1864.] 



419 



[Chase. 



proximating y/1, each alternate numerator embracing B + P and its 

 corresponding denominator H of some R. A. Triangle, in which the 

 difference of B and P will be the square root of some whole number 

 which will characterize the series ; and the numerical value of B — P, 

 will have the same relation to the series that -J 1 has to the series de- 

 rived from the initials " 1, 1" in the first illustration. From the vari- 

 ous considerations here presented, is derived the general inference 



v^2 approximately. 



James Lewis, 



Mohawk, N. Y., August 31, 1864. 



B + P 



Mr. Chase read a communication " On the Comparative Fit- 

 ness of Languages for Musical Expression ;" presenting the 

 results of an investigation that had been suggested by the 

 remarks of Mr. Foulke, at a previous meeting of the Society. 



The fitness of any language for musical expression, depends, not 

 on the number and character of the letters, but on the sounds that 

 are expressed by their several combinations. I have, therefore, 

 thought that it would be interesting to analyze the sounds, and to 

 institute a variety of comparisons between Italian, French, English, 

 and German, in order to determine as nearly as possible the precise 

 nature of their harmonic differences. 



In making my comparisons, I selected a number of the principal 

 poets in each language, and examined a few passages from each. 

 From the aggregates I framed the following Tables : 



1. Number of sounds of each description in 10,000 syllables. 



21,457 23,982 27,723 27,981 



