[ 313 ] 



LII. On different Temperaments of the Muskal Scale. By 

 Mr. John Fakey. 



To Mr. Tllloch. 



SIR, 



At was not until s.ome days after the publication of your 

 last Magazine, that a letter from a friend casually informed 

 me that, in the Retrospect, vol. ii. p. 418, published on the 

 1st of February, an eminent writer and professor of mathe- 

 jnatics had noticed a letter of mine in your Magazine for 

 November last (vol. xxvi. p. 171) on what I then called Mr. 

 Hawkes's sjstem of musical intervals, but what Dr. Brad- 

 ley, a gentleman not less distinguished for his knowledge ou 

 this subject than for his medical skill, has very lately in- 

 formed mc was practised long ago, and published, I think 

 he said, in Holder's Treatise on flarmony, printed in 1694; 

 a learned work, wliich I lament not to have seen : but for 

 my ignorance of the publication of the remarks in the Re- 

 trospect above alluded to, and which are preceded by a re- 

 view or examination of lord Stanhope's essay, with which 

 I was alike unacquainted, I should earlier have replied to 

 that part of the same, which relates to the proper olject of 

 temperament, or to the principles on which we ought to de- 

 cide, on the pretensio?is of different systans proposed. Con- 

 ceiving tliat the investigations of Dr. Cal'cott, this learned 

 professor, mvself,and other persons engaged in the inquiries 

 which the publication of lord Stanhope's essay has happily 

 set on foot*, are uidikely to lead to any practical im- 

 provement, imless these prcliminaric.^ or data are truly set- 

 tled ; on this account I earnestly invite the free remarks of 

 the above genllenieu, or of any others, w ho have considered 

 the subject, on what 1 have written and am about to write 

 on these essential points; and, should they liappen to difler 

 with me, that they will carry their reasonings through, to 



* Wliicli inquiries, T sinrcrely hope, will not a^in s'.ibside, until pr:<ctical 

 nih licians arc alile to reap thst advarii;i;je which they l-.-ivc in vain hitherto 

 sought iu tlie work* of in;aherr.atital ivriicr?, on thi'- vtiv curiyu.^ and inipur- 

 taqt siihit'Ct, 



the 



