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APPROBATION FROM MEN OF SCIENCE.

"Mr. Clementi says, I have examined your new invention, &c. and I am so well persuaded of its great utility, that I cannot but give it the warmest approbation and recommendation.'

"Mr. Cramer says, 'I consider your invention admirably calculated to lay the best foundation for forming the hand of the pupil in the true notion of touching the piano-forte.'

"Mr Kalbrenner says, "I have found your Chiroplast as ingenious as useful, not only for a beginner, but for every performer who has contracted bad habits in the position of the hands."

ERROR IN OPINION IN PLAYING AT SIGHT.

passage. After all, no pupil should ever attempt this trial in the way of exhibition, as the Committee so reasonably expected my pupils to do, and as they shall still do, and also play from figured basses, if they will allow it to be in competition with their own. Let this be reserved for the perfect master only."

The author's mode of exercise is demonstrated at the conclusion, with a list of most respectable names of those who have approved his plan, together with a prospectus, for the perusal of which we refer our readers to his well written work.

CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF A DEAD

MONK'S REANIMATION.

Ir is a well known fact that throughout all the monasteries in Sicily the dead bodies of the monks are dried and made to stand erect in niches placed round a kind of sepulchral chamber, where one of the bro thers of the holy order take it in turn to watch for two hours every night, to put them in constant mind of the last awful change that every one is destined to undergo.

A monk of Palermo was passing part of the night in the manner above mentioned, when in the interval of his devotional exercises, he fancied he heard every now and then a very unusual noise; and looking steadfastly at that part of the room from whence it proceeded, he perceived one of the dead monks nod to him; he held up his lamp, and the head nodded again: he instantly hastened up stairs to the couvent, to acquaint the brethren with this fearful omen. The monks laughed at his fears, and persuaded him it was a mere illusion of the imagination; he, therefore, summoned courage to return, but took care to go to a different part of these extensive gal.

"The general notion of playing at sight, is that a young lady should sit down to a piece of music, never having seen it before, and play it straight onward, from beginning to end, without pause or breach of time. To every musician of taste and judgment this idea is preposterous and revolting; and indeed what can be more so, whether we consider the injustice done to the author, who is thus abused and misunderstood; or to the performer, whose blunders and misconceptions are thus mortifyingly exposed to every ear of the least discrimination. Mr. Cramer, who is, perhaps, gifted with a greater readiness of reading than any other man, says, there is no such thing as playing at sight.' Atall events it can only rationally advert to an extraordinary aptitude-such as can be possessed only by a consummate master of his art, in perceiving at a single glance the whole drift and design of an author, and in conveying that design to the minds of others by executing at the instant what-leries, where he remained a while in auxiever the eye perceives. Mr. Cramer's remark is still, however, made out; for there are anthors which no master could read and execute at the instant!

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"My observations on this subject are not meant to discourage the frequent trial of new music, but this should only be permitted when the pupil has acquired, by constant study and practice, a justness of fingering and steadiness of hand, in every description of passage; the master always keeping guard against false playing, even to the nicety of a single note, and constantly inculcating a salutary dread of missing a

ous suspence. Finding all still and motionless, he began to think he must have been deceived by his imagination, and therefore he returned to his former station, and fixed his eyes on the same dead monk. He again saw the head move and nod at him. Away he ran, and declared, that all the saints in the calendar should not persuade him to go down again: he was now so positive of the fact he had witnessed that considerable alarm prevailed in the

large vault for the bodies of the common people near the great altar, having an opening always left just sufficient to admit one body, with a flag and a ring to it, like the coal cellars in England. The priest, immediately after the commission of the

convent. The monks were called together, and eight or ten descended into the apartment with candles and holy water. They were brought opposite to the dead body in question, but just as they drew up, a nod of the head put them all to flight. When the superior was informed of it he was ex-murder, raised the stone of the vault, and tremely angry, and declared some English heretic had got in and played this trick; be therefore went down himself with another party. As they descended to the galleries their courage, in some degree, abated; and after advancing cautiously to the place, the superior held up his lamp to the mouk. It was no illusion; life had, indeed, once more entered this frail tenement of mortality! At that very moment the head shook violently, and fell from the body, when out flew-not the soul of a monk, but a living rat, which had made its nest in the scull.

This is a fact which happened lately, and is well known and authenticated at Palermo.

ACCOUNT OF A DREADFUL MURDER

COMMITTED IN PALERMO,

threw in the body: he then got water from the holy water basin, and with his handkerchief washed the blood from the flags; after which he let himself out of the church. The murderer, who had taken refuge, wit. nessed this shocking scene without being perceived: he declared afterwards that the act was so instantaneous that it was impossible for him to have prevented it. It may be supposed he did not pass a very comfortable night in the church after what he had seen, and he began to suspect it could not be a priest that had committed so foul an act, but rather the devil, who had assumed the shape of a priest. The apprehension that his infernal majesty might still be in the church, determined him to stay there no longer; however, he could not get out, the doors being all locked but such was the misery of his situation, that the moment the door was opened for morning service, he left the church and gave himself up.

A man stimulated by jealousy had a quarrel with another in the street: be stabbed his adversary, and took refuge in He stated what he had seen, but gave the next church, leaving his knife in the the devil credit for the murder, in which heart of the murdered man. It was late the priests fully supported him. The offiin the evening, a little before dark. The cers of justice concluded the man was deSicilians have all a firm belief in spectres; ranged: but the story took wind, and as a and as the assassin afterwards declared, he young woman of Palermo was missing and did not feel very easy in his asylum though could not be found, her relations had the he knew he could not be taken in the vault opened, and there her body was dis church; yet such were the compunctions covered. The disposition of the higher of guilt on his conscience, that he skulked powers appeared willing to fix the crime and hid himself behind the columns in on the devil, but the people came in a great agitation. Shortly after he entered || body, and, supporting her relations, dethe church it was shut up for the night;||manded justice. Suspicion fell on the he remained absolved in horror of mind, but was roused by seeing a priest, with a very young female, enter from one of the side chapels, along the great aisle; she seemed extremely unwilling to go with him, but partly by persuasion and partly by force, he brought her to the foot of the chief altar he made her then kneel down,|| and they appeared to be in prayer, when the priest suddenly drew a stiletto, stabbed her, and she sunk lifeless on the floor. In most of the parochial churches there is a

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girl's confessor, and he was taken up: the man was now convinced he had not seen the devil, and gave evidence against the priest. Corrupt as may be the government of Sicily, such acts of atrocity cannot al ways be screened: he was found guilty, and condemned to be hanged. It appeared that he had seduced the unfortunate girl, who became pregnant, and fearing detection, he had persuaded her to meet him in the church, where he committed the horrid act as above related. The wretch,

however, could not be executed publicly,

Spain has furnished us with wines and

because he was a priest: they gave it out snuff, Russia with hemp and tallow, and that he was executed privately, and shew-China with tea. ed a hand for his, nailed up against the jail.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF LICHFIELD.

LICHFIELD, the chief city of Staffordshire, signifies in the old Saxon tongue, the Field of dead bodies; so called from a number of Christian bodies which lay massacred and unburied there, in the persecution raised by Dioclesian. Plot's History of Staffordshire gives a full account of this massacre, and says, that finding the Christians in the exercise of their religion, he took and carried them to the place where Lichfield now stands, and martyred one thousand of them there, leaving their bodies unburied, to be devoured by birds and beasts; whence the place still retains the name of Lichfield, or Cadaverum Campus, the field of dead bodies. The arms of the city is an escutcheon with many martyrs in it, in several manners mangled.

DOMESTIC COMFORT.

PERHAPS there is nothing so much contributes to domestic comfort, to the security of families, both as to morals and property, as a good selection of servants.— Upon their capacity, integrity, and good conduct, more depends than can well be expressed. The establishment of the Westminster Central Mart is highly conducive to this end. Its object is to supply families with respectable servants of all classes; and not only with those who are in the class of servants, but with such as are capable to undertake the higher departments in families, namely, those of education and domestic management. Governesses and housekeepers will find at this establishment a constant demand. Cooks, ladies' maids, nursery maids, and servants of all work, are likewise in daily attendance. Male servants are also to be obtained in the different departments of domestic service, viz.-stewards, gamekeepers, butlers, valets, footmen, &c. The nobility, gentry, and persons of the most respectable ranks of life daily register their names at this office (as may be seen on the books), whom the conductors undertake to supply according to their wants. Thus no disappointment is experienced on either side. Servants are

COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES. To Italy, which was in a state of civilization long before the other states of Europe, the English theatre is indebted for Punch, for Harlequin, Columbine, the disciples of St. Crispin, and female fortunetellers. The Opera has long drawn all its re-immediately supplied with situations, and sources from Italy, and masquerades are undubitably of Italian invention.

To Italy our cookery stands indebted for Vermicelli, Maccaroni, and Bologna sausages; while our confectionaries are improved by ices, sherbet, and a variety of liqueurs, all borrowed from the Italians, who have also taught our perfumers the art of making the most costly and odorifer

ous essences.

From the Venetians, France and England first learned the art of making lookingglasses; and France, during the reign of Henry IV. had few coaches but what were fabricated at Milan.

From the French we have learned to make plaister of Paris and ragouts.

We are indebted to the Germans for sour crout, and sophistical dramas and romances.

masters and mistresses are invariably supplied with servants. None but the most respectable are permitted to register themselves.—Office, at the corner of Southampton street, Strand; open every day from ten till four.

BIRTHS.

At Cheltenham, the Lady of Sir Henry Bunbury, K. C. B. of a daughter.

At Edinburgh, the Lady of the Hon. Charles
Noel (daughter of the Hon. Sir George Grey,
Bart.), of a son and heir.

At Abeny, Lady Gardiner, of a son.
At Kneesworth-house, Cambridgeshire, Lady
Jane Pym, of a son.

At Rochester, the Lady of Rear Admiral Sir
John Gore, K. C. B. of a daughter.

At Welwyn, the Lady of H. Fynes, Esq. M. P. of a daughter.

In Italy, at the Baths of Lucca, the Lady of J. Fyler, Esq of a daughter

A few day since, Mrs. Roberts, wife of Mr. J. Roberts, of Wath, farmer, of three children, two sons and a daughter, who, with their mother, are likely to do well. They were immediately baptized Matthew, Thomas, and Mary; and it is further remarkable, her youngest child, before them, is thirteen years old.

Lately, a woman, who had taken her place to Newcastle, was delivered of a child on the Telegraph coach, just at the entrance into Harrowgate. The coach was fortunately only about one hundred yards from a cottage, where the child, a fine boy, was taken in an apron. We are glad to state that both the mother and child are doing very well, in more senses of the word than one; as the ladies at Harrowgate have liberally supplied the poor woman with clothes, and a collection has been made for her to the amount of about 30%.

MARRIED.

At the New Church, St. Mary-le-bonne, by the Hon, and Rev. Edward Rice, Prebendary of Worcester, John Pepper, Esq. of Bigods, in the county of Essex, to Maria, second daughter of Magens Dorrien Magens, Esq. of Hammerwood. Jodge, in the county of Sussex, and niece to the Right Hon. the Lord Dynevor.

At Paris, the Hon. Mr. Clifford, eldest son of the Right Hon. Lord Clifford, of Ugbrook Park, in the county of Devon, to Miss Weld, the only daughter of T. Weld, Esq. of Lulworth Castle, in the county of Dorset.

At Tenterden, James Grant, Esq. of Austinfriars and Brixton, to Caroline, fifth daughter of the late J. Neve, Esq. of Tenterden.

At St. Andrew's, Holborn, T. Pagan, Esq. of Ely-place, to Lady Plomer, of Snaresbrook, widow of the late Alderman Sir W. Plomer.

At Dumfries, Scotland, Captain R Stewart, R. N. to Miss Dalzell, heiress of Glanae.

DIED.

At St. Germain-en Laye, aged 85, Princess de Montmorency.

At Lyons, the Right Hon. Lady Cecilia Charlotte Leeson, eldest daughter of Lady Cloncurry, and only sister to the Earl of Milltown.

At Cheltenham, Sir Gilbert King, Bart. of Charlestown, county Roscommon.

At his house at Banner-cross, near Sheffield, in the county of York, Lieutenant-General Mur

ray.

At the Holt, near Bishop's Waltham, sincerely and deeply lamented, Admiral Sir R. Calder, Bart. in the 74th year of his age.

A most remarkable instance of mortality has lately occurred in a family at Chepstow.-Mrs. Williams, wife of Mr. John Williams, tailor, died suddenly in the latter end of April last; her husband survived her about nine weeks afterwards; since which period, three grown-up sons bave paid the debt of nature.-John, the eldest, died in the last week of June; James, the youngest, died on Sunday, the 23d of August, at three o'clock in the afternoon; and David, on the Sunday following, at the same hour!

Lately, on his passage home from Jamaica, Matthew G. Lewis, Esq. author of the celebrated romance entitled The Monk, &c. &c. and of several dramatic pieces, which rank him amongst the most successful of our writers in that department. On the death of his father, Mr. M. G. Lewis, succeeded to an handsome patrimony in the West Indies. When in London, he had resided, for some time, in a very retired manner, in Albany. His stature was rather diminutive, but By the Rev. F. Ricketts, S. Batson, Esq. of his manners most elegant. He has left one naWinkfield, Berks, to Miss Ricketts, only daugh-tural daughter, and was never married. ter of the late Governor Ricketts, of Barbadoes.

Mr. George Howard, of Chelmsford, to Miss Clay, daughter of Edward Clay, Esq. of Greensted Park, the present Mayor of Colchester.

At Lausanne, at the house of Stratford Canning, Esq. the British Minister, Robert Sutherland, Esq. to Jennetta C. M. Murray, eldest daughter of Col. R. M'Gregor Murray,

At Hutton, Lieut.-Colonel D. Forbes, halfpay of the 78th Highlanders, to Maria Isabella, eldest daughter of James Forbes, Esq. of Hutton-hall, Essex.

At Brussels, E. Coxwell, Esq. of the Royal Artillery, to Jane Maxwell, youngest daughter of P. L. Gordon, of Farringdon, Berkshire.

At Audley, in Staffordshire, W. S. Roscoe, Esq. eldest son of W. Roscoe, of Liverpool, Esq to Hannah Eliza, eldest daughter of J. Caldwell, Esq. of Linley Wood.

The Hon. A. Annesley, who was married only in August to the amiable daughter of R. Ainsworth, Esq. of Halliwell, in Lancashire, was unfortunately drowned, on the 27th of the same month, at Blackpool, near Liverpool. He had left his residence, early in the morning, to bathe in one of the machines, and got out of his depth. Every effort was made by his servant and some gentlemen present, but without effect.

By a letter from the Hague, we learn the death of the Dutch General Daendels, who was not unknown during the period of the Revolution. This officer expired suddenly on the coast of Guinea, where he was Governor of the Dutch settlements.

London: Printed by and for JOHN BELL, Proprietor of this MAGAZINE, and of the WEEKLY MESSENGER, No. 104, Drury-lane.

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