On the Properties of Wind Inflrumenti. 2Ji 



Fig. 9 reprefents a metallic clarionet, which was conflrufted for this purpofe. It will 

 perform the notes of a diatonic fcale to the extent of two oflaves and a fourth. The com- 

 mon holes for the fingers are marked i, 2, 3, 4, 5, <5, 7 : between 3 and 4 there is an ad- 

 ditional hole for the little finger of the left hand, and about half an inch nearer the reed 

 than the fiift, and on the oppofite fide of the tube there is an aperture for the thumb. The 

 proportions of this figure are equal in length to one fourth of thofe of the inftrument. The 

 tube is five eighths of an inch in diameter beyond the figure 7 ; at 1 it is about half an inch. 

 The lowed found of the inftrument with all the holes clofed, is G reprefented by the fpace 

 immediately above the line, which caufes the bafe cliff. When the inftrument is blown 

 eafily, and the holes 7, 6, 5, 4, llfh, 3, 2, i, th-, are opened one after another, the fol- 

 lowing fucceffion of notes will be produced. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, a B : when the hole 5 is 

 opened for C, 6 fhould be clofed. For B flat, clofe the hole , i while the thumb hole is 

 open. For C the compound fourth of the loweft found G, clofe all the holes except the 

 firft and the thumb hole, or either of them. While blowing a little ftronger clofe thefe, 

 and open the holes in the fame order as for A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and the following 

 fucceffion of founds .will follow, D, E, F, G, A, B flat, B, C. If the higheft C be too flat, 

 open the thumb hole and clofe the fecond. Another found ftill higher may be added, by 

 preffing a key with the foremoft finger of the left hand. The compafs of the fcale will then 

 be equal to two oclaves and a fifth. A fmall pipe might be introduced into the fide of the 

 inftrument oppofite the feventh hole, and its exterior end clofed by the thumb of the right 

 hand} when it is. opened the loweft found G, and C its compound fourth, will be raifed 

 half a tone. It would alfo be advantageous to have a joint near the wider end of this cla- 

 rionet to vary the pitch of middle C, in the modes of C and F; when this note is raifed a 

 little, its Olflave below may be made true by opening the fixth hole. An inftrument of this 

 kind may be made of wood. It feems well adapted for performing the parts generally af- 

 figned to xhcjirjl clarionet. All the founds of its fcale are nearly of an equal ftrength. 

 The fingering of its fcale is eafy, as none of the common notes are introduced by opening 

 apertures which are clofed by inanimate valves or keys. The reed is flender, and requires 

 little preflure from the lips in- performing the higher founds of the fcale. Keys are not 

 neceflary in the diatonic fcales of C and F, but for introducing F lliarp in the lower feries 

 of notes, and E flat in the higher, two keys will be of advantage. A bafs inftrument as 

 long again as this clarionet, with the fame kind of a reed, and with the holes for the fin- 

 gers difpofed in the fame order, may be made in a ferpentine form like the part i, 2, 3, 4, 

 5, 6, in Fig. 2, but if it be intended to perform an extenfive fcale, ail dilated parts (liould 

 be avoided, or the founds in the higher feries will be too flat when produced by a flender 

 reed. 



I fhall finifli this long letter with an explanation of the tenth figure. When the external 



air is excluded from the fide aperture of an organ pipe, and the found is carried with the 



current which produces it, through another pipe of the fame dimenfions as that which 



3 ■ determines 



