that, fam'd in war is not authorised in the text which Mr. S. has used; 'cui meritis oritur fiducia chartis. Chartis is undoubtedly the correct reading, and not castris; for it must be remembered, that Cæsar was yet a puer, and had not distinguished himself in the field. "Those' and 'these,' followed by 'this' and 'that,' and applied to the shepherd's flock, we mention for the consideration of Mr. S. The 50th line, To mount,' &c. an Alexandrine, which neither closes a paragraph, nor a period. 'Where none may go, but those whom Minos doom. We are confident Mr. S. is not reduced to such poverty of language, that he feels it necessary to sacrifice grammatical propriety to an imperious call for a rhyming word. This aid 'tis hard to find, If (whether) chance produced, or fate itself designed.' While we congratulate the publick on this small accession to the specimens of American literature, we cannot but express a wish, that Mr. S. had directed his industry and talents to some undertaking, which would have entitled him to more praise. Should he hereafter invite us to compare his productions with the poets of Greece or Rome, we hope they will contain something more interesting, than the death, the infernal peregrinations, and the ghostly, but vocal apparition of a Gnat ;-a rare gnat indeed; 'Corvo quoque rarior albo.' ART. 21. The Salem Collection of Classical Sacred Musick; in three and four parts: consisting of psalm tunes and occasional pieces, setected from the works of the most eminent composers; suited to all the metres in general use. To which is prefixed, an introduction to psalmody. Second edition. Boston, printed by Manning & Loring, for Cushing & Appleton, (Salem.) pp. 136. TO the honour of the literary gentlemen of Salem they were the first to resist an imposition, which was lately attempted to be practised, by some of our southern brethRees' Cyclopædia. In this resist ren, in the republication of Dr. ance we united our exertions, not however from malice, or because we were glad of the occasion; but because it is the duty of good men to be watchful over each other for the general edification. For whoever supposes, that the good men of this world must be perfect, has made but little observation on human nature, and is in danger of losing his charity, which ought never to fail. The good only can bear reproof. The plain language, which they use one towards the other, falls into a rich and healthful soil, and brings forth fruit, sometimes sixty and sometimes a hundred fold. It is only the vain and impertinent coxcomb in literature, who cannot bear those faithful rebukes of a friend, which are designed only to heal a diseased, or to strengthen a' debilitated frame. We are not content to approve merely, but we must declare our unqualified approbation of the sens timents, which are contained in the preface to this work, and which were likewise prefixed to the former edition. They were written by no common hand; and we recommend them to the frequent pe rusal of singers, especially of such as are engaged in forming collections of sacred musick. We wish that psalmody was more generally a subject of attention with christians, especially with those to whom nature has given a taste for the delights of harmony, and a voice to aid in its performance. It is a most rational and delightful employment. We soon lose the relish for that species of musick, which is designed only to display the powers of the voice, or the skill of the performer. The sober employments of domestick life too soon banish from the family circle the instruments, which seem almost exclusively devoted to the works of Italian, French, and English masters, whose complicated and artificial pieces are frequently learnt with extreme pain, and too often forgotten without regret. All the time, consumed by the generality of our fashionables in the acquisition of this science, is thus, in a great proportion of the scholars, lost. It is the loss of a most valuable accomplishment, for musick is in itself a language; and we may add, that it is more universally understood by mankind' in general, whose nerves vibrate in unison with its selected tones, than any other language among the dialects of the earth.' The reason of this loss may be, that in the common songs, glees, and even in many. of the pieces, which scholars are taught, there is but little to elevate the mind, and to inspire a taste for the science. The greater part is mere tinsel, shining with false lustre for a moment, very costly, but of little value. But the object of psalm ody is the praise of our Common Father, in whose praise the highest intelligences are constantly engaged, and with increasing delight. It is almost the only amusement of youth, which never loses its relish in old age. It is a per petual source of consolation,and always enhances the felicity of our purest and most elevated affections. It is the natural expression of gratitude, and none has more reason for gratitude, than the christian, to whom it is permitted, while passing through this scene, to view in perspective the promised land. The cause of the decline of church musick is to be attributed principally to the ignorance of our teachers of the art. In villages, where there are no organs,' says Dr. Miller, the singing-masters may do a great deal; but they have much to forget, and much to learn. Fondly attached to compositions in many parts, and those chiefly com posed by unskilful men, abounding in ill-constructed fugues and false harmony, they are apt to treat with contempt the simple, but ele. gant melodies, used in parish churches; but, would they study the various beauties of expression, the true portamento, or conduct of the voice, free from all nasal sounds or screaming exertions a proper pronunciation, and the energetick expression of emphatical words; they would soon find, that these despised melodies, when properly performed, with true pronunciation, just intonation, and feeling expres sion, are as capable of fixing the attention, and affecting the hearts of the congregation, as more elab orate musick.'* In most of our churches a set of tunes are sung,in which the congre. gation cannot join. There appears to us to be as much impropriety in excluding any from a participation in what ought to be a common act, as there would be in reading *The Psalms of David for the use of parish churches. The words selected from the version of Tate and Brady, by the Rev. George Hay Drummond, the musick se lected, adapted, and composed by Edward Miller, Mus. Doct. London, price 1286. the prayers, or delivering the sermon, in an unknown tongue. It is perhaps owing to this circumstance, that there are so many, who do not join at all in this employment, or who do it with indifference. We therefore wish, that the ballad-like and indecorous compositions of many ignorant modern composers might be banished from publick worship; and that the noble ancient melodies might be recalled from exile,and restored to their just rights and privileges. We would not however entirely proscribe the more quick and complicated melodies, some of which, particularly many by Pleyel,Hadyn, and Costellow, are charming specimens of musical composition, and admirably suited to devotional occasions. We have indulged in these general remarks, because we always advance with a slow and melancholy step to the painful task of noting the faults of excellent productions. For, as though the editors of The SalemCollection of Classical Sacred Musick' meant to exemplify in their work the truth of the closing remark of the preface, 'that perfection seems only to shun us in proportion to our endeavours to approach her,' we observe defects in this edition, from which the former was in a far greater degree free. "Let others hail the rising sun, We bow to that, whose race is run." 'The eminent professor of musick' has, we think, deformed with modern improvements the grandeur of associations, which ages have consecrated. The airs of the tunes, it is true, remain, in most instances, untouched. But there are in this collection twenty-seven tunes," All Saints, Angels' Hymn, Bath, Brecknock, Old Hundred, Osnaburgh, Portugal, Richmond, Rickmanswouth, in which the other parts, especially the two upper, are so greatly altered, from what they are in any collection of sacred musick within our knowledge, that we hesitate to recommend it, as we were prepared to do, as the companion in churches, and the guide in schools.† We confess, that several of the tunes, which we have enumerated in the note, have been cruelly mangled by almost every American compiler, who has copied them. If the offence were indictable, no grand jury would find a bill against many of the offenders of this class for any thing short of murder. What! can't they read? or are they Goths and Vandals, who love to make war upon taste and antiquity? The professor' ought, we think, to have furnished some authority, for so widely deviating from the most approved European standards. We admit, that the emendations evince an acquaintance with the rules of musick: but whether it arises from our depraved taste, or from the strength of early impressions, or from our attachment to the doctrines of the reformation; we must confess, that we prefer Old Hundred, as it has generally been sung by the best writers, and as it was probably written by Martin Luther, to any alterations which even a Handel could make. Alterations! this is the age of alterations: science, as well as government, trembles at the revolutionary spirit of the times. Rockingham, Truro, Winchester, Armley, Mecklenburgh, Putney, CanterbuEighty-One, Pensance, Bangor, Buckry, Colchester, Dunchurch, Irish, Old ingham, Wantage, Sutton, Psalm 96, and Italy. When we referred to this Collection in page 51 of the present volume of the Anthology, we had not seen the second edition. In justice to this selection, it aught to be stated, that the typographical execution is handsome and very correct; that the tunes are, with few exceptions, from the compositions of eminent masters; and that the Introduction to Psalmody' is, on the whole, a useful one. We wish that, consist ently with our fidelity to the pubpick, we could have spoken of this work only in a style of commendation. But it is no surprising thing, that it should be imperfect. Where is the book, which is free from defect? We console ourselves with the reflection, when we see a good man fall into a fault, or a wise man guilty of an error, 'that there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.' LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL AMERICAN. "Philadelphia, April 15, 1807. "THE opening of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, appointed for this day, was very generally attended by the contributors. It is but justice to the Directors to say, that the number and selection of Casts, they have imported, do great honour to their exertions. The figures are from the choicest pieces of statuary in Europe, and,ar ranged with taste and judgment, formed a splendid exhibition, and gave universal satisfaction. The following appropriate address on the occasion, was delivered by GEORGE CLYMER, Esq. President of the Institution : "THE Directors of this Institution, having fixed on a day, for opening the building, dedicated, by your liberality, to the Fine Arts-they now call you together to witness how the trust committed to them has been executed. And intending at the same time, a short address to you, its founders and patrons, the task of its delivery, from the avocations of some gentlemen, has fallen up on me. With this exposure of their work, it would be well, if the directors could say that the funds, so generously supplied, had been equal to the objectsAnd that they could speak confidently of their saving management in the expenditure, but this, I fear, would be a questionable theme; the truth indeed is, that the cost has exceeded the estimate. The calculations of unexperienced zcal are seldom just: And besides they have been less intent upon sparing your money, than solicitous to advance your reputation: And they have perhaps fallen into that mistake, which is ever fortunate when it gives birth to schemes of publick usefulness, that might, otherwise, not have been undertaken. This acknowledgment, not withstanding, I shall present you with nothing like a statement or account, with its deficient balance; this will come from another quarter, together with a plan from the directors, for relieving the Academy from some present embarrassments, as well as for supplying the means of placing it upon a firmer and broader establishment. If the contemplation of the pieces of exquisite workmanship, that encircle you, would of itself impart a knowledge, as it will an admiration of the art that produced them, you might expect something, in this address, upon its principles-Some indeed, there are among us, who have a professional acquaintance with such subjects-but these are few, and the rest, not particularly instructed, are, I trust, not inclined to supply the defect of science, by the affectation of taste, or the cant of connoisseurship; their business is not to offer the proofs of any present skill, but to lay the foundation, to furnish the means of the future attainment; and on this, none need apprehend the failure of success. No nation has the proud monopoly of genius, or can make itself its exclusive seat; wherever there are men, there genius is to be found.-Besides the universality of this grant of nature, instances sufficient are in evidence that we have not been omitted in the dispensation. Our country, it is true, has produced chiefly the bud or germ for the developement and expansion of the natural talent, with some very respectable exceptions, it has been as yet much indebted to the fostering care of some other. Hence in one of the most pleasing departments of the arts, a West, a Copley, a Stuart, and a Trumbull, who might have withered & declined in their native bed, by transplantation into a more improved soil, have arrived at the fullest growth of excellence. In this home establishment you provide what may make such excellence all your own-a school for study, a field for competition; and become, moreover, the instruments in dif. fusing a taste throughout, to ensure general encouragement, and particular patronage. If your just pride should be excited, from this one consideration, not to neglect a child of your own, it may be no less piqued by another. ward in one sordid path, there is nothing sufficiently powerful to allure us from it, either to the right hand, or to the left. Your effectual support of this institution, wherein no personal motive can be pretended, will be so far a practical contradiction of the libel, and prove its best refutation. Nevertheless, objections will be made to your design, as a departure from accustomed simplicity-Between simplicity and refinement, or if you will, luxury, the question has been frequent and undecided; but if luxury be a consequential evil of the progress of our country, a better question, perhaps, it would be, how is it to be understood? Where an unrestricted, and unoppressed industry gains more than simplicity requires, the excess, as it cannot be pent up, will be employed upon gratifications beyond it-how retain the cause, and repress the effect? Philosophy and the laws would here teach in vain! where a constantly rising flood cannot be banked out, the waters should be directed into channels the least hurtful would incline towards voluptuousness, to be led off to objects more innoxious -even to those of greater purity and innocence; those that will not pamper the senses, but rather amuse, if not instruct the understanding; and it may, with some truth be observed, that those who carry the whole fruit of an assiduous and successful toil to the common hoard of national wealth, undiminished by any waste of it, but on the few wants of simplicity, contribute with most ef fect to the refinement or luxuries, tó which, in their practice, they seemed most averse. The visitors to us from the other hemisphere, before the era of our revolumion, came to a new country, with dispositions to estimate us, more by our advance on the course, than by our dis--so ought the exuberant riches, which tance from the goal: and they were pleased to find that in its nonage, it had proceeded so far in culture and refinement. Those of latter days, now that we have cut the cord of foreign dependence, and set up for ourselves, discover a very different humour. Overlook ing or derogating from whatever is valuable or praise-worthy, aggravating some blemishes, and contemning all things,in a new scene, which they have not the faculty to understand-instead of presenting a likeness of the country, they have disfigured it with a moral and physical caricature; insomuch that the notion they have succeeded, in their books of travels, in impressing upon the too willing belief of the ancient world is, that it demands the hardihood of a Ledyard, or of a Mungo Parke, to explore the miseries of our wilderness, and to encounter the barbarity of our manners. Witnesses of the diligent habits, and various enterprizes of the American people, they ascribe to avarice what is due to freedom, which always prompts the labours of man by the assurance it gives him, that the fruit is all his own; and they insist, with a wonderful harmony of detraction, that all our pursuits are selfish-and that going straight forVol. IV. No. 4. Dd Such being the consequence of a growing opulence, the alternative would be, not as between simplicity and luxury, but between the grosser and more refined species of the latter. Where is the room then, for hesitation in the choice? But are our particular objects alone to be cherished? are none else worthy of our care? This is best answered by remarking, that ours are well suited to a voluntary society; that all the liberal arts are of a kindred spirit-kindling at each other's flame; that as members of the same family, they have a mutual sympathy and relation; naturally flourishing together; the best examples in |
