66 "over her sister's things, and see which "will fit her best. By particular desire "also of your humble servant, (nay don't "look wise, for pon 'onnor,' there is nothing between us) she is to make "her first experiment to-morrow, and "come down to tea in a trim airy dress "of her sister's, which I always liked on "Miss Music, and which, I pledged my "taste, would become her too. 46 66 "Quo te Mæri pedes? you say---Well, as you have been civil, and have put up your MAEVI in your pocket, which "I grant you might have flung at me, 66 though, mark, the quantity would have "been out of measure---I say, as you have "dealt by me like a civil gentleman, I 66 66 am going to come down from my flights, and tell you shortly what I 66 mean. Summa sequar fastigia rerum. "A long and unintermitted enthusiasm "for music has, you know, led, volventi"bus annis, to the discovery of many "varied modes of musical expression, " and introduced multiplied mediums "of musical pleasure. There are many "of these which, I think, might be "transferred to the sister art, Poetry, "with success. The enclosed, which 66 you, no doubt, read before the letter, " and I hope have done me the honour "to pronounce the serious effusion of a "non-erubescend flame---(by the way, the "word is not yet English, I believe,')--con"tains an Essay Piece on the principle of "this scheme. The same is entitled a Po"ETICAL RONDEAU. Nay, do not stare. "Be sure the stranger prove no old acquaintance, before you thrust him from your chambers, and shut the door in "his face. 66 66 You know the principle There is as yet no such English word. The word nondescript, lately introduced, upon a similar analogy, is not much less ridiculous. "of the Rondeau in Music. It is to 66 66 give a subject ease by the familiarity arising from repetition, and interest by "diversification.' What is known, al"ternates with what is unknown. They "mutually lead in each other and give "to each other a mutual relief. The "little trifle I sent you enclosed, is an attempt at this alternation, in Poetry. 46 66 Accordingly, when you have first duly 'Yielding to the suggestion of him, to whose civility I owe the letter, I submitted this passage of it to the consideration of a person, whom the doctor, with more of compliment than correctness, designates "a Professor of the art of Music." The decision of this person is before me. It runs thus: "The Idea of the Rondeau in music is tolera"bly correct. The perfection of the effect will be greatest "when the last bar of the DEPARTURE, and the first bar "of the SUBJECT, in Return, identify in TONE, but diver'sify in ACCENT; the common note, or series, rising from "a soft to an enforced intonation, in gradual progression, "till the ear has hold of the Return as already com"menced."-There may perhaps be found those who will understand the meaning, and reconcile themselves to the diction, of this award. 12 "armed yourself with your double con 66 caves, you shall see, in the piece be"fore you, first of all, come in, as in Mu"sic---the Subject; which is afterwards "to come in, as the Return. This sub"ject you shall see to be taken from the "department of Love; viz. " the pain "of parting;" which subject, Beattie, if you find him in the humour, will pour 66 66 away to you, with his usual sensibility mutatis mutandis, in the charac"ter of Polly Peachum. Well then, the subject drawing to a close, you shall see us nick the time, and prepare the "last cadence, so as to lead in what 66 66 66 166 seems to be a new subject, but is no thing but a modification of the old ;--"this is the first departure; which must "be so managed as to preserve, at the "close of it, a ready lead in to the re Beggar's Opera. "Oh what pain it is to part," &c. 66 "turn,-which now makes its appearance again,-shews away a little,-and "then---leads off to the second depar"ture. This must be, at once, a diver"sification of the subject, and of the first 66 departure ;-it may contain a more la"boured air, and greater changes of key; or, &c.-we must not, however, keep 66 66 long upon it: for lo! cometh the Re"turn anew ;---then, lead we off to the "third departure, with a very learned 66 modulation, plying in so, at the end, "however, as to admit the Return, a "fourth time. Now for the great trial “of skill, in leading off to the last departure, which is to be a MINORE; and 66 66 66 must, if it is to be worth a farthing, "be connected, at the expence of some pains, with the closing cadence of the "Return that precedes it. Then warble away at the minore itself; which must 66 66 repay the favour, and make way, cour |