preca ularity tremit • ill, we This amiable and truly illustrious Prin Prince of Leinengen, aged fourteen, and a Princess aged ten, and to whom her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent is appointed guardian, according to the pre-worth and virtue, cannot fail to experience sent marriage contract. are well assured, know how to estimate such a treasure; and the English nation at large, ever prone to honour and appreciate the most heart-felt gratification by this auspicious marriage. LA BELLE ASSEMBLÉE; For SEPTEMBER, 1818. A New and Improved Series. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS. Pumber One Hundred and Fourteen. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT. WHEN every virtue that can adorn humanity, while it adds lustre to a coronet, is found shining conspicuous in those of illustrious birth, the historian and the biographer dwell with delight on such rare endowments, and are emulous of handing down their memorial to posterity; happy in the idea that such memorial will be perpetuated to distant ages, a lasting monument of the dignity of human nature. The members of the present house of Saxe-Cobourg are all worthy of the princely race from whence they sprung, and of the high and royal alliances they have formed. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the illustrious object of this sketch, whose likeness we have the gratification of presenting this month to our readers, was born at Cobourg, in the year 1786, and received the baptismal names of Victoria Mary Louisa. cess, was the youngest daughter of the late Duke of Saxe-Cobourg; and was educated altogether with her truly excellent and accomplished brother, his Royal Highness Prince Leopold, under the immediate care and inspection of their august and wellinformed mother, a Princess whose merit and judgment have gained her the most high and well-deserved admiration of all who have the honour and happiness of approaching her. Her daughter has proved herself worthy of such a parent: the Princess, in her single state, lived idolized in the hearts of every inhabitant of Cobourg; and in her first marriage, which she adorned by her virtues, she found herself equally loved, honoured, and estimated throughout the principality of Leinengen. Affability and kindness accompany every word and ges. ture of this exalted and charming female, and while her dignity commands respect, her amiability ensures the love of all who are so happy as to come within her influence. The Princess was married early in life to the Prince of Leinengen, and at his demise, which took place in 1814, she was appointed Regent of that principality. By this marriage the Princess of Leinengen had two children; a son, the present Prince of Leinengen, aged fourteen, and a Princess aged ten, and to whom her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent is appointed guardian, according to the pre-worth and virtue, cannot fail to experience sent marriage contract. This amiable and truly illustrious Prin The Duke of Kent, whose popularity continually increases by his late unremitting attention to the public good, will, we are well assured, know how to estimate such a treasure; and the English nation at large, ever prone to honour and appreciate the most heart-felt gratification by this auspicious marriage. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. A BRIEF HISTORY OF MUSIC. (Continued from page 53.) "Dear Music, that can touch, "Beyond all else, the soul that loves thee much."-MOORE'S LALLAH ROOΚΗ. MUSIC OF INDOSTAN. THE instrumental part of the music of Indostan is rather noisy, from the constant use of drums of all sizes, and of trumpets and pipes, even from that so large as to require a man to bear the mouth-piece on his shoulder while it is played by another, to the smallest reed. They have the double pipe, which is seen in antique sculptures, but which is not remarkable for the sweetness of its tones. There are several instruments of the guitar and lute kind, some of which are formed of hollow gourds, by way of sounding boards; and from a triangular harp or lyre, the tones are charming. There is also an instrument played with a bow, something like a dancing master's kit; the strings of which are of iron or brass wire, and the fingers used for fretting the strings are armed with thimbles of metal: the tones from this instrument are not replete with that mellowness we find in Europe. Yet there is little doubt but what the ancient music of Indostan was infinitely superior to the modern. They ascribed such a divine art, as well they might, to the Gods aloue; and the Bramins, at this time, suppose it to have been communicated to man by Brahma himself. The pastoral people in the neighbourhood of Mathura, delighted in singing the loves and adventures of their hero, Chrisna, who was himself the patron of music, and is often represented dancing while he plays ou a reed. The scale of the Hindoos comprehends seven sounds, called sa, ri, ya, ma, pa, dha, ni, and in the octave they reckon twenty-two quarters and thirds. attendant Pagnis, complains of slighted love, or bewails the pains of absence. Sriraga patronizes the dewy season, which is the time of delight, that ushers in the spring, the fragrant, and the flowery time over which Hindola, or Vasanta, presides. When the oppressive heats come on, the soft and languid melody of Diapaca sympathizes with the fevered feelings, while the refreshing season of the new rains bestows a double pleasure when accompanied by the sweet strains of Megha. It is extraordinary that when we consider music as being one of the dearest objects of sense to all mankind, that we should find the Chinese, who have so long been a civilized people, still without any eminent composers or performers. Dr. Burney is of opinion that " there is a physical defect in the intellects or organization of all the sons of men, except in Europe; and that a perfect ear, and the power of delighting it, are local."-This, we think, is advancing too much, and giving too much praise to one quarter of the globe at the expence of another. Had this learned writer on the art of music asserted that Europe contains more unremitting industry amongst her inhabitants, we should be more ready to accede to his opinion. The English, in themselves, do not form a very musical nation: and the number of volumes in the British Museum of music, has no proportion to those on the other arts. In the music book of Prince Henry, afterwards Henry VIII. in the Pepys collection, The six chief modes are personified as at Cambridge, are several of his compobeautiful youths, the genii of music, and sitions; and Anne of Boleyn, while she presiding over the six seasons. Bhairava is resided in France, collected and learned a lord of the cheerful, dry, or autumnal great number of them. In the British season, and his strains invite the dancer Museum is a very beautiful MS. consisting to accompany them. Malava rules the of French songs of the fifteenth century, cold and melancholy months, and with his || in three or four parts; and the most capital |