419 
tofali, an instrument-maker of Florence, 
had the first idea of it; but the most au- 
thentic accounts establish indisputably 
the claim of Schréder to this ingenious 
mvention.” Fora particular description 
of its mechanism, see Mizler’s Musika- 
lische Bibliothek, vol. iii. 
“The Fortbien, called here the 
square piano-forte, was invented by Frei- 
derici, an organ-builder, of Gera, in Sax- 
ony, about the year 1758.” 
These extracts, I presume, sufficiently 
establish the fact, that we owe the inven- 
tion of the piano-forte to Germany, 
And I am sorry, at present, I am not 
enabled to ascertain so satisfactorily the 
precise period of its introduction into this 
country; but some particulars of the life 
of Zumpe, by whom it was undoubtedly 
introduced, have been promised me, and 
if they afford any further elucidation, it 
shall be made the subject of a future 
communication. 
Mr. Capel Lofft seems to think the - 
clavi-cvlinder of Dr. Chladni, an imita- 
tion, or probably an improvement, on 
Mr. Clagget’s aieuton. Whether this be 
the case or not, I am prevented from 
deciding, by not having seen g particular 
description of M. Chiadni’s invention. 
But with the aieuton I am perfectly ac- 
quainted, having been engaged, at that 
period, with Mr. Clagget, in an attempt 
to remove those mechanical difficulties in 
its construction, which retarded the ap- 
proximation to perfection ef an inven- 
tion which, by its novelty, attracted some 
approbation and encouragement from the. 
Scientific world. 
The effects produced by this instru- 
ment in pathetic compositions, were ex- 
tremely sublime, but very equivocal; as 
will be easily conceived hy a reference 
to the mechanism, which I shall briefly 
attempt to give some idea of, to enable 
those who may be acquainted with M. 
Chladni’s invention, to decide whether 
it bears any resernblance in principle or 
construction to Mr, Clagget’s aieuton, 
The tones were produced from forks 
made of steel, in the manner of the pitch. 
fork used for tuning instruments, except 
those to produce the bass, the prongs of 
which were hoilow tubes instead of solid 
masses of metal. These were pressed by 
the touch of the key on a revolving belt 
of seal skin, about an inch broad. The 
hair side, which received the pressure of 
the fork, was rubbed with a preparation 
of resin, and the forks themselves were 
thinly coated with the same substance. 
From this, it will he seen, that the tones 
Letters of a Wanderer through England and Wales. [Dec. 1, 
were drawn from these metallic forks in 
the same manner as from the strings of 3 
violin by the bow; but by na means se 
instantaneously. 
It was indeed, as has been observed, 
slow to speak; and by the friction of the 
belt against. the metal, in the perform- 
ance of -a few bars, the resin was ina 
great measure taken of, and its imper- 
fections consequently became more 
evident. 
This was the state of the ajeuton at 
the death of its inventor; the misfortune 
of whose life it was, to have ideas theo- 
retically sublime, but deficient in prace 
tical utility. 
London, Nov. 12; 1810. 
ES 
For the, Monthly Magazine. 
LETTERS OF A WANDERER. 
LETTERIY. . 
-YHEN I entered Sheffield, it was 
*¥ my intention to have bent my 
course towards the north by Doncaster, 
the remaining part of Yorkshire, and 
‘Northumberland; but an _ unforeseen 
circumstance led to a material alteration 
E. Lypiatr. 
in my route, and I had no cause to - 
regret the change; for, besides its having 
gained me an agreeable travelling compae 
nion for a considerable part .of my 
excursion, £ was thereby induced to visit 
some parts of the country | had not 
intended to explore, and the sight of 
which afforded me much amusement 
and gratification. 
supper was preparing, to take a stroll 
through some of the streets of Sheffield, 
} was agreeably surprised to meet our 
old acquaintance, Charles B——, wha, 
after mutual greetings, told me, he was 
then going uportea solitary ramble over 
some parts of the north of England, and 
the Highlands of Scotland; and finding 
my imtentions were similar, we soon 
came to the resolution of joining com. 
pany, and proceeding withersoever our 
inclivations, or the hope of seeing whag 
was curious, might lead us. We are 
both, you know, of similar tastes and 
dispositions ; both rather what the world 
would call eccentric beings; both haye 
suffered unhappiness, though from very 
different causes; and both are desirous 
of forgetting, if possible, the sources of 
their disquietudes, With tolerable health, 
therefore, much spare time, and a suffi- 
ciency of cash to enable either to pursue 
his inclinations at pleasure, we had no 
one to consult upon the occasion; $0, 
without further ceremony, we set off the 
foliowing morning, on a tour to some of © 
the 
: a 
Happening, while. 
