1814.] 



and the Mimical Division of Sound. 



255 



Reasons. 



1. The accompanying figure. No. I., is Newton's measurement 

 of tlie spectrum divided into 12; No. II., the minor series of 

 sound exemplified by the blank chromatic divisions 5 No. III., the 

 major series exhibited in a similar manner. 



No. I. 



No. II. — The Minor Series. 



■ 1 



U 



2 3 4 5 6 7 



No. III. — The Major Series. 



It may be readily seen by comparison of measurement, that if 

 yellow be considered a third to the key, that the key is minor; for, 

 if we choose a great third, we must adopt the commencement of 

 green. And here it may be necessary to insist on what must be 

 known to every person latently, though seldom, I believe, promi- 

 nently considered — namely, that every sound except the one we set 

 O.fl from is only an announcement of distance from that one (as a 

 cine!; informs us of the number of hours which are past), and not a 

 signification of any quantity between two points, but merely a very 

 point itself. A contrary notion is apt to be imbibed by those in the 

 practice of using keyed instruments. 



It is worthy of remark that persons who have little opportunity of 

 hearing artificial music almost always adopt the minor mode when 

 they attempt to sing: the wild chanting of a country boy is inva- 

 riably minor, and, which is still more singular, su arc nearly all 

 the celebrated London Crit . 



