1 
530 
The 4th of the key seems to have ana- 
* Jogous’ properties in visual and .audible 
harmony by its distinctness ; it bas mach 
more of the concord than of the discord, 
in its effect. Thus green softens, re- 
lieves, and unites, all the other colours. 
These tones of sound, or shades of 
eolour, give a perception which is less 
clear, simple, distinct, and easy; less - 
pure and homogeneous; and therefore 
less agreeable, if taken, not in series, but 
in single combination, . 
But then the concords of sound and 
-eolour, by their permanent diversily, 
would be harsh; or, to use a very signi- 
ficant French term, tranchant.* The 
gradations would be too violent to please 
for a continuance. 
The intermediate tones and semitones, 
tints and shades of tone, serve to unite 
ant to soften the gradation and transi- 
tion in both instances; though relative 
discords, individually take, they con- 
tribute in their general effect to the full 
and absolure harniony. y 
I am inclined to think that the theory 
of thé minor keys, and all the secondary 
results, both in painting and music, in 
the various combinations of sound and 
colour, so far as they are regular and 
pleasing, may be deduced from this one 
principle, the apt assemblage and co-or- 
dination of diversity and similarity, 
whence results that various uniformity 
Which’ in all things deliyhts. Contrast 
and approximation, light and shade, re- 
. lief and repose, the forte and the piano, 
Seem the elements of this stupendous 
and beautiful universe; whose harmony 
is perfected’ not less by its discordant, 
than its consonant, parts, Yet to this 
effect it is supposed, that the concords 
predominate. These are tlie grounds, 
the rest is incidental and auxiliary to 
their effect. 
Masters of painting and music, in 
theory. and in practice, may confirm 
and extend this idea: but [havea strong 
persuasion that itis a great and leading, 
er beautiful and sublime, truth, 
- For-the Monthly Magazine. 
-On the INVENTION Of the PIANO-FOR SE. 
I am very much obliged to your 
correspondent, Mr. Lydiatt, for his 
intelligence respecting the’ invention 
of the prano-rorTE, It. appears (Of 
there be no mistake) to be near half 
2 century earlier-in its origin than I 
OO en ea 
® Paice in his admirable Kasay on The 
PicTurrsque. 
 Comét of 1807. 
had supposed: but, as this. important 
fact-had escaped the researches of Sic 
s 
Jobn Hawkins, Dr. Burney, and Dr. ~~ 
Busby; and as the instrument appears ta 
have been unknown to Rousseau, I can 
ouly infer that. its :progress, prior to. the 
year 1760, must have been, as happens, 
to many other valuable inventions, ver 
slow, for many years, from: the time of ita 
first discovery. It also seems, that, 
Zoumpe, as I conjectured, did introduc 
it to England about thé time which I 
supposed; though I was mistaken in 
supposing him to have been the original, 
inventor. It is possible, however, that 
he might change it from the harpsichord 
form, to the more convenient and hands 
some rectangular form which it how ge=_ 
nerally has. rc 
Having been indebted to this delights 
ful instrument for so much encrease ta 
the happiness of my life, and consolation 
of its cares, as I should in yain attempt tq 
express, whatever light can be .throwa 
on its history, cannot but greatly im- 
terest me, and I should think almost 
every other lover of music. I rejoices 
consequently, that so much appears ¢ 
be already ascertained; and that there 
is so goad a prospect of farther discovery, 
and communication. It is as different 
from the harpsichord, ay a female style 
of voval performance is from a male; 
and this ditlerence should be always 
observed in the composition or choice o 
music for either instrument and the 
manner of playing, otherwise their res 
spective advantages become relative dey 
fects. . 
——. ta 
On the Comet. of 1807. “it 
Its very eccentric orbit being now 
so well ascertained, (its nodes lying so 
near to its perifielion,) and its peribelion 
distance appearing to have been caleu- 
lated bythe French astronomers with great 
exactness, to” which its ‘long “visibility 
and the extent of circle it d€scribed 
must have much contributed, “it is now 
not unimportant, at least it-may be cu- 
rious, to consider, what would have bees 
its appearance tu us if the Earth had 
leen in Libra or Scorpio, about the ume- 
of its passing from its perihelion, in is 
ascending node. The Earth would then 
have been on the same side of the sua 
with the comet; and its nearness would. 
have been as the difference of their re- 
spective distances from the sun nearly; 
consequently the Comet would have been _ 
about thirty-five millions of miles fro 
. 
3 
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