The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-18 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

PRACTICAL HINTS, for Acquiring THOROUGH
BASS. By F. J. KLOSE.*

We feel great pleasure in introducing these
" Practical Hints" (which have only recently
fallen in our way) to the notice of our musical
readers. To that portion of them whom incli-
nation or necessity may lead to the study of this
(the Thorough Bass) branch of the musical art,
we particularly recommend them, as being the
clearest and most complete " practical" treatise
on Thorough Bass extant. To this unqualified
praise we have, however, one observation to
add, viz. that it is only a practical Thorough
Bass treatise—not a theoretical study ; all theo-
retical terms even, (such as roots, derivatives,
&c. &c.) being as much as possible professedly
dept back,- those only being admitted which the
nature of the work rendered absolutely necessary ;
notwithstanding which we think it nearly impos-
sible for any one to study this work through with-
out acquiring a very considerable knowledge of
the theory. _ _

On the score of originality we cannot allow
Mr. Klose to claim the whole merit ; we think
some share of it is due to Pasquali, and this in
a great measure will tend to abridge our remarks
upon (in) this article—Pasquali being so well
known. We think, indeed, it might with great
propriety have been entitled, "Pasquali ex-
tended and unproved," which in fact it is.—
Mr. Klose's claim to originality consists in his
arrangement, and the extent to which he has
carried the system, he having included EVERY
chord, and continued that system throughout,
which Pasquali has only partially done. This
system consists in reducing every chord,
however complicated it may be, to a
simple seventh, or common chord, which
seventh or common chord struck upon
some note at a given distance from the bass
note produces the chord required. It is here
that its superiority to Pasquali is found, Pas-
quali telling the Student to find all these intri-
cate chords by counting them from the bass, a
process, we need not point out to our readers, at
any time embarrassing, but more particularly so
when the performer should be executing the
figures instead of counting them.
There are various other points deserving of
our commendation (the Transposition Table
most particularly) which our limits will not
allow us to expatiate upon. We must conclude
therefore with recommending it to all Students,
(Amateur or Professional) to whom a facility of
reading and executing Thorough Bass may be a
desideratum, and particularly to those masters
who may have been accustomed to teach upon
Pasquali's method, as being extremely well cal-
culated to smooth the difficulties and shorten the
path to the attainment of a science, the acquiring,
of which has hitherto been too generally con-
sidered as an uninteresting and tediously labo-
rious study.

4" S. Chappell, 135, New Bond-street, small 4to, 7s. !As.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE, HAMMERSMITH.

This Bridge, which is now nearly finished,
will be opened for the Public in the course of
the ensuing month. His Royal Highness the
Duke of Sussex, who laid the first stone of the
shore pier forming part of the structure, will, it
is expected, be present at the ceremony of throw-
ing it open. The work,
.which is a novelty in
the vicinity of London, attracts much notice.
It is built like all chain bridges, but there is a
solidity and neatness in the iron work which
shews the improvement made in this class of
mechanism. The design is by Mr. W. Tierney
Clark, the Engineer, and the whole has been
executed under his direction. It is generally
admired, and may be considered a public orna-
ment. We have been favoured with the dimen-
sions, which may be relied on for accuracy.
Feet. InChes.

The extent of water way between the Sus-
pension Towers rising from the bed of
the River 4OO 3
The distance between these and the Piers on
shore are as follow :
On the Middlesex side 142 11
On the Surrey side 145 6

Leaving a clear water way of
The suspension towers are 48 feet above the
level of the road-way, where they are 22 feet
thick. The'road way is slightly curved upwards,
and is 16 feet above high water, and the ex-
treme length from the back of the piers on shore
is 822 feet eight inches, supporting 688 feet
of road-way, being 135 feet more than the
Menai bridge.
There are eight chains composed of wrought
iron bars, five inches deep and one inch thick
each. Tour of these chains have six bats in each
chain, and four have only three bars in each
chain, making in the total 36 bars, which make
a dip or curvature in the centre of about 29 feet.
From these vertical rods are suspended, which
support the road-way, formed of strong timbers
covered with granite.
The width of the carriage-way is 20 feet, with
foot-ways five feet wide. The chains pass over
the suspension towers, and are secured to the
niers on each shore. The suspension towers are
built
Tuscan order. The part below the road-way to
of stone, and designed as arch-ways of the
low water, is boldly rusticated.
The approaches on both sides are provided
with octagonal lodges, or toll houses, with ap-
propriate lamps 'and parapet walls terminating
with stone pillars, surmounted by ornamental
caps.
The road from the Bridge on the Surrey side
is made with the soil brought in barges and
lighters from the excavation at St. Katherine's
Dock.

It will lead to Barnes common, and be a
near cut from Hammersmith and the vicinity, to
Kingston and other parts of Surrey. It is one
Kingston going
Putney Bridge.
mileoe andr t three
is
Bridge,
thanla quarters rgs nearero
going
gove r
The toll we understand will be eight-pence for
a carriage and two horses. Foot.passengers one
halfpenny.
In the fine season it will form an agreeable
promenade, as it commands a delightful view of
one of the most picturesque and beautiful parts of
the River. More than 180,0001. have already
been expended Qn this work.