to what Extent, and how most readily attainable ?" 825 



most exclusively consumed by the vowel, as in song*; which, 

 especially with the inarticulate singer, is the general practice. 

 Without this necessary precaution, the closing syllable in parti- 

 cular, viz. ''man," whose vowel is exceedingly short, will have 

 a most unnatural effect. 



3. Of Forte. — The sentence should be rather energetically 

 delivered, as a public toast, for example ; and sufficiently loud 

 to be heard throughout tiie imaginary room. The due emphasis 

 too, and no more, should be given to every emphatic and unem- 

 phstic syllable ; while the genius of song which so frequently 

 deranges this habitual order, must be studiously avoided. 



These premises being fully understood and carefully attended, 

 — nothing further remains than merelv to suggest to the experi- 

 Rienter, that if, after giving every vowel its legitimate soimd, and 

 expressing every syllable without a jerk, should still the minutest 

 vestige of sing-so?ig be discoverable ; — the substitution, in such 

 instance, of a fixed quarter tone higher or lower, or some other 

 unacknowledged interval, in place of the existing character, will 

 effectually re'move it. 



, To the musical gentleman who would feel desirous of trying 

 the experiment, but who may consider the execution of so many 

 solitarv and independent intervals (for they are by no means as- 

 sociated, and governed by a key-note, as in song) too trouble- 

 some a task, I would recommend the playing of this little pas- 

 sage on the piano, and accompanying it with his voice in the 

 best manner he can : then setting aside the instrument, let him 

 endeavour to speak the passage without ever reflecting on the 

 necessary notes ; and he will be certain not only to express it in 

 fixed tones or monotones, but likewise so very closely to the 

 cctual intervals, as will enable him to form a sufficiently just opi- 

 nion of the subject. 



Now, after all this lengthened discussion, lest any objection 

 should arise in the mind of my intelligent reader, with respect to 

 the unvaried range of notes, or repeats, which two or three times 

 may appear within this sentence ; or that he should wish for an 



• Is it not upon this principle thp.t the stammerer can sing with more fa- 

 cility than speak ? And, to cure his impediment, should lie not, for some 

 time, he exercised in the opposite extreme; extending as much as possible, 

 every prolongable consonant, and proportionably contracting every vowel ? 

 It is true, that by so doing he will incur the danger of cacophony, to which 

 the over-extension of/, m, r, s, and other disagreeable consonants wijl sub» 

 iect him: but, this habit can afterwards be abandoned. 



Having thus touched on the stammerer, will it be too digressive to ob- 

 serve, that changing his associations, with regard to time, may also prove 

 J)eneficial ? Let this time be of whatever species it may, it should be sim- 

 ple and slow; nor should the unfortunate person be suffered to protract his 

 rure by hurrying over any of his consonants, for the despicable purpose of 

 fro'.vdinjj them witjiin a lar. 



X 3 opinion 



