er. ee . 
» 
28 
Ld the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
iiGBLRs 
I T'EEL pleasure in complying withthe 
request, in your last Number, of the 
Rev, Mr. Smyth, “That I would state 
what I know with respect to an_ instru. 
mént inveated by Mr. Clagget, viz. his 
forks struck by hammers, as on the square 
piano-forte ;” because L conceive practi- 
cal experience cannot be too frequently 
collated with theoretical speculation, in 
order that their reciprocal advantages 
may be usefully employed in perfecting 
sientific and mechanical discoveries. 
On’this particular invention, however, 
I fear I shall be able to. add but little.to 
the information Mr. Smyth already pos- 
sesses. 
An instrument that would continue 
always in tune is undoubtedly an impor- 
tant desideratum in the musical world ; 
but the various and expensive experi- 
ments of Mr. Clagget, leave but little 
hope, in my mind, of the speedy ac- 
complishment of an object so desirable. 
The invention, enquired after, Mr.. 
Clagget intended to name the Ever-tuned: 
ptono-forte, and it was designed, to re- 
semble that instrument in appearance ; 
but instead of strings, a series of metallic 
forks were arranged in octaves to the 
Same compass and pitch; and the tones 
were intended to be produced by striking 
them with hammers, for which purpose 
the usual movement attached to the keys 
wasemployed. It was found, however, 
that the force with which they could be. 
struck, was inadequate to produce the 
desired effect. To obviate this difficulty, 
the weight of the hammers was. consider - 
ably increased, and their extremities ren- 
dered less elastic, by which. means the 
tone came out, but it was preceded by 
one discordant and insuflerably distinct, 
occasioned by the, necessary momentum 
of the blow. This objection has been 
hitherto found insuperable; as every at- 
tempt to overcame it has proportionably 
lessened the audibility of the true tone of 
the fork. 
_ Experience seems to indicate that, to 
produce a full tone from these metallic 
substances, the vibratory cause must be 
@ continued one, as in the aieuton, 
If, indeed, percussion could be em- 
ployed at all, its momentum on every 
note must bé proportioned to its rela- 
tive quantity of matter; which would 
render the fingering unpleasantly dif- 
ficult. And Lkuow, although contrary 
to some established theories of musical 
sound, that, in this instrument, the gra= 
Claggett’s Piano-forte.—Food for Silk-Wornis. 
A ~~ aoe es al — 
[Feb. 1, 
_vity and acuteness of the tones were 80. 
much affected by the variable force of the 
blow, as to be clearly apparent to every 
musical ear; and accounts for that ine=. 
quality of voising noticed by Mr. Smyth, . 
I must observe that there was no difficulty 
whatever m the application of dampers ; 
but it was unnecessary to attend to these. 
particulars, while the essential requisites, 
of the invention remained unaccom- 
plished. . 
Upon the whole, it attained but a small 
degree of relative peifection with the 
aieuton ; and although Mr, Clagget ge 
nerally adhered, with a ruinous tenacity, 
to his inventions, yet he was induced to = 
give up this from a reluctant conviction, 
of its impracticability. This is all the 
information I am able to give, in answer, 
to Mr. Smyth’s enquiry. It is extremely 
superficial ; but, perhaps, it may reach the, 
extent of his curiosity. E, Lypiarr. 
London, Jan. 14, 1814. ; 
= " . 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
i. err amusement, if not the. profit, 
derived by many from the breed-. 
ing and management of the silk-worm in, 
England, has induced me, through the, 
mediuin of your much-circulated miscel-, 
lany, to make known the best substitutes. 
for mulberry-leaves. | : 
In the year 1747, and following years,, 
some curious particulars were published 
respecting the breeding of silk-worms; L, 
have read nothing which does not give, 
the preference to mulberry-leaves, as, 
‘their food; but should that foliage fail,. 
Nature has still farnished a supply by the — 
buds of the elm, lettuce-leaves, and even. 
the leaves of poplar, oak, apple-tree, 
crab-tree, cherry, and plum-tree, bram- 
blé, dandelion, young nettles, &c. tas 
king care to gather all, your forage dry, — 
and clean. . rr yen 
Thus the important obstacle of your 
correspondent, ** Pamphila,” may possi-,-- 
bly be wholly renyoved, as she admits that, , 
our climate is favorable to the breeding, 
but despairs of bringing them to any peére. 
fection, as far as relates to a sufficiency 
of food, or the manufacture of their silks 
It seems that a gentleman, who was. par=. 
ticularly curious in experiments on these 
worms, wound the silk with great facility, 
on acard, after dipping the bottoms inta, 
warm water, mixed with a little spirits. 
of wine; the chrysalis, placed erect on, 
the smallest end, in clean paper pans, 
afierwards assumed its new state, as well 
ae 
