teurs of legislation, that they have in truth described no sort of legislative provision; for which we do not blame them, because the thing was impossible: we only take leave to wonder at their supposing it to be possible, and still more at their persuading themselves that they had done it. They put us in mind of the crazy philosopher in Rasselas, who imagined himself busy in settling the polity of the stars.

One thing, however, we must request of these aërial legislators, that, as they have in page 116 seriously complained that no punishment has been inflicted upon the panegyrists of vicious great men, they will, in the sketch they may probably draw up of a new libel act, take care to adjust the lines and limits of both praise and calumny in all their possible ratios, characters, and modifications. Above all, let them be sure to take libel out of its present compounded state, and prohibit it in specie, not in genere, going distributively and in detail into all the infinite variety of particular cases which all the relations of man in society can generate. Their task will, for some time to come, hold them in a state of inoperative abstraction, and harmless industry.

Until these things are settled, as we may hope, one day, to see them, by the help of such well-directed exertions, as we can strike out nothing of ourselves, we shall, in the mean time, sit down in the old prejudice and persuasion that the policy of the law of England, which, as it were, embodies the government of the realm in the person of the first magistrate, invests that person with a peculiar sacredness, so that all slander directed against him contracts the highest guilt of which the crime is capable. And we shall venture to surmise, that a person entrusted by the prince with the administration of the government, ought to have as much fair play, as much protection from the laws of his fame and honour, as any other gentleman in the land. It is well known that our law, if the greatest and gravest expounders of it are to be believed, considers an attempt to defame such a person a great aggravation of a libel; but we will say nothing of that: we know and feel the incalculable importance of the free and unshackled discussion of public measures, and the conduct of public men in respect to such measures, and it shall not be said that we have raised a finger against this right. We claim only for ministers of state, as they are men, and fellow subjects, that this liberty may not be used as a cloak to disguise malicious hostility, or the prostitute calumny of those who live by the virulence of their in

vectives.

Concerning the defendants in the prosecution, the trial of which is reported in the pamphlet, which we have stated to have

been but just accidentally put into our hands, and which we have for the sake of introducing a few thoughts upon the subject placed at the head of this article, we forbear to say any thing, because we know nothing. The observations which are added to the trial are unquestionable proofs of ability. They exhibit much spirited writing, and some just reflections. After what we have said above, we must of course think them profoundly and perilously wrong in their dogmas on the liberty of the press. In their whole vindication they assume the truth of all the charges against the Prince Regent. We have thrown together in great haste some remarks upon the utter absurdity of treating the truth of the charges as any thing like a legal defence, in a case between the sovereign and the subject. But, even if we admit the right of a subject to complain publicly and in print of the misconduct or profligacy of his prince, and that this could be justified by the notoriety of the facts charged, and ought to be tolerated in a free country for the sake of the public morals, and for the sake of reforming the object of the satire (for this is the sort of reasoning which the Examiner puts forth in the vindication of the libel), yet, surely, these patriotic motives, or that enthusiasm which the counsel attributed to his clients in the cause of virtue, would not have suggested the expediency of an endeavour to cover the person carrying on the government of the country with scorn, ridicule, and abhorrence. If such an endeavour were to be successful, nay, if the laxity or weakness of government inclined it or compelled it to tolerate such an endeavour, we should consider ourselves and our families on the brink of that anarchy out of the depths of which the voice of despair invokes the relief of despotism.

If admonition be necessary, why is it not to be conveyed to the ear of a prince in terms of the same decency which modifies and softens the conveyance of it in the communication of social life, according to that law of comity which governs the intercourse of gentlemen? Is there no way, but through the medium of scurrilous abuse, that the English people can express their disap'probation of the conduct or measures of their prince or his administration? The road of petition and remonstrance is open, and other dignified, respectful, and salutary channels of advice and reproof. Ridicule and abuse are seldom known to work reformation. Their more usual effect is to irritate the temper and to harden the heart. But where injustice is mixed with reproach, its object, if it be really correction, is sure to be disappointed. The subject is extremely delicate, but truth calls upon us to that we do not see any thing in the actual state of things to

say,

make us uneasy, except, indeed, the unfortunate success of late attempts to fix opprobrium upon that family, to whose mild and paternal sway of the government of this realm we are indebted for so much internal peace and prosperity. Is it true that the prince who now sways that sceptre is surrounded by ministers of profligate lives? and is it not true that the administration, whether able or deficient, (their capacity is not now in issue before us; let their measures and the condition of the country abroad and at home decide the question) was the only one of a consistent and' stable character, which, when parties were left to try their strength, and the nation to make its choice, could be ultimately formed?

We will not suffer this Review to become the vehicle of any party objects, and we trust we have not given vent in these few observations to any of that violence and injustice which are the melancholy characteristics of all political partizans; we trust, too, that we shall not be accused of party temper, if for the sake of that justice which is due to our governors (and this is in fact a justice we owe to ourselves and our country), we put the public in mind that during a period of many years,-during all that period of close connection between the Prince of Wales and the party in opposition to his Majesty's government, the same flattery and abject praise, which the Reviewer in the article to which we have been alluding, proposes to be treated as libellous, was accumulated upon the royal patriot, till in an unlucky hour the new political arrangements disappointed eager expectation, and converted flattery into that rank and malevolent abuse into which it easily slides, gratifying its rage at the expence of all consistency, and precipitating character down the stream of its vengeance.

ART. XVI.-Elements 'of Musical Composition, comprehending the Rules of Thorough Bass, and the Theory of Tuning. By William Crotch, Mus. Doc. Prof. Oxon. London, 1812.

TH

HERE is, perhaps, scarcely any thing more unpropitious to the favourable reception of an author than the remembrance of premature excellence. He who is more than a child in the age of childhood, is expected to be more than a man at the age of maturity; and, therefore, when such a person comes before the pub

lic as an author, he must expect that his works will be perused with the jealous eye of retrospect, and that (whatever may be his merits) some will be still found to say,

"Cœpisti melius quam desinis; ultima primis
"Cedunt; dissimiles hic vir et ille puer."

To such Dr. Crotch has made a full answer, in the oratorio which he has lately brought forward; a species of composition which more than any other rests upon mere musical merit. The length of such a performance, and the total absence of action, and every external embellishment, make a much larger demand upon the composer for taste, science, variety, and originality, than most are able to answer. The genius of the nation, the low state of musical taste, and the prejudice which exists with many against any one who dares to follow Handel in the path which they deem exclusively his own, are also obstacles.

These obstructions may well account for the rarity of this species of composition, and may shew why it is that only one oratorio is ever performed throughout. To have overcome these difficulties in any degree is no small proof of ability; and while we are gratified by such an attempt to raise the public taste, and the pursuits of his brother composers by example, we are no less pleased to find him by precept lightening those labours, and softening those difficulties for others, which his intuitive genius scarcely suffered himself to feel.

The want of such a work as the present has been greatly felt. Much credit is due to Mr. Kollmann for his " Guide to Thorough Bass ;" and perhaps the elements of mere thorough bass are nowhere more simply and clearly set forth. The same author in his Quarterly Musical Register, (which might with more propriety have been called a quarterly advertisement of his own works,) claims to himself the merit of discovering a new system of harmony.

We confess ourselves unable to perceive the great discovery which he has made, or the novelty of his system. Perhaps he might have been contented with the praise which is due to him for his simplification of the old one. He has likewise attacked, with considerable indelicacy, the grammar of Dr. Callcott. Admitting in some degree the responsibility of the editors to which Mr. Kollmann alludes, we cannot help thinking that it would have been better had he left the task of criticism to one whose impartiality might have been less questionable. Without, however, adverting to Mr. Kollmann's criticism, and with great respect for Dr. Calicott's grammar, we do not think that it su

perseded the necessity of the work now under review. It is by no means a first book for a student, especially if unaccompanied by a living instructor. That it evinces great science and research, and will be found extremely instructive when a sufficient stock of preparatory information has been gained, cannot be doubted, but for the mere learner (excepting the first part, which is entirely on notation, and leaves the subject just where Dr. Crotch takes it up,) it is too concise, too scientific, and too much embarrassed with technical and foreign terms.

The learned are apt to write only for the learned. Those who have been long immersed in the subtleties of science, of whatever nature, are prone to forget that a precise definition of terms, and a clear explanation and arrangement of principles, (however familiar to them,) is the most useful and acceptable offering which they can make to the student. Of this Dr. Crotch appears to be sensible; and all which he requires of those who wish to profit by his work is, to know the situation of musical sounds on a keyed instrument, and the characters by which they are expressed in writing.

To enter into the detail of a book wholly elementary, is as unnecessary as it would be tedious both to ourselves and our readers. In a work which does not profess, and cannot be expected to display taste or originality, all that we can look for are lucid arrangement and perspicuous diction, and where these are to be found little can be said. Yet when we consider the present state of music, and the general ignorance of its principles, we cannot wholly overlook a work which appears to us so well qualified to prevent a science from becoming a mere sleight of hand, and are tempted to offer one or two remarks which have been suggested to us by its perusal.

There appears to us to be considerable clearness in the method which Dr. Crotch has taken to exhibit the constitution and connexion of the different keys, (p. 17) which we will extract for our readers.