XL 



0« ///dGR/\'MAs or Musical Scales o//Z'f Hindus. 

 BY J. D. PATERSON, Esa. 



VV HEN music was first rednced to a science, it is 

 probable, that it was confined to the few scientific inen, 

 whose education and studies fitted them to understand 

 its principles ; and that the first efforts of the science; 

 were displayed in hymns to the deities: each being ad- 

 dressed in a peculiar modcj rhythmusy and expression. 



AccoKDiNG to Plato*, tibc Egjplkfis were re- 

 stricted fay their laws to certain fixed melodies, which 

 they wer^ not permitted to alter ; he says, that the 

 lawgivers of Egyp appear to have laid it down as a 

 principle, that "Young men in cities should be ac- 

 customed to beautiful figures and beautiful melodies, 

 and that it was one of their institutions to exlulnl in 

 their temples wliat these were, and what the qualities' 

 which they possessed ; and besides these it was not 

 lawful either for painters or other artificers to introduce 

 any that were new, or even to think of any other than 

 those belonging to their country." He adds, " Nor 

 is it lawful at present to do this either in these particu- 

 lars or in the whole of music. If you observe, there- 

 fore, you will find, that paintings and sculptures therej. 

 which were executed ten thousand years ago, as if they 

 were not of such great antiquity, are neither more beau- 



On Legislation. Dialogue 2d. 



