obvious to every one, since it effects that continuity of vibration which, somewhat like the bow of a violin, makes one note glide into another; and as this effect is produced without at all interfering with the dampers, the bass may be played staccato whilst the treble is played legato, and vice versa. The whole volume of tone called forth by the harmonic swell and damper pedal combined, is of extraordinary richness and power; and in passages requiring bold contrast, dramatic energy, or sustained grandeur, will be found of singular efficacy. The great improvement given by this new construction also to the extra additional keys in the treble, must be considered very important, since all the great continental composers and performers now employ them so frequently in passages of brilliant effect; and since they are found so highly useful not only for duets by two persons on the same instrument, but for giving the master an opportunity of marking the character of passages above, whilst the scholar is practising them in the octave below.

The additional pedal for fixing the keys on two strings is found very convenient, as it leaves the feet to be employed on the harmonic swell and damper pedal during a delicate strain, or for the purpose of accompaniment.

The simple principle on which the improved grand piano forte cases are constructed is of such efficacy as to resist an immensely greater force than the most extensive compass of string can possibly produce. The advantage of this, in keeping the instrument in tune and counteracting the effects of climate, are sufficiently obvious.

From the long and deep attention bestowed on the structure of piano fortes, and the eminent success with which every hint for their improvement has been pursued, we were not prepared to expect any invention that might add to the general powers of the instrument, although among the prodigious assistance mechanics are able to lend to art, we should not have doubted that there might be yet some particular parts susceptible of a superior construction. The object of Mr. COLLARD'S invention is however general, and it imparts not only a new and richer degree of tone, but it submits a choice of fresh varieties and degrees to the player, which can hardly fail to call forth novel and beautiful effects in performance.

Freedom of vibration, power, richness and equality of tone, being the great and essential qualities to be de sired in piano fortes, the attention of the patentee appears to have been directed generally to the discovery of some principle by which these requisites could be obtained in a higher degree than by the plan hitherto employed in their construction. The mechanism used having been already brought to a very high degree of excellence, it seemed manifest that if the qualities sought after could at all be produced to the extent desired, they must either result from a new construction of the soundboard, or from the mode of applying the strings, or from both means combined.

The mechanism of each description of piano fortes now commonly in use he leaves nearly in the same state as that employed by the most eminent manufacturers, so that the performer has no new difficulties whatever to encounter from the application of Mr. COLLARD's inventions.

The cases or frame-work of grand piano fortes he constructs on a simple principle, of so great strength as to enable then to resist the effects of climate, and a far greater power than the combined pull of the strings produce. The improvement, that is the basis on which the other is founded, is an additional bridge on the sound-board, not for the purpose of regulating musical intervals, but of augmenting the duration of the vibration, and consequently increasing and beautifying the tone. This bridge, which he calls the bridge of reverberation,' is placed at a regulated distance on the sound-board; and the important advantage resulting from it is, that the motion given to the principal part of the string by the impulse of the hammer, is kept up by the bridge of reverberation, instead of being sud denly checked by an attachment to an unyielding substance. The prolonged vibration produces an extraordinary purity, power, and continuity of sound, somewhat resembling the richness of an octave below.

From this essential improvement the patentee's second invention is derived, which is as follows:

On the old plan of passing the strings directly from the side of the case to the original bridge on the sound-board, it became necessary, in order to prevent the jarring noise of those portions of the wire which lie between them, not only to place some soft substance on

the

the top of the moulding, but also to weave a piece of cloth between the strings.

The second improvement, which the patentee calls the harmonic swell, substitutes a novel action for those portions of the string which lie between the two bridges, yielding most sweet and melodious tones. The performer, by lifting a valve, is enabled to elicit those harmonious sounds through a wellknown symphathetic relation between accordant strings, without touching those portions of the strings which produce them. The augmentation of sound cansed by this means, resembles in some measure the effect of lifting the dampers, but without producing the same confusion, since every note on the body of the instrument is regularly damped as the performer lifts his finger. By this apparatus a threefold power of augmenting the sound is acquired; whereas instruments of the common construction have but the one caused by lifting the dampers.

The first augmentation of power is by lifting the harmonic swell.

The second-by dropping the harmonic swell and raising the dampers.

The third-by raising the harmonic swell and the dampers together. By the last means the performer adds all the tones which are sympathetically elicited from the strings between the original bridge and bridge of reverberation, over and above all that can be produced on instruments of the common construction, and the effect is accord ingly of extraordinary richness and

power.

These inventions are alike applicable to upright, cabinet, and square pianofortes; the latter of which acquire by this new mode of construction, much of the richness and depth of tone peculiar to grand instruments.

The improvements, as simple in themselves as their effects are striking, enable the player greatly to extend the variety of his performance, and are acknowledged by the first professional judges to have given a new character to the instrument of the most effective kind. That which we heard appeared to us to produce the kind of prolonged tone which arises in a room of fine resonance, and the power was certainly vastly augmented. Upon the whole, the inventor seems to have accomplished far more than could have been expected, after the very high state of improvement the piano-forte had already attained.

To JAMES FERGUSSON, of Newmanstreet, Printer, Oxford-street, London, for the invention of applying Elastic Substances in Stereotype Printing. In the process of printing from stereotype plates, the plates are put upon, and fastened to certain materials or apparatus, called by different names, such as blocks, matrix-plates, risers, &c. which are made either of iron, brass, type-metal, bell-metal, Roman cement, gypsum, wood of various kinds, or some other suitable substance; or, without using any such materials or apparatus, the plates are, or may be, put upon, and fastened to the coffins or tables of such printing presses as are in general use, or upon cylindrical or any other sort of printing machines. In all cases, however, of printing from stereotype plates, it is necessary to apply some remedy to the unequal thickness of the plates; and the operation usually adopted is that of putting layers or pieces of paper, or other material, under and over the thinner places of the plates; which operation is technically termed underlaying and overlaying. The nature or object of this invention is that of saving the time and expence unavoidably sacrificed in the operation of underlaying and overlaying; and this object is accomplished by putting elastic substances under the stereotype plates, whereby the printed impressions from them are immediately equalized; for the elastic substances yield to the pressure upon the thicker parts of the plates, and at the same time afford the necessary resistance for obtaining sufficient strength of impressions from the thinner parts. It must be evident that the elastic substances are to be interposed between the stereotype plates and whatever solid or firm substance may be made use of, whether blocks, matrixplates, risers, cylinders, printing presses, printing machines, or any other apparatus whatsoever. So far as experiments and trials of different elastic substances have been made, cork is found to be the best calculated for the purposes of the invention; but the patentee claims the exclusive right and privilege of applying cork, and any other elastic substance, to all kinds of printing apparatus and machines, with the view of remedying the inequalities in the thickness of stereotype plates; and also claims the sole right and privilege of manufacturing the elastic articles requisite for the attainment of this object, of vending such articles, and of granting licences for its use.

VARIETIES,

be to modern mathematics what Ward's system was to the same sciences a century ago, and in ordinary education will furnish a system adapted to follow the study of arithmetic. Such a volume, by bringing the mathematical sciences within the reach of general students, will, it is hoped, tend to revive pursuits which during the last fifty years have been too much neglected.

Miss HUTTON has completed the third volume of the Tour of Africa; containing a concise account of all the countries in that quarter of the globe, hitherto visited by Europeans, which, with the two preceding volumes, form an epitome of all the knowledge which has yet been obtained relative to that interesting portion of the globe.

Mr. ROBERT BLOOMFIELD, author of the Farmer's Boy, &c. announces a new work, under the title of the MayDay of the Muses.

The Private and Confidential Correspondence of Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, principal Minister to King William for a considerable period of his reign, is printing, under the di rection of the Rev. Archdeacon CoXE. This collection comprises his epistolary intercourse with the king, as well as with Lords Somers, Sunderland, Oxford, Halifax, and other distinguished characters of the time; and is elucidated with historical and biographical notices, and with a portrait of the Duke of Shrewsbury, from an original painting, by Sir Peter Lely.

Dr. JOHN MASON GOOD, F.R.S. will speedily publish a body of medical science, under the title of The Study of Medicine, comprising its Physiology, Pathology, and Practice, in four volumes, 8vo. These volumes, in addition to that lately published on Nosology, will complete the author's design; and constitute an entire body of Medical Science, adapted equally to the use of lecturers, practitioners, and students. Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa, by WILLIAM BURCHELL, Esq. with an entirely new map, and numeyous other engravings from the author's awn drawings, are in the press. Mr. Burchell's Researches in the Interior of Africa, during five years, over 4,500 miles of ground, besides numberless lateral excursions, have produced a multitude of discoveries and observations which have never yet been laid before the public.

A General History of Wines is announced, comprising Observations on

the Wines of the Ancients; a Topographical Account of all the principal Modern Wines; and a Chronological History of the Wines used in Englaud, from the earliest period to the present time. It will be printed elegantly in 4to. with embellishments.

Memoirs of the Court of King James the First, by LUCY AIKIN, are printing in 2 vols. Svo.

Mr. JAS. MILLS, author of a History of British India, is printing Elements of the Science of Political Economy.

The second volume, will appear in a few days, of Travels in Georgia, Persia, Armenia, Ancient Babylonia, &c. &c. during the years 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, by Sir KOBERT KER POR

TER.

Part I. of Lectures on the Elements of Botany, containing the anatomy and physiology of those organs on which the growth and preservation of the plant depend; with explanations of the terminology connected with these parts. Illustrated with marginal cuts and copperplates, by ANTONY TODD THOMSON, F.L.S. will speedily be published.

A plan has been lately suggested, and will be acted upon at Edinburgh, for instructing by lectures and demonstrations, the operative mechanics of that city in the principle of those branches of science, which are useful in the various trades that are carried on there. It may readily be conceived that to the ingenious men who will have the opportunity of deriving benefit from these lectures and scientific demonstrations, the stimulus to improvement and to invention will be powerful indeed. In our metropolis, likewise, it is to be anticipated that similar opportunities of instruction in the mechanic arts, and in those branches of science which are applicable to them, and adapted to the previous acquirements of the working artizan and mechanic, would be eminently useful; and it appears reasonable to hope that no obstacles would present themselves to such a scheme but what could be readily surmounted. The establishment of such schools of instruction would probably succeed if left to private adventure, and if they should, no national aids to set them in motion would be required.

A subscription has been opened for a bust of CHARLES HUTTON, LL.D. F.R.S. &c. &c. to be executed in marble by Mr. Sebastian Gahagan. It is intended as a mark of respect and veneration

for

for the character of Dr. Hutton, and as a tribute of gratitude for his important labours in the advancement and diffusion of mathematical learning, during the long period of sixty years: a period which will be memorable in the history of science, on account of his meritorious services both as an author and teacher. As an author, it is well known that his numerous publications have been uniformly held in the greatest estimation, and that even his earliest productions continue as standard works of increasing popularity in every country where the English language is understood. As a teacher, his labours have been singularly successful, especially as Professor of Mathematics for nearly forty years in the Royal. Military Academy at Woolwich; an institution which, by his judicious plans and unremitting care, he raised to the highest degree of celebrity and national importance. A model of the intended bust is already completed, and is considered a very accurate likeness. It may be seen at the sculptor's premises, No. 37, King Street, Edgeware Road. Casts of the busts at two guineas each, will be prepared for such friends of Dr. Hutton as may chuse to order them, but the marble bust is to be given to the Doctor himself, with the hope that he will hereafter present it to some scientific institution.

Mr. FAREY, jun. is proceeding with his elaborate work on Steam Engines, including the modes of their adaptation to all the most important mechanic purposes: already a large proportion of the plates are engraven by Lowry, and described, many of them very correctly reduced from the working drawings, liberally lent to Mr. F. by numbers of the first mechanists of England, of their latest improved and best engines, including some of the largest which have yet been constructed. The article Steam Engine in Dr. Rees's Cyclopedia, is a specimen of the great store of minute and practical information which the author has long possessed, as to the history and construction, of this primum mobile of mechanic industry, and as to its application, almost throughout the whole range of our manufacturing or other operative establishments.

The first course of lectures on chemistry commenced on Tuesday, the 9th of October, at the Royal Institution, by Mr BRANDE, and the second course will begin on the second Tuesday in February.

Mr. EDWARD BALDWIN, the author

of Fables, Ancient and Modern, the Pantheon, &c. &c. has in the press a compendious History of Greece, from the earliest records of that country, to the period in which it was reduced into a Roman province, to be adorned with maps and authentic portraits of the most eminent Greeks.

Mr. T. C. HANSARD, the eminent printer, will soon publish in one volume, 4to. an useful and elegant volume, called Typographia; an historical sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Art of Printing; with details of the latest improvements, and practical directions for the mode of conducting the various branches of the art, including the process of stereotyping, and of lithographic printing.

Mr. G. R. CLARKE proposes to publish by subscription a Treatise on the Practice of Elocution, and the cure of Impediments of the Speech. It will include the substance of lectures delivered by the author, at Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Memoirs of her Majesty, written by Mr. JOHN WILKS, jun., will contain her private correspondence with several distinguished individuals; part of the intended case of recrimination; the evidence collected in Italy on her behalf, which did not arrive in time in England, and other facts and documents of state importance, as well as her travels on the continent, will appear in a few days.

The late Dr. VICESIMUS KNOX'S Spirit of Despotism will appear early in the present month, in a handsome octavo volume, with a Preface by the editor.

A Domestic Cyclopedia, containing information in every branch of good housewifery; and another of Agriculture and Gardening, is also in preparation. As totalities on their subjects they cannot fail to obtain extensive patronage.

A new edition of CAPPER'S TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY is preparing, revised throughout, and intended to include the whole of the new returns of the population for the United Kingdom. It will then constitute one of the most useful and desirable books of reference in the language, corresponding with the Biographical Dictionary by Watkins, the Theological Dictionary, by Robinson, and the Commercial Dictionary by Mortimer. Communications relative to places imperfectly described in the former edition are earnestly solicited.

The