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    require their music transposed , that it may lie easier for their voice , or that some favourite note may be employed on a telling phrase . The difficulty of transposing a piece of music into another key at sight is well known . Several attempts had been made to effect transposition by mechanical means . But either the keys were to be moved , which soon caused looseness , with an unpleasant rattle ; or the strings were made movable , which rendered the piano liable to get out of tune ; or the hammers were shifted , the worst system of all , as , unless moved thoroughly home , they were frequently half on one string and half on the other . The contrivance

    adopted by Messrs . Addison in the " Royal Albert is exceedingly simple . It is effected by a kind of shoulder between the ivory keys and the action leading to the hammers , and consequently all objections vanish , while every song or vocal piece can be , merely by the turning of a handle , transposed into six different keys , thereby bringing many thousand musical works within the compass of every voice . This pianoforte has the suffrages of upwards of 300 of the musical profession . Messrs . Stodart exhibit a horizontal grand , in rosewood ; and a " compact square , " the peculiarity of which is , that the strings and sounding-board are sunk in the case , and that

    the hammers strike downwards instead of upwards . Its appearance , when shut , is much like that of a sofa-table , and the tone is good . Mr . Cadby sends grand and upright cottage pianofortes , on his new patent suspension principle , which , involving a great deal of machinery , and increasing the bulk of the instrument , produces no compensating results . The Tavola pianoforte exhibited by Mr . R . Hunt , 22 , Blake-street , forms a drawing-room table on a centre pedestal . In tone it is exceedingly mediocre , and it appears more curious than useful . Mr . R . Allison has produced a cottage pianoforte , with the keys alternated in colour to show all the

    scales . It appears to us only calculated to mystify . We should like to see a student " brought up " on such a principle of playing . The cottage grand pianoforte , with repeating-check action , exhibited by Mr . C . Holdernesse , is an exceedingly fine instrument . Messrs . Jenkins and Son , 10 , London-street , Fitzroy-square , send an expanding pianoforte for yachts . It has a movable front , and is especially adapted for cabins , where space is so important . Mr . Gr . H . Aggio , of Colchester , exhibits a pianoforte with plate glass case , with elegant gold carvings . The tone unfortunately doesnot correspond with the really elegant exterior . The walnut cottage of Messrs . Oetzman

    and Plumb , 56 , Great Russell-street , is a most elegant and highly ornamented instrument . The keys are of mother-o ' -pearl and tortoiseshell , and the tone and touch are exquisite . While we were examining this instrument a young lady who arrived with her mamma , on noticing the peculiarity of the keys , wondered "if it affected the tone . " The young lady threw her hands across the keys , exhibiting some acquaintance with music ; but what a lamentable commentary was her ignorant observation on the style in which music is taught in " schools and families" I Mr . Wornum , whoso endeavours to produce cheap pianofortes have given considerable

    impulse to the manufacture of piccolo instruments , sends a piccolo in walnut and a semibichord grand . Messrs . Hund and Son , of Ebury-street , Pirnlico , exhibit a lyra pianoforte , which , in addition to a grand check action , has a new description of pedal , by which the shifting on to one string to produce a piano effect is wholly avoided . The back or lyre of the instrument is turned towards the centre of the room , enabling the performer to face the audience . The tone is brilliant , and the touch pleasing . The pianofortes in the mediaeval department appear to be worthy of the age : plenty of outside show , but little in the interior to warrant it .

    Ihe foreign pianofortes certainly cannot be said to equal those of our own country . They are not so well finished in their mechanical departments , and their tone is more rocky and less musical . The touch is peculiar ; but this is a matter of taste , and it is perhaps better adapted to the foreign mode of playing the instrument . Although the Bclgic pianofortes , so far aa touch and equality are concerned , are far superior to anything in the foreign department , on the whole the French occupy the next place in importance' to our own . JKrnnl , iu addition to that already noticed in the nave , sends iive more , which offer no peculiarity worthy of remark , except that it appears very absurd thus to

    turn the ( crystal Palace into a warehouse , llerz exhibit !* a grand and a semigrand , with both ol which we were greatly disappointed . We were prepared to find them exceedingly confidential in tone ; but we had anticipated something u little lean toylike from so cclcbi ^ tcd a maker . There are Home excellent specimens of buhl work and marqueterie ; the principal of which are ; iu elegant cottage in tulip wood and marqueterie by M . Moutal , an exceedingly rich and beautiful instrument by M . Van Ovcnburg , and a beautiful piccolo in marqueterie , with ornaments in the style of Louin XIV ., by Detir and Co ., the Working Pianoforte Makers' ABBoeiation of Paris . The tone and iiniah of these inHtruinents arc equal to anything iu the foreign department , and it wJLowy

    the power of cooperation when we find that this working-men ' s association have » in addition to the two specimens sent to the Exhibition , already completed and sold two hundred and twenty-five pianofortes ! M . Herding and M . Aucher exhibit metalframed pianos . We do not perceive any advantage in these metal-framed instruments . They have generally a harsh tone and an unpleasant vibration , and though much softened by M . Herding , the objection is not wholly removed . M . Aucher ' s pianos , with movable keys , offer an advantage in point of space , more than nullified by the risk of variation in the

    balancing of the keys . They have not the power we anticipated from report , and the medium notes are poor and thin . M . Pape , who has introduced several important improvements which have been adopted by our own country , exhibits specimens of his console pianofortes . M . Mercier ' s specimens of cottage pianofortes possess great beauty and purity of tone , but the touch is not equal to English pianos of the same form . M . Souffleto has , besides two pianos , a most beautifully worked rosewood oblique

    instrument , which proves him a worthy disciple of MM . Rollet and Blanchet . M . Scholtus exhibits a very improved pianoforte with iron cramps , which doubtless has the proposed effect of keeping the instrument in tune . M . Scholtus has yet , however , to produce an instrument equal to his competitors , when his own peculiar adaptation would prove valuable . M . A . Bord exhibits a very magnificently toned grand pianoforte of seven octaves . There is no show about this instrument ; but we should prefer it to any in the French department .

    In the Austrian room is a very beautiful cottage pianoforte , with or-molu figures on each side , and buhl work of exceedingly chaste design and execution . In the gallery there is also a grand of American maple , with a border of wood mosaic . From Belgium are a number of instruments , but they are principally copies of French manufacture . The principal in this department is a grand , by L . Sternberg , whose pianos are a perfect luxury to play on . They have also the impress of Thalberg ' s name in token of their superiority . In the States of the Zollverein and the North of Germany ¦ are some pianofortes , which , though they do not possess any qualifications worthy of a special remark , are , nevertheless , creditable manufactures .

    In the American department are several instruments , whose tone by no means answers to the expectations held out . The square , by Nunn and Clarke , is the best in this department . There is a double pianoforte , a horizontal grand , having a set of keys at each end , with separate sets of strings , ; hough with one sounding-board . Thus , two or four performers , can readily play on the same instrument . The finish of this pianoforte is most extraordinary . It is a complete go-a-head manufacture . In the open work of the interior , the French polished surface is soiled by the fibre of the carelessly wrought interstices , while the coils of wire round and in the vicinity of the pins remind one rather of some clumsy machinery on shipboard than of an

    instrument for a lady 8 boudoir . There is a novelty called the " Piano Violino , " the invention of Mr . J . S . Wood , of Virginia . It is a curious and ingenious instrument . By a kind of treadle , beneath the piano in the vicinity of the pedals , four bows at the back are set in motion , which pass over the strings of a violin ; the keys of the piano when played on depress these bows , which are guided in a groove , and the corresponding note is produced on the violin . The moBt surprising part is , that the most difficult of instruments should -thus be played mechanically ; but there is a monotony of tone and an absence of expression which prevents the instrument from becoming more than a mere curiosity . In musical instruments the United States certainly do not shine .

    The pianofortes , as a whole , must be taken as exhibiting the exact position of the manufacture at this moment in the various countries , rather than the capabilities of pianoforte making . Where an attempt has been made to produce anything for the occasion ( with theexecption of theMessig . Kirkman ' s miniature instrument ) , the task has been blinded over to the cabinet-maker rather than the pianoforte-manufacturer . There has been rather a desire to show how gaudy a case could be made than to exhibit what

    powers could be effected by a pianoforte if people ; were content to give the price . We have plate-glass pianos , pianos in brans eases , pianos of choice woods surfeited with gilding and or-mohi . Where is the piano whicK puts forth itB claims in the only legitimate mode ? With the exception of those of the Messrs . Kirkman and MesHrH . Addison , which we have already indicated , we have nothing of the kind . Manufacturers have been aiming to please the eye with an instrument especially designed to delight the ear .

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    744 i& % i ILtaKtt . [ Saturday

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    TJ 1 M FKTKS OV PAKIK . International entertainments have not in any ago aurputiHed the series of fetes given b y the city of PariH to the city of London in honour of the Ureat 15 xi > o » ition . * EwrJy on Friday morning , tho lwt of Auuuwt , thrco

    trains bore away the English party , after considerable scrambling for seats , and immense anxiety respecting luggage . The arrangements of the railway are reported to have been none of the best ; and to have caused great despair among the ladies , and positive vexation among the gentlemen respecting the safety of their dresses respectively . A rapid ride landed all the company in security at Folkestone ; where two steamers waited to convey the guests to Boulogne , On board these vessels were the mayor , sixteen aldermen , a few common council men , the royal commissioners , the executive committee and a few of the jurors . The citizens , it is whispered , had with their

    customary disinterestedness demanded so many invitations that several eminent jurors could not be invited . The passage across the channel was not without its incidents . First the ladies , then the gentlemen bowed to the influence of the ocean . The lord mayor succumbed without" a murmur . Even aldermen turned pale . Mandarin Keying , from the Chinese Junk , devised many expedients to evade the penalty which the rocking waters levy upon landsmen . In vain was it " that he scientifically took up his position amidships , seated low , with his elbows rested on his knees , and his face buried in his hands . Nature had her will of Man

    d arin Keying . But on the whole , the sons and daughters of Britannia bore bravely up , and stood out stoutly ; so that when the steamers ran alongside the pier at Boulogne , and their human freight touched once more the solid , land , they were not much the worse for wear . For the first time in the history of the two countries the vexation of passports was not inflicted , neither were custom-house investigations undergone . Carriages rapidly conveyed the guests to the station

    of the Boulogne and Amiens Railway , where a breakfast awaited the hungry and refreshed the fatigued . The saloon at the station was fitted up with crimson and white hangings ; and a large mirror , adorned with flowers , reflected the whole of the room . In this apartment one hundred of the elite sat down , under the presidence of M . de St . Paul ; while about two hundred were entertained in an outer saloon . Here , too , short speeches were made , international and complimentary toasts proposed ; English cheers ,

    and the inveterate habit of " one cheer more , " salutirig those in honour of Boulogne , the union of the two nations , and the prospect of visits to come . An amusing incident is related by the Times' reporter who accompanied the train : — " Whiie peaceful sentiments were being exchanged within doors , a very neat bit of finesse was successively practised without . On the opposite side of the station a train was drawn up , evidently about to start for Paris , and this the most pushing spirits , who wished to be in at everything , hastened to occupy . As soon as they

    were all seated , and the doors locked , a short empty train snddenly appeared on the near line of rails , and at the same moment the chief guests emerging on the platform took possession of it , and were , without an instant ' s delay , hurrying at express speed on the route to Paris . Great was the indignation and dimay of several aldermen and other magnates of the day at thus being left behind , and on their arrival , nearly two hours later , at Paris than those who preceded them , fheir wrath burnt brightly against their civic chief , who could thus desert his council of sages , and appropriate to himself all the honour of the reception in the French metropolis . "

    On went the train . At Amiens a reception from the National Guard ; refreshments of wine and biscuits ; " God save the Queen" from a band , acknowledged by British cheers , and rapidly onward again , the train at one period reaching GG miles an hour . It was dark and nine o ' clock when the Paris terminus was gained by the train conveying the chief guests ; the remainder did not arrive until after midnight . At the Paris station the passenger by tho " train of honour" were received by M . lierger , the Prefect of the Seine , and M . Carlier , Pre fect of Police and modern Fouchc to the Party of Oiuei . Mounted ltepublican and Municipal Guards ewcoited the carriages when they all set off for the Hotel de Ville , and on their progress through the Rue du I '' ' 111 ' bourg Poisonniere , along the Boulevards , < l « w n the Hue Richelieu , across the Place du Carrousel , ko , b

    by the quays , to the lldtel de Ville ; they were » - luted with "Vive le Lord Muirc ! " "Vive i'AngHterre ! " But there was no noise compared to tlll j progress of a similar party through the streets u London . In the Hotel de Ville apartment" w «« / fitted up for the Lord Mayor and bin suite , and J > companions found shelter , many at Memiw h iUU other hotels , and numbers in liospitable quarters .

    Saturday was a great day . The Hotel de V j lj ^ the theatre of bo many important scenes in « l <) tory of Fiance , feudal , municipal , and revo lutiona ) ^ was magnificently fitted up for the banquet of _ ' evening . In the Cour de Louis XIV . a gaiclei' w j improvifled , decked out with trees , flowers , f ou » tft . ' and statues . In the Salon de la Itepubliquo a Vt (' A little theatre was erected . And after the duui <* ^ grand arrangements wore made for converting

    grand hall into a conccrt-rooin . ,, , llS The JJaiK , uetting-hall , the " Salle des Fetes , > ( superbly decorated . Fluted columns r "" r (> u"Jj jUl walls , and those were surmounted by flags oi _ » tioimi . Tho liancinic * of the magnificent W «

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 9, 1851, page 744, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1895/page/4/