having thrown me" is a ballad as beautifully simple open their orchestra for the admission and plaintive, as ever came under of any trash, that an avaricious our notice. singer may be bribed to introduce, must be highly mortifying to a man of Genius, who has presided at that orchestra for nearly thirty years: yet surely it cannot be accepted as an apology for his reducing himself to the level of the authors of such trash. We have been led to make these observations from feelings of real regret, that a place, from whence have issued, formerly, some of our best English songs, should have been suf- recommendation. fered latterly to issue many that would disgrace even Bartholomew Fair. And we most sincerely hope, that in future the managers will not (from a mistaken liberality) suffer such stupid effusions to be foisted upon the public under the name of "Vauxhall Songs," as have for several seasons past disgraced that title. We now come to speak of the songs of the present season: and it affords T. "The Favourite Dance in the Wood Dæmon," as performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Arranged as a Rondo for the Piano Forte. By J. Monro. Is. This rondo is from the pen of the author of "Le Retour de l'Eté," and to those who are in possession of that elegant and ingenious Divertimento, we need not say one word more in its T. "Peter the Great,"-An Opera. The Words by Mr. Cherry: the Music by Mr. Jouve. This opera is produced by the author of that pleasing melo-drama "Va lentine and Orson," and in our opi nion does him infinite credit. In "Peter the Great" Mr. Jouve has evinced as much taste as science, and we were glad to see such music sq well received by the public, most of was admitted a Doctor of Music at the songs being encored.. the Congress of the Bards, held at Carwys in 1567, by order of Queen Elizabeth. Musical Phenomenon. We think the managers did not do justice to it, in not having it given out for the next night (as is usual upon such occasions) for it was cer- CASIMIR BACCHER, a boy who has tainly throwing cold water upon it astonished all Paris by his performafter its warm reception. Incledon, auces on the harp, has just arrived Munden, Bellamy, and Mrs. Kemble, in this country. His taste, skill, and did ample justice to their songs: and knowledge, have excited surprise and we have no doubt, but that with their admiration in the best judges and exertions, and the addition of two most able performers. As this extraor three well painted new scenes, that ordinary boy is under the patronage this opera will prove very productive of some persons of distinction in this to the theatre next season. country, it is not certain that he will CENSOR. be permitted to exert his talents in public. Mr. Barthelemon is about to publish by subscription an elegant collection of genuine Welch Airs, decyphered from a manuscript in the original notational characters selected from the book of Gwylin Penlyn, who SIR, On account of the length of the correspondence between Mr. Barthelemon and Mr. Hawkins, we are under the necessity of postponing several articles till next month. To the Editor of the Apollonian Critic. July 28d, 1807. IT was not till last night that I knew of Mr. Barthelemon's having pab lished, in your department of the Universal Magazine for May last, a letter desiring Mr. Pratt to put certain queries to me concerning the Claviole, and report my answers through the same respectable medium. Not having heard from Mr. Pratt on the subject, I presume he is unacquainted with the publication, and as I always prefer the simplest way of effecting a purpose, I think it best to come forward myself, giving a short account of the affair, and laying before your readers some documents, to shew that Mr. Barthelemon ought not to persist in claiming a share of the profits which may arise from the Clavioie. I am well aware, Sir, that this is not a subject interesting to the public, but, as Mr. Barthelemon has improperly brought the thing before your readers, by writing, or consenting to the writing of the paragraph in your 6th volume, which induced Mr. Pratt to undertake my vindication, and Mr. Barthelemon's reply to Mr. Pratt, containing queries already fully answered in private, I am compelled in my own defence to meet him on the same ground. Understanding some time before the Claviole was made public, that Mr. Barthelemon declared himself the inventor of it, I wrote the following letter: "MY DEAR FRIEND, June 22d, 1805. "As I should miserably deplore any event that would lessen the affectionate intercourse which has so long subsisted between us, I feel it my duty to guard as much as I can against every possible breach of friendship. "I shall shortly bring before the public the musical instrument which was the subject of conversation betwixt you and me before i went to America. 66 As my memory does not furnish me with any particular hints you gave me in that conversation, and as I at present believe the invention was original with myself, it appears prudent that we should have a clear understanding before the instrument is made public, and for that purpose I see no way so proper, as for you 'o commit to writing the particular ideas you think you communicated to me, and lodge the paper in the hands of some person, who will produce it when the instrument is faished; this will prevent any misunderstanding. Wishing you all happiness, I remain, your affectionate friend, Mr. Barthelemon. JOHN J. HAWKINS, [AUGUST Mr. Barthelemon immediately lodged a sealed paper with a mutual friend. In February 1806, having a Claviole nearly completed, I proposed to Mr. Barthelemon that we should choose seven gentlemen to open the paper, and compare his description with my invention, and terminate the dispute between us. The seven were chosen without any difficulty, all his particular friends as well as mine; they met on the 18th of that month, and opened the paper; it did not contain a description of any mechanical contrivance, but merely stated that he had desired I would turn my attention to inventing "an instrument with gut strings and a bow, which should have the effect of duets for violins, tenor and violin, tenor and bass, or of a trio, two violins and a bass, or even of a quartett." The gentlemen unanimously decided that Mr. Barthelemon had not assisted me in contriving the Claviole. Seeing Mr. Barthelemon much hurt at the result of the meeting, I immediately addressed him as follows. "MY DEAR FRIEND, "No. 4, Dalby Terrace, Feb. 18th, 1806. "The great anxiety I suffer in consequence of your feelings being hurt at the decision of our good friends this evening, induces me to endeavour at quieting your unpleasant sensations, by convincing you that your claim of profit from the Claviole is unjust; I do not mean that it is intentionally unjust on your part, for I am very certain you would not do a single act, unless you thought it perfectly right; I'know therefore, that in order to make you abandon your claim, I have nothing more to do than to convince you it is unjust. "You acknowledged to the friends this evening, that you did not tell me bow the instrument was to be made, but left that for me to contrive; you said you only gave me the first idea. "That you gave me the first idea I cannot positively contradict, although I believe to the contrary, for to the best of my recollection, it was the hurdy-gurdy which gave me the first idea; I remember very well on hearing one of them played, being particularly struck with the possibility of making a very grand instrument on similar principles, and I believe this was a considerable time before your conversation with me, at which conversation it is very possible I did not say I had such a thing in view, because in many instances, when a thing has been mentioned to me as new, I have omitted to say that I had before thought of the same, lest I should appear vain. "But waving the point of your giving me the first idea, since I am not quite cer tain, the whole will depend upon this consideration, Was the idea then new? That you thought it new I do not in the least dispute, but that it was not new to the world, there is abundant evidence to prove. "Your conversation with me was in the year 1794; Merlin's vocal harp was exhibited in 1789; this instrument is exactly on your idea, that is, it is made with catgut strings, a rosined bow, and played on with finger keys. "The lyrachord was made in the early part of the last, or in the preceding century; a particular description of which, is in Martin's Philosophy; it is described as having gut strings, rosined bows, and played on with finger keys; precisely your idea. "The hurdy gurdy, in use perhaps for ages, is also on the same idea. "A complete instrument on this idea, has been the grand desideratum of mechanical musicians for centuries past; they saw the defects of those already made, but did not hit on the mode of remedying them. The tones of the hurdy gurdy were too harsh, by reason of the bow being of wood: the machinery of the lyrachord was too compli cated, on account of having a separate bow to each string; and the vocal harp wanted staccato effect, because its bow of silk was too long and elastic. "But all these instruments are upon the very idea you mentioned to me; your idea was therefore an old one, and consequently could not be patented in any country; for novelty is one of the most essential prerequisites of every invention to be patented; and as the thing could not be patented, it could not be of any advantage to me; since every person has an equal right to make instruments on that principle. "Now, if I cannot obtain any advantage from your idea, it is unjust to expect a profit from me, on account of my taking a patent for an instrument to produce the desired effect in a nw manner; and for which also five hundred people may obtain as many different patents, provided they can produce the effect in 500 different ways. A man cannot take a patent for making organs, but he may obtain one for a new mode of making organs. I could not get a patent for making instruments with gut strings, rosined bows, and played on with finger keys, because that had been done before; but my patent was granted to me for a new mode of making a bow with horse hair, to draw tones from gut strings, acted on by finger keys; in inventing this mode, my conscience will not permit me to say, that I received the least hint from you or any man living. "At least twenty different people, at various times, have mentioned to me their wish, that I would turn my attention to the contriving an instrument which would produce the effect of violins, tenors, and basses; this was precisely what you did: now, if on this account I ought to allow you a profit, I am equally bound to give all the rest the same allowance; what then will be my reward for the immense labour and expense I have been at in bringing this thing to perfection? What will be left for me after making a dividend of profit to twenty-one persons? "I had given up the pursuit after several expensive and fruitless experiments; and should perhaps never have tried further, but for the reiterated recommendations of my friends in America: I have already expended upwards of 100C1. in experiments on the instrument, and cannot reasonably hope to bring it properly before the public for sale, with less than 3001. more. How can I expect a return of these expenses, if I divide my profit without receiving any valuable consideration. Now my dear friend, I think you must by this time be convinced that your claim is unjust, and that you ought to give it up. It will be most painful to me to meet you in any other character than that of an affectionate friend, and I flatter myself such will always be the nature of our intercourse. That you may enjoy every felicity is the sincere wish of Mr. Barthelemon. Your real friend, "JOHN J. HAWKINS" I expected the business would have ended here, but am sorry to find Mr. Barthelemon still persists in his claim, in opposition to the opinion of every one of his friends who know any thing of the subject, and in defiance of every principle of right. I have laboured during the best part of twelve years upon the Claviole, and expended more than 1500l. in bringing it to perfection; and Mr. Barthelemon has not contributed one penny towards it. For the better enabling Mr. Barthelemon to see the impropriety of his demand, I will suppose a case where the persons are changed, on the ground of the inimitable maxim, "Do as you would be done by." Mr. Barthelemon, as is well known to the musical world, has very lately brought forward a new Oratorio, which he calls "The Nativity, or Birth of the Messiah." It has been most highly applauded; suppose I had some thirteen or fourteen years since suggested to him the idea of composing such an oratorio, would Mr. Barthelemon think it just that I should now come forward, and demand half the honor and profit consequent on the success of the undertaking? but I should be as much entitled to do so, as he is to the claim he makes. I am, Sir, No. 79, Great Titchfield Street. Your humble servant, TO CORRESPONDENTS: JOHN J. HAWKINS, A Communication from Mr. BURDON arrived too late for insertion in the present Number, but will appear in the next. We were pleased with his polite reception of our private letter, N'IMPORTE has appropriately fixed the value of his composition by his Signature. "N. M." will see by the insertion of his letter in the present Number, that we'approve of it: he will also see that we had already commenced a periodical paper, templatist," therefore could not accede to his proposal. Any communications, how"The Conever, from him, that shall be thought worthy, will be admitted as a number of THE CONTEMPLATIST, or in the other part of the Magazine according to its object. BOOKS PUBLISHED AUGUST 1807. As this Department will be of great Importance to AUTHORS and BOOKSELLEKS, as well as to Literature in general, it is requested that NOTICES of Works may be forwarded as early as possible (free of Postage), which will be regularly inserted. AGRICULTURE. ELEMENTS of Agriculture: and promoting Vegetation on steady being blishing the Cultivation of the Soil, 10s. 6d. |