The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-23 00:00:00

LITERATUB,E.

The History of the Piangforte. By Edgar Grinstead. One
vol. pp. 80. Cassell, Petter and Galpin.
In every English home of the smallest pretension there
is a pianoforte. In every English home-library there
ought to be henceforth included this charming little
history by Mr. Brinstead of that most popular of all
l
musical instruments. The example set by the author
this graceful sketch of the earliest invention and gradual
improvement of the piano will be followed, we trust, by
the admirers of other stringed instruments. Step by step,
the writer of the little work under notice, tracks the
pianoforte keyboard from contrivance to contrivance,
through the claricytherum, the clarichord, the virginal,
the Spinet, and the Harpichord, until at last the piano-
forte itself is happily invented. An English Monk, at
Rome, by manufacturing an instrument of this last-men-
vi„„s,a laid claim to tbH honour of being
the inventor of the pianoforte. The actual inventor,
however, appears to have been an Italian musician of
Padua (harpsichord player to the most Serene Prince of
Tuscany) by name Bartollomeo Christopoli. His inven-
tion dates from 1710, the genius of the man introducing im-
provements in anypart of the complicated structure—in the
ech
on and in the sounding board, as well as throughout the
whole of the complex internal manism. The difficulties
that have to be avoided even now, will indicate the extra-
ordinary obstacles that presented themselves to the first
fabricators of the pianoforte—instance, of the former,
the sticking of keys, the rattling of keys, the squeaking of
hoppers, the jumping of wrestpins, the blocking of
hammers and so on. The list of
1862
pat nom 3694 to ts given in the
appendix is something wonderful, ranging f
each inclusive, and comprising among the patentees such
names as Broadwood, and Collard, and Erard. The
variety of the materials employed in the fabrication of a
pianoforte again is certainly very extraordinary, including
among them as they do almost every different kind of
wood, oak, deal, fir, pine, beech, lime, pear, sycamore,
cedar, ebony, rosewood, satinwood, holly, walnut, and
various others,besides leathers of all descriptions, buffalo
calf, doeskin, morocco, and sheepskin, and amongof metals,
iron, steel, brass, and copper, to say g ivory,
blacklead, emery, beeswax, oil, and glue, and gum, and
spirits of wine—altogether,he Pianoforte is as full of i a marvellous combination-
n.
Mr, Brinstead's History of t
terest as of instruction, and having been read tough as
a charming chapter illustrative of one of the hrwonders
of the orchestra, it will be well worthy afterwards of
being awarded a place upon our library shelves, as one of
the compactest and one of the most reliable among our
popular books of reference.

CRYSTAL PALACE DOG SHOW.
To-day and to-morrow are the last days of the great
national exhibition of dogs. The complete list of prizes
awarded is a very extensive one, including dogs of almost
every class, from the bloodhounds and St. Bernartods, who
figure in the earlier part of the catalogue, the toy
terriers who close it. There are no less than 106 classes,
the 106th being St. Bernard puppies under six months old.
The prizes in most cases were £5 for the first and 23 for
the second, and in very few cases were they idthheld for
want of merit.

THE OXFORD COMMEMORATION.
Yesterday was a great day in the Sheldorian Theatre,
the honorary degrees being conferred.
Amongst the recipients were the Duke of
Richmond, Earls de Grey and Ripon, Beauchamp, Cow-
the,.a se, the Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Lyttelton,
t Speaker, Lord Chief Justice Cockburn, the Chan-
cellor•of the Exchequer, Sir J. Kay-Shuttleworth, Sir W.
Mansfield, and Canon Liddon.
To the Placetne vobis, domini doctores? Placetne vobis,
magistrt? there was no 'dissent till the name of Mr. Lowe
was proposed, and then a shout of Non placet was raised
in the gallery, with some slight approbation of
this dissent among the masters in the arena.
After,all other dissent appeared to have been withdrawn,
me gentleman persisted in his non placet, like the com-
bative member in the House of Commons, who
singly maintains that " the " Noes have it ; but the
Chancellor of the University, more despotic than Mr.
Speaker, passed quickly to the next name on the list, and
the cry of non placet being then repeated caused con-
siderable laughter. The only other interruption occurred
when the name of 'Mr. William Smith was submitted.
An undergraduate, in the tone of one anxiously asking
for information, inquired " Which Mr. Smith?" and this
apparently innocent question upset the gravity even of
the Chancellor.

Though Lord Chief Justice Giffard still continues
in a very weak state of health, his lordship anticipates
being able to resume his sittings early next week, the
illness from which he has recently been suffering not being
of a serious character.
In consequence of the Queen's State breakfast at
Windsor Castle on Friday. next it is understood that the
House of Lords, on its rising to-morrow evening, will be
adjourned till seven o'clock on that day.
NATIONAL ORPHAN HOME.—Her Royal Highness
the Princess Mary of Teck presides to-day at the distri-
bution of prizes to the former inmates of this home, which
is situate at Ham-common, Sm rey. There is to be a
dOeuner after the distribution, at which the Duke of Cam-
bridge is to preside.
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