fection of it are so great, as to render it very objectionable. For, as every different movement of tune requires an appropriate length of pendulum, and impulse of projection, a tedious and incessant labour is required, to attend to these things; since it is hardly possible that the most retentive ear could suggest the numberless different velocities, adapted to every kind of music. This inconvenience is so great, that, even in military bands, only three rates of time are attempted to be ascertained by pendulums. But the chief objection is, that, unless a pendulum be connected with some powers, that will keep up a regular motion, it will soon cease to vibrate in equal divisions of time; the difference will be perceived, by a nice ear, in a few seconds; and it will appear the sooner, if the instrument be exposed to a current of air, or any thing that may retard its motion. Pendulums, connected with machinery, are used for this purpose at Milan, where music is studied in the most scientific manner; but they are too complex, expensive, and trouble some, to be generally adopted.

dividing those in a minute by 60. If the crotchets in a minute were noted, it should be done in a whole number; if the crotchets, or quavers, in a second, in a fraction, whose denominator would specify the kind of notes, as is cominonly done, and its numerator the number contained in one second. Thus, 90 is equivalent to To illustrate this system:

A slow inarch requires seventy-five steps, in one minute, each step, half a bar, or two crotchets; so that the whole number of crotchets, played in one ini nute, must be 150; of quavers, 300; which number, divided by 60, will give 5. Hence, the mark for such tunes should be, denoting, that five quavers should be played in one second.

A quick march admits one hundred and eight stops in a minute. Some of the tunes for this movement are set in 2, or, as it is called, French tine; others in, or compound common time. Of the former, one crotchet is played to each step; hence, the number of quavers in one minute, will be 216; of semiquavers, 432. As this number cannot be divided exactly by 60, it might answer common amusement to mark such tunes

As it is extremely desirable, however, that some correct and easy method, for regulating the time of music, should be, implying, that seven semiquavers devised, I suggest the following remarks, which may prepare the way for something more perfect,

should be played in one second. But it would be more exact to mark 108, in a whole number, denoting, that so many quavers should be played in one minute. The quick marches in §, admit one hundred and eight steps also in a minute; but allow three quavers to each step. Hence, the number of crotchets in a minute will be, 162; of quavers, 324; which, being divided by 60, will give nearly 5; and such tunes may be marked

more exactly, 162, in a whole number,

The common division of time, into minutes and seconds, appears the most convenient for this purpose. By means of it, physicians ascertain the pulsations of the human system, with so great facility, that an experienced practitioner can pronounce, pretty correctly, the number of pulsations in one minute, with out looking upon a stop-watch, or a, for common amusement; though, moment-hand. In the same manner, I conceive that the number of crotchets to be played, or sung, in one minute, might be easily determined, and marked accordingly, at the beginning of every tune, or piece of music. The practice of playing, or singing, at the rate specified by this mark, would be easily acquired, by using, for some time, a common clock, or watch; and it would be liable to no variety, imperfection, or uncertainty.

But if it should be thought that the number of crotchets, in a minute, would be too great to be marked at the beginping of a quick tune, the same end might be accomplished, by ascertaining the number of crotchets, or quavers, in a second; which could be easily done, by

The application of this practice to other kinds of musical composition, where so much precision is not indispensable, will be very evident and easy. Thus & psalm, or hymn tune, containing 30 minims in one minute, may be marked 4, A minuet, containing 90 crotchets in a minute, marked. But it is, particularly in performing mixed pieces of music, that the different. movements of allegro, largo, presto, &c. being marked 4, 4, or the like, would give steadiness to practitioners; and produce a uniformity in the manners of leaders, which is greatly wanted at present.

I have thrown out these hints, for the consideration of those who are abler

judges

66

For the Monthly Magazine.

ACCOUNT of THOMAS MAJOR'S CONFINE.MENT in the CASTEE of the BASTILLE, in the YEAR 1746, interspersed with several ANECDOTES of POPISH BIGOTRY, in a LETTER to THOMAS HOLLIS, ESQ. of LINCOLN'S INN, F.R.S. and S.A.S. 1772, REVISED and PUBLISHED by his GRANDSON, THOMAS WILSON,

(Concluded from page 435.)

without detail or quotation." The fol Jowing citations are surely very awkwardly introduced:-Sir J. Belfield, speaking' of Mrs. Fentham's daughter, says, The damsels still remain, like Shakespeare's plaintive maid, * in single blessedness; they do not, however, like her, spend gloomy nights chanting cold hymns to e pale lifeless moon,' but in singing sprightlier roundelays to livelier auditors." Here we are first to be told in lofty verse what they do not do, before we hear in humble prose what they acHE morning after my confinement, tually do. In the play from which this the governorsent to know if I would forced allusion and quotation is made, acquaint iny friends with my imprisonIlermia asks the Duke what is to befal ment, that they might endeavour to get her, if she refuse to wed Demetrius? They release. This I took as a great civiDuke tells her either to die, or to live in lity, and I returned him my thanks, and a cloister" chanting, &c." but hints, that said I should take it as a particular favour. more earthly happiness is to be found in Accordingly peus, ink, paper and wafers, marriage than in '“ single blessedness;” I wrote to Monsieur here we have no plaintive maid "chant- D'Anville, (the King's geographer) who ing faint hymns to the cold fruitless knew that my coming to France with his moon" (which, by the bye, is as Shake. brother, Monsieur Gravelot, of whom I speare wrote it. I wish these ladies, had been a pupil, was purely for my imwhen they quote, would turn to their provement in the arts. I desired that he Shakespeares and Popes, and not give would apply to the Duke of Orleans (the their lines from memory, which is a king's uncle) for whom I had engraved very treacherous faculty). Again, Sir some copper-plates; and entreat his inJohn is quite poetical in his relation of terest for my release, that I might pursue what he supposes occurred in his young my studies. This letter, as wafers were friend's visit at Mrs. Fentham's; but he sent, inconsiderately closed, not then keeps within bounds, till he commits the knowing the nice punctilios of the French, absurdity of making Milton tell us what and how tenacious they are of ceremoniCelebs did not do, before he tells us ous trifles. This was an incivility to the himself what he did do! governor; it should have been sent open for his inspection, for which reason he never forwarded it. Perhaps, it was only a method used to come at the connections of the prisoner, and by that means to obtain light into any affair they may wish to be acquainted with. But of this I am not certain, it is only a surmise, and I should be sorry to cast any reflection upon this gentleman, who behaved so genteely to me. I have since been informed, that no, prisoner is allowed to write from hence, but by a particular order, first obtained for that purpose, from the ninister of state; and this confirms my conjecture, that the above was an artifice only. My landlord earnestly entreated the exempt, to acquaiut him

swer, further, than he seized me by a Lettre de Cachet, which was fully suffi cient, and his authority for what he was do ing. My old landlady, too. was very desirous of knowing whither they had taken me. She went early the next morning to enquire of the people near the Bastille, whether they had heard of any prisoner having arrived that day. They asked, If any belonging to her had been taken up. She said, a young Englishman, who boarded with them. They answered, For God's sake do not say you know him, but get away as fast as you can, lest you bring yourself into trouble. During my stay at Paris, I frequently took a walk to view my old habitation, the place of my cap tivity. When I stopt to look attentively at the prison, and make observations, if the centinel perceived me, he would come up to me, and say, Monsieur, passez votre chemin-Sir, go about your business. This severity may be a proper check upon many violent, ill-designing people; but at the same time, it must be a shocking weight upon the minds of others, who probably may have innocent relations or friends confined there.

Possibly I might have remained a prisoner for years, languishing out the remainder of my days in close confinement and hopeless captivity, (perhaps, " with a rusty nail, scratching on a stick another day of misery, to add to the heap,") as perpetual imprisonment has sometimes been deemed a favour, had not my landlord received a friendly hint from the commissaire, when we left my lodgings, who kindly whispered in his ear- -Bastille. That gentleman behaved nobly as a man and as a citizen of the world, and I should certainly be wanting in gratitude, if I did not pay him this acknowledgement. It was fortunate for me, that I was not taken up in the street; had this been the case, none of my friends could have known what was become of me, as they never would have thought, a person like me, who came to France purely for study, could possibly be an object for the minister's attention, and commitment to the Bastille, on affairs of state; but would have naturally concluded, that by some accident I had been privately murdered. Had a change of ministry then been made, I might have remained a prisoner the rest of my days; it being customary for the succeeding minister, never to make enquiries after the prisoners, taking it for granted, that their crimes occasioned their confinement; and as a caution to others, not to meddle with political affairs; consequently they remain

immured there, during their lives, unless released by application from their friends, which cannot always be done, it being un known what persons are there.

It is not improbable, that many who have suddenly disappeared at Paris, and who have never been heard of since, have unluckily been taken up in the street, at a distance from their friends and acquaintance. The following anecdote was told me, by Dr. Longfield, who, when he resided at Paris, had contracted an intimacy with several learned gentlemen of different nations; they used to meet at a coffeehouse for the sake of conversation and amusement. One night when five or six of them were at supper, an exempt entered, and took away a Spanish gentleman, who was never heard of more.

Another extraordinary circumstance was, of a young surgeon, who went to Paris to study his profession, having strong recom mendations to a French gentleman living near the rue St. Antoine. Immediately on his arrival, he went with his letter; but not finding him at home, left it, intending to call again, and dismissed his guides In the mean time, taking a walk, he happened to go by the Bastille, and, mistaking the entrance for a thoroughfare, by chance he passed the first centinel, whose back was towards him. However, he was stopped by the second, and not speaking French, he was taken before the governor; the account he gave of himself, was not sufficient for his release, and there he remained. Some time elapsed, and the Frenchman wondered that his English visitor did not appear; his friends in England were as much surprised, they had no tidings of his arrival. At length, they wrote to Paris, to enquire for him; they received for answer, that he cer tainly had been there, by the delivery of his letter, but that they had not seen him at all. In short, he was given over. Three years had passed, when an officer, who had formerly been stationed on duty at the Bastille, supped in company at this gentleman's. This strange circumstance happened to be mentioned; the officer recollecting the time, said that when he was stationed there, a foreigner was taken up, and, not giving a satisfactory account of himself, was secured. Possibly it might be the same; but desired his name might not be mentioned, as giving intelligence. The French gentleman, through his friends, immediately made application to the minister; and finding the object of their search in the Bastille, by their interest he was released, after three years imprisonment.