OUR LITERARY SCOPE. another column we have given our plans and prospects, DEATH OF AN EMINENT KENT IN another Colt statement relates more particularly to the THE death of the Rev. Beale Poste, LL.B., took place commercial character of the ANTIQUARIAN, a few explanatory on Saturday, the 15th ultimo, at his residence, Bydew's words respecting its literary features may be deemed desirable. Although considerably affecting the mart, this new class publication aims largely at literary usefulness, and aspires to occupy a worthy place in periodical literature. of High Halden and Milsted, in Kent, but never held Place, near Maidstone. Born in 1793, of an old Kentish family, he was son of William Poste, Esq., one of the four pleaders of the City of London, and grandson of William Poste, Esq., of Hayle Place, near Maidstone, and Mary his wife, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Beale, Esq., likeImbued with a deep reverence for whatever has been wise of Hayle Place, which property had been held by the rescued from devouring time, illustrative of the labour and Beales for several generations. The deceased gentleman art of by-gone civilisations, or of whatever indicates was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he modern progress in manufactures and arts, we accept the attained to the degree of LL.B. at an unusually early age. editorial management of the ANTIQUARIAN with a fervent After spending some time on the Continent he returned to desire to serve not only those who are already devoted to England, and took holy orders, and was some years curate archæology, but to assist in multiplying the numbers of its preferment in the Church. He afterwards came to reside students by awakening an interest in the precious and iron his property at Bydew, where he occupied himself much structive remains of antiquity. In speaking of archæology in antiquarian studies and researches, and was intimately it must be understood that we refer to it in its limited yet associated with a number of antiquaries of note, more popular signification, as relating to the manifold materials—especially with those resident in and near Maidstone, of such as coins, medals, sculptures, paintings, furniture, jewels, glass, pottery, &c., &c.—wherein we can read the history and habits of long-buried generations. In this respect we hope to act as an auxiliary to those learned and valuable journals occasionally issued by the numerous Archæological and kindred Societies established throughout the kingdom, which important literature is, however, from its limited circulation, little known to the thousands who are daily beginning to appreciate the beautiful and rare productions of the past. Of late years the study of Archæology has greatly extended both at home and abroad, and it is gratifying to see that this respect to the works of old, and the growing regard to their touching lessons, is extending not only amongst the wealthy and refined, but amongst intelligent persons of the middle, and even to some of the labouring, classes. To foster and direct this taste will constitute one of our most agreeable duties, and in so doing we shall, by quickening observation and stimulating inquiry, forward the discovery of antique objects, and secure their preservation for future admiration and study. With this view we purpose occasionally to lead our readers into the national and private museums, and by explaining many things therein which are imperfectly understood, reveal their value and stimulate an interest in them before unfelt an interest yielding a new intellectual pleasure. Mr. Charles, Mr. Clement Smythe, Mr. Pretty (the late whom we may mention the late Rev. Lambert Larking, curator of the Museum), and Mr. John Newington Hughes, all of whom have passed away before him. Mr. Poste was an early member of the Archæological Association of Great Britain, and contributed several learned papers to their journal. On the establishment of the Kent Archæological Society he took an active part in its foundation, and regularly attended the meetings of the council. One of his last papers was contributed to that society's journal, "Archæologia Cantiana," on the site of ancient Roman Maidstone, and it contains a mass of valuable and interesting information respecting the early history of that town. In 1847 Mr. Poste published a "History of the Church and College of All Saints, Maidstone," which was followed in 1853 by Ancient British History." Mr. Poste married in early life "Britannic Researches; or new Facts and Rectifications of Mary Jane, daughter of the late John Cousens, Esq., of Westbourne, who died two years since, and has left a family. His eldest surviving son is Mr. Edward Poste, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, one of the principal examiners to the Civil Service Commissioners, himself an author. THE members of the Burlington Fine Arts Club recently gave a conversazione at their house in Savile-row. The club has been formed by the association of gentlemen interested cently, however, it has removed to the house in Savile-row, in works of art, and was at first opened in Piccadilly. Rewhere the committee have decided upon giving evening receptions, of which the principal attraction will be formed by various objects of art lent by members for exhibition. Among the pictures were several very quaint and curious To aid us in this enterprise the promise of kindly assist-paintings by Sandro Botticelli, two illustrating the legend of ance has been received from gentlemen conversant with nu- and the Lapitha. Theodore and Honoria, another the battle of the Centaurs mismatics, the ceramic art, heraldry, painting, and other arranged for the display of china, ivory, carvings, majolica In the gallery a central table was cognate matters. Their accomplished pens will give variety ware, enamels, and other works. To this table Dr. Sibson and impart utility to the ANTIQUARIAN; and while our had contributed some fine specimens from his collection of warmest thanks are tendered to them for such invaluable Wedgwood medallions, and Mr. Julian Goldsmid, M.P., promised help, we invite further aid from contributors! had sent some good Roman bronzes, and some choice specimens of carving. On the whole, the collection was one qualified to entertain and instruct the reader on things of great beauty and interest, and it had the rare merit of not relating to Archæology. being too large to be comfortably examined by the visitors. The Rev. S. M. Mayhew, F.S.A., exhibited an enormous collection of bronzes, from Butler's Wharf, Bermondsey, so numerous as to lead to the conclusion that it was the site of a bronze factory. The chief articles were ecclesiastical, and some domestic; such as pins, wire, a gypsire mouth, reliquary, scourge, missal-clasp, steelyards, scale-beams, spurs, fish-hooks (or small harpoons), sail-needles, a gimlet, a morris-dancer's bell, keys, knife-handles,-some of which are gilt and engraved. Mr. Watling exhibited drawings of Roman flue-tiles, with set patterns on them, found at Stonham, Suffolk. Mr. J. S. Phené read a paper on the pottery found in tumuli in Scotland, chiefly on the site of Berigonium, from which, and from Jedburgh, he exhibited examples. Mr. J. Blashill produced a drawing and brief description of the Roman pavement just now discovered in Mark-lane. He stated that it was 8ft. beneath the surface, is of common red tesseræ, and is very uneven on the surface. Several pieces of Samian and other pottery had been found, and sold to visitors. Other exhibitions having been made, it was announced that the Council had resolved to communicate with the French authorities, with a view to the preservation of the ancient walls of Dax, whereupon it was moved by Mr. W. H. Black, F.S.A., and carried : "That the members of this association cordially approve of the steps taken by the Council to intercede with the public authorities in France on behalf of the ancient fortifications of the town of Dax, and earnestly hope that they may be spared from destruction, in accordance with the public voice of men of learning and science in this country and elsewhere." SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. Rev. A. P. Stanley, D.D., Dean of Westminster, Vice- NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. ON the 20th ultimo, this Society held a meeting in their rooms, when W. S. W. Vaux, Esq., F.R.S., President, occupied the chair. Mr. Evans exhibited a sceatta of Æthelræd I., King of Mercia, A.D. 675-704; also a hoard, consisting of twelve coins of William the First, or Second, and Henry the First, lately found in the south part of Bedfordshire. They are pennies of the types engraved in Hawkins's "English Silver Coinage," Nos. 244, 246, 247, 250, and 252.-Mr. Barclay V. Head read a paper, communicated by M. F. de Saulcy, "On the Coins bearing the Legends, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΔΑΦΝΗΣ, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ TON EN ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΔΙ, and ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΕΠΙ KAAAIPOHI, and having on the Reverse the Figure of the Olympian Zeus." M. de Saulcy argued that these coins were not struck by the people of Antioch, as is generally supposed, but by certain corporations of Jewish merchants established at the three localities above mentioned, who had adopted the Greek faith and the worship of Zeus Olympius, and upon whom the title and the rights of citizens of Antioch had been conferred by Seleucus Nicator, in reward for their apostasy, B.C. 291 (Josephus, "Ant. Jud." XII. c. iii. 1). LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCHEOLOGICAL Ar the meeting of this Society on the 20th ultimo, A. W. Franks, Esq., V.P., in the chair, the Rev. A. Pownall communicated further notes on the curious glass bottles discovered ONE of those interesting and pleasant gatherings for which under the churches of South Kilworth and Lutterworth this Society is famous took place on Thursday, the 4th respectively. The chairman remarked that these bottles instant, and there was a very large attendance of ladies and were of undoubted antiquity, and of great rarity, as the gentlemen. Amongst the company were Mr. F. H. Janson cldest English glass vessel of known date was probably (Master of the Leathersellers' Company), Mr. Ord-Hall, no older than the reign of George III. Mr. W. White Mr. J. G. Nichols, F.S.A., Rev. T. Hugo, F.S.A., Mr. J. observed that about six or seven years ago a glass bottle W. Bailey, Mr. W. H. Black, Mr. Franklin, Major Healds, was found in the foundations of the chancel-wall of the Mr. A. White, Mr. G. H. Giddins, Sir Duncan Gibb, church of St. Phillack, Cornwall, which was believed to Colonel Robinson, Dr. E. Smith, Captain Ward, Captain contain the blood of St. Felicitas (of which St. Phillack is a J. Britson, Mr. Lewis Berger, and Mr. Edgar Graham. 39 which made corruption), and which could not have been later than the It was the happiest of "happy thoughts twelfth century. Capt. Tupper communicated an account the council decide upon a visit to the City of London, so of his visit to Beddington, near Croydon, the site of some rich in archaeological treasures, and from first to last good recent discoveries, of which fuller particulars were promised taste and sound judgment characterised the arrangements, to the Society by the resident engineer, Mr. Addy. Mr. S. The meeting was presided over by Mr. F. H. Janson. D. Walker exhibited an iron-capped stake and a pair of master of the Leathersellers' Company, and the first place naffers, found during some excavations at Nottingham.-visited was Leathersellers' Hall, where, after a brief adMr. W. White read a paper "On the Use of the Ancient dress from the chairman, who welcomed the visitors in Galilee in the Cathedral Church of Durham." The anniversary of the Society of Antiquaries of London was held on Monday, the 24th of April last, at their apartments in Somerset House, when, in pursuance of their Statutes and Charter of Incorporation, they elected a President, Council, and Officers of the Society for the year ensumg. The Right Hon. the Earl Stanhope, President; Augustus Woollaston Franks, Esq., M.A., Vice-President; Sir William Tite, C,B., M.P., Vice-President; the Very the name of the wardens and members, and in graceful terms acknowledged the honour done to the company by the society selecting it for a visit, the ancient charters and records of the Leathersellers' Company were exhibited, and some pithy remarks made upon them by Mr. W. H. Black, who also gave a short summary of the history of the company gleaned from these documents. The Rev. T. Hugo, one of the vice-presidents of the society, then gave a short paper on the " Hospital of Le Patey, filled with painted glass, at the cost of Sir M. Hicks-Beach, M.P., as a memorial to the late Lady Beach, and that the subject will probably be the life of St. Paul, as that of the great window in the south transept is the life of St. Peter. THE ABYSSINIAN ABANAS CROWN.-The following reply, by the Under Secretary of State for War to the Abyssinian Prize Fund Committee, is in the correspondence on this subject just printed :-" December 8, 1870. Gentlemen, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th of October, inclosing copy of a correspondence which has passed between the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the trustees of the British Museum, and Colonel Milward, as the representative of the prize committee of the late army in Abyssinia, on the subject of the proposed purchase, for a sum of 2000/., of a gold crown and chalice taken at Magdala by the late expedition, and requesting that the Secretary of State would sioners of the Treasury. In reply, I am to state to you that urge the justice of the claim' upon the Lords CommisMr. Cardwell has no power to compel either the trustees of the British Museum or the Treasury to authorize the payment in question, and he does not feel himself entitled to interfere with their decisions respectively. I have, &c., EDWARD LUGARD.-The Abyssinian Prize Fund Com Bishopsgate," which gave evidence of great antiquarian re-stood that the great window of the north transept will be search, and was listened to with marked attention. A large collection of drawings, prints, &c., of Leathersellers' Hall and the neighbourhood were exhibited by Mr. J. E. Gardner, which were well worthy inspection. The company then proceeded to the Church of St. Andrew Undershaft (Leadenhall Street), where Mr. W. H. Black gave a brief notice of Hans Holbein (the celebrated painter), as a parishioner of St. Andrew Undershaft. Remarking upon the fact of the great painter having dwelt in the parish, and asserting that his remains were buried in the church, the will of the painter, a curiosity in itself, was read. It showed the artist to have been in poverty, and in debt to a money-lender in Antwerp. Mr. Black controverted the usually accepted time of Holbein's death, viz., 1554, and from the records he had unearthed fixed it eleven years earlier, viz., 1543. The records of the church were then commented upon and explained by Mr. W. H. Overall, F.S.A., the principal features of interest being the letters patent, given in the reign of Elizabeth, uniting the two churches of St. Mary-at-Axe and St. Andrew Undershaft, dated September 12, 1562. The record of deaths during the plague was also commented upon, and turning over the leaves, one saw the fearful ravages it committed, whole families being swept off. The melancholy record shows that out of 182 people buried in the year in that church 116 died of the plague. The sacred edifice contains many monuments and brasses, and rubbings from some of the latter were exhibited. The one which attracted most attention was that of Master Nicholas Leve-limestone formation at Stainton, near Ulverston, North son and his wife, who died, leaving a family of eight sons Lancashire. Immense ridges of limestone exist at this place, and ten daughters to mourn their loss. Proceeding to the and hundreds of tons of the rock have been carried away church of St. Peter-upon-Cornhill, the Rev. R. Whitting-weekly to the neighbourhood smelting furnaces of the Barton, vicar of the parish, remarked upon the history of the row Hæmatite Iron and Steel Company. Escarpment after church and the archives of the parish, stating that St. escarpment has been cleared away, and in an immense cutPeter's was said to be the first church founded in London, ting in the rock, about half way up the face of a perpenby Lucius, the first Christian king, the date of foundation dicular cliff, 100 feet high, is the entrance to the cavern. being 199. The church was restored after the fire. Among The length from the mouth of the cavern was 235 yards. the interesting objects exhibited here was a MS. copy of Many visitors have been attracted to this place, but few have the Holy Bible written on vellum, every page of which is ventured to the end. beautifully illuminated. ARCHEOLOGICAL. DISCOVERY IN THE GUANO DEPOSITS OF PERU.-An English engineer in Peru states that remarkable discoveries have been made in the lower excavations in the guano of the Guanape Islands. The guano appears to have preservative properties. Besides gold ornaments and other objects, a quantity of cloth was found, said to have been paintings of animals and symbols, of which the colours were well preserved. The Athenæum doubts about the paintings and the symbols, because it suspects that the stuff was tappa, or stamped cloth, as in Polynesia, with which traces of intercourse have been found in Guanape. An early remittance of some of the objects to London is expected. mittee." A NEW CAVERN has been discovered in the mountain ANTIQUITIES. SOME antiquities obtained from excavations in Cyprus were sold on Monday and Tuesday last, by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. We quote the following: A large Amphora, covered with ornamental patterns, 87. 195. (Wareham),-another of the same style and size, 137. 5s. (Hall),-a large globular Enoche, Phoenician, 127. (Hall), Terra-cotta Head of a Cyprian Venus 57. (Feuardent),Head of a helmeted and bearded Warrior, 67. 5s. (Wareham). From the objects in chalk-stone may be selected, Bust of a Young Man, 10 inches high, 87. (Wareham),— Child's Head with a Wreath, 57. (Hoffman),-another with a thick Tuft of Hair, 5 inches high, 67. 6s. (Curt),—a large archaic Head of Apollo, 7. (Hoffman),-Statuette of an Egyptian King, 12 inches high, 207. (same),-Colossal Head of a Man with a long Beard, 13 inches high, 207. (same),GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL RESTORATION.-Special effort Head of the same kind, beard and head painted red, 401. is being made to have the choir completed in time for the (same),-Female Head crowned with a Wreath of Laurel, Triennial Musical Festival, to be held in September next. Greek, 1257. (Whitehead),-Head of a Greek Girl, found at Much of the basement has been prepared for the new tile Pyla, 30l. (Wareham). The collection comprised enamelled flooring, in imitation of the ancient tiles found in the cathe-ware and jewellery found in tombs at Idalium. dral. The fine clerestory windows on the north side have been filled with beautiful stained glass, while the west window has been chiefly restored with fragments of ancient glass found in the chapels of the crypt and elsewhere, and which have been artistically united. Two other works of great interest have been finished-the restoration and decoration of the Chapel of St. Philip, as a memorial to Sir C. W. Codrington, for many years member for the eastern division of the county; and the restoration, at the cost of the Earl of Ellenborough, of the chapel in the north transept. The work in the first is Norman in character, and is founded on fragments in Ely and Durham Cathedrals. It is under A farm servant a few days since dug up in a field near Kilbride, Scotland, a mass of 200 old silver coins. Some were of the reign of Edward VI., others of Elizabeth, James I., Charles I., and one or two were Scotch, and a few Spanish. Within the last few years several ancient remains, and other objects have been accidentally turned up in the same locality, or become exposed after heavy rains. A process of denudation is evidently going on in the district, which is on a slope, and the fields about seem to be rich in antiquarian and archæological remains. MAY. MAY is so called from Maia, the mother of Mercury, to whom sacrifices were offered by the Romans on the 1st of this month, or, according to some, from respect to the senators and nobles of Rome, who were called Majores, as the following month was termed Junius in honour of the youths of Rome. The Saxons called May tri-milchi, because in that month they began to milk their kine three times a-day. Is not this the merry Month of May, To gather may-baskets and smelling breese, But we here sitten as drowned in a dream.-SPENCER. All ranks formerly went out into the woods a maying early on the 1st of this month, returning laden with boughs and garlands, and spending the remainder of the day in dancing round a May-Pole crowned with flowers; of customs like these, Mr. Leslie's picture of May Morning conveys a most excellent representation. One of the poles was standing in East Smithfield about the year 1740, and another opposite the new church in the Strand, in Queen Anne's reign, but was taken down in 1717. Other sports and pastimes besides those of Maying were celebrated by our ancestors on this day. In the time of Cromwell fifty Cornish gentlemen on one side "hurled the great Ball" to fifty on the other; one party played in red caps, the other in white, in Hyde Park. Cromwell, and many of his Privy Council were present. The ball they played with was silver and designed for the party that won the goal. A peculiar rustic ceremony used annually to be observed at Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, about fifty years ago. The young of the neighbourhood assembled to partake of the amusements, with wands enwreathed with cowslips, and walked in procession to the May-Pole-there uniting in the wild joy of young enthusiasm; they struck together their wands and scatter around their cowslips. At Saistow in Cornwall, there is a singular species of festivity on the 1st of May. This is called the Hobby-horse, from canvas being extended with hoops, and painted to resemble a horse. Being carried through the streets, men, women, and children flock round it, when they proceed to a place called Traitor pool, about a quarter of a mile distant, in which the Hobbyhorse is always supposed to drink, when the head, being dipped into the water, is instantly taken up and the mud and water are sprinkled upon the spectators, to the no small diversion of all; on returning home a particular song is sung that is supposed to commemorate the event that gave the Hobby-horse birth. That Queen Elizabeth actually went a Maying, we have the authority of "The progress of this Queen," (vol. iv. part 1.) where the fact is thus stated. " May 8th, 1602. On May Day the Queen went a Maying to Sir Richard Buckley's at Lewisham, some three or four miles off Greenwich." DISCOVERY OF ROMAN REMAINS. THE experiment of a large farm for utilization of the sewage of Croydon is about to be tried at Beddington, where an extensive tract of land north of Beddington Church is being rapidly prepared for its purpose. During the cutting of one of the main channels for carrying the sewage across the land, a small fragment of Roman walling was cut through, and a portion of the site of an apparently large villa has since been cleared. The building stood east and west, and about a third of a mile from Beddington Church and Hall. A chamber, 16ft. 5in. by 9ft. in., has been uncovered, and an opening from this leads into a small semi-circular apse in the northwest corner. A second chamber, which appears to be the base of a small tower, is partly beyond the northeast corner. The internal dimensions of this are only 3ft. in. by ft. 9in Part of a third chamber or passage, 5ft. 6in. wide, has been met with east of the former ones, and several walls lead temptingly away from the uncovered portions. The walls are only about 18in. high, and average about the same in thickness. They are constructed of rough flints with a large admixture of the well-known flat Roman bricks, and have been plastered internally and the excavations still show bright broad bands of red colour externally. Some of the fragments of plaster met with in on a white ground. Numerous fragments of coarse pottery have been met with, but only one piece of Samian ware, and also portions of scored flue tiles, showing that the building possessed a hypocaust. Three coins only appear to have been found. These are of Commodus, Constantine the Great, and Constans, and are very much worn. The chambers have all been paved with flat tiles on a bed of concrete. Two of the channels before alluded to must, it appears, pass at right angles through the site, and what is not obliterated must, doubtless, be speedily again hidden from view. The site is almost level, and on very low land. There was nothing above ground to indicate the existence of ancient walling beneath, and the ground, which is fully 2ft. deep above the walls, seem to be quite undisturbed. The land around the spot where these remains have been discovered is full of organic remains, but no fragments of building have been met with elsewhere. ROMAN REMAINS IN MARK LANE. EARLY last week, in excavating in what was formerly the garden belonging to No. 27, Mark Lane, a noble City mansion, of apparently the 17th century, the workmen came upon some remains of a Roman tesselated pavement, about ten feet below the level of the ground. The pavement was rather rude, the tessera being formed from fragments of red tiles roughly shapen into inch squares of less than an inch in thickness. The extent of these remains was about twelve feet by six, of a pear-like form, the narrow end greatly declining, having become depressed either by the original sinking of its bed, or by the pressure of accumulating soil. At any rate the sinking had not been caused through the yielding of any sub-cavity, as no hypocaust was present or THE CASTELLANI COLLECTION.-The Castellani col-even indicated. As yet but a few pieces of Roman pottery lection of artistic treasures, for the exhibition of which at have been found. The spot is about 70 feet from the street South Kensington preparations had actually commenced, is line of frontage. likely to be broken up. Financial difficulties (according to the Architect) have intervened to prevent its acquisition by the British Government. It is the intention of the proprietor to submit the majolica division to public auction in the ensuing season. Respecting the antique jewelry, the collecting of which has occupied much time and labour of three generations of artist-jewellers, there is some hope that the collection may yet be preserved in its entirety. The chief portion is to be warehoused, but a selection of choice representative pieces will, by the permission of the trustees of the British Museum, be exhibited within the walls of that institution. ANCIENT CITY ARCHITECTURE.— -But few of the quaintlooking gabled houses of the City of London now remain, and of these four or five are about to be removed; two, indeed, are almost demolished now, viz., 155 and 156, Aldersgate-street. The other old houses about to be taken down are in Fore-street, at the corner of Milton-street. EDWARD SIMPSON, better known as Flint Jack," a notorious vendor of spurious antiquities, such as flint arrow heads, &c., has been committed to prison at Northallerton for a month, as a rogue and vagabond. ANCIENTS. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE to be that of Rameses III., who reigned about 1250 B.C. Dr. Burney, in his History of Music, published Bruce's (Copied, by permission, from "The History of the Pianoforte." letter to him, accompanied by drawings of one of these harps. IN By Edgar Brinsmead, Esq.) N sketching the birth and development of our national instrument, the pianoforte, it will be necessary to give some short description of its ancestors. Much light has been thrown on this subject by the various interesting researches and discoveries made in the present century; for not only have we learned much of the ancient musical instruments from the sculptures and paintings that have been discovered, but several of the actual instruments have been found in tombs or other protected places, where they had remained during an extraordinarily long period, almost without change. One of these-an Egyptian harp-was found in one of the famous tombs at Thebes, and when the catgut strings upon it were touched the harp still emitted sounds, although it had been unused probably for three thousand years. In describing these ancient instruments we shall confine ourselves almost entirely to the stringed instruments from which the pianoforte is descended. Amongst the ancient stringed instruments, the harp and lyre are probably of the greatest antiquity, but which had the priority of invention it is impossible to ascertain with certainty. The harp, which was much used in ancient Egypt and Assyria, varied greatly in size and shape, as will be seen from the illustrations of Egyptian harps. 1. Ancient Egyptian Harp, from instrument in Egyptian Museum, Florence. 2. Ancient Egyptian Harp (Wilkinson). The discovery of these drawings created a great sensation, and was hardly believed until other travellers confirmed his statement. Bruce, with much truth says, "These harps, in my opinion, overturn all the accounts hitherto given of the earliest state of ancient musical instruments in the East, and are altogether, in their form, ornament, and compass, an incontestable proof that geometry, drawing, mechanics, and music, were at the greatest perfection when this instrument was made, and that the period from which we date the ME I 3 1 and 3 Portable Harps for single use. 3. Ancient Egyptian Harp (Wilkinson), 4. Persian Chang (from Persian MS. 410 years old). Lane's "Arabian Nights." Those harps intended for single use were made portable and light, whilst those for choral accompaniments were large and powerful, being evidently intended to stand on the ground. Carl Engel, in "The Music of the most Ancient Nations," remarks that "the Asiatic harps never had a front pillar to assist in withstanding the tension on the strings, as we have in our own; but probably metal or ivory was used in the manufacture, to permit of the strings being screwed up very tightly. The harp of the Burmese, and other inhabitants of the countries situated between Hindoo-invention of these arts was only the beginning of the era of stan and China, is very similar to the Assyrian harp. The their restoration. Burmese harp is tuned by tasseled cords at the end of the strings, which are bound to the upper curved end so that they can be pushed up or down to tune the instrument. This is similar to the manner occasionally adopted by the ancients; but their usual system of tuning seems to have been by tuning-pegs, round which the strings were passed." The Egyptian harps were sometimes most remarkable for elegance of form and elaborate decoration. The celebrated traveller James Bruce found two, painted in fresco, on the wall of an ancient sepulchre at Thebes, which is supposed One of these harps has thirteen strings, but wants the fore-piece of the frame opposite to the longest string. The back part is the sounding-board, composed of four thin pieces of wood joined together in form of a cone-that is, growing wider towards the bottom; so that as the length of the string increases the square of the corresponding space in the sounding-board, in which the sound was to undulate, always increases in proportion. The whole of the principles on which this harp is constructed are rational and ingenious, and the ornamental parts are executed in the very best manner. It would be even now |