The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-10 00:00:00

MUSIC.

THE NATURE OF PLAYING THE PIANO-
FORTE, UPON PHILOSOPHICAL PRIN-
CIPLES, displayed in Four Positions, and their Auxi-
liaries, the Slide and Change. A System applicable to
all Keys and Combinations, Major or Minor,universaku
to be comprehended and executed. Formed by J. F.
Danneley, Author of a variety of useful Works and
Lectures.

Mr. Danneley is certainly a clever man, but
like a great many other cleVer men, he bath un-
fortunately a crotchet. His crotchet is that in
playing the piano-forte, the thumb should be
used in consecutive notes, and the work at pre-
sent under review, consists of a series of exer-
cises the . object of which is to introduce this
which may be called the system of thumbing
in opposition to the system of fingering.
We readily admit that nothing could be more
absurd than the prejudice entertained by teachers
of bygone times against the use of the thumb,
but that prejudice has long since been exploded,
and at the present day there is not a teacher of
any pretensions to science who would hesitate
in directing his pupil to use the thumb, even in
striking the black keys, whenever it can be
done without awkwardness. While, therefore, we
' award to Mr. Danneley great praise for his in-
genuity, we cannot but entertain a doubt as to
the practical utility of this portion of his labours.
We have, however, great satisfaction in being
able to bestow our unqualified approbation on
another part of Mr. Danneley's work. His plan
of transposing the lessons into all the different
keys is admirable, and although some difficulty
may perhaps be experienced by junior pupils at
first, yet application and practice will overcome
that, and they will be amply repaid for the' pains
they have taken by the rapid progress which
they will find themselves enabled to make in
consequence as they advance in their. studies.
The work is accompanied with directions for
the use of " the ocular time monitor." A me-
tronome of Mr. Danneley's invention which
seems quite as well calculated to answer the pur-
pose for which it is invented as any other metro-
nome, and which, being Mitch cheaper. than those
at present in use,. is therefore in that respect
better. A metronome is an instrument of in-
estimable value to the student who has attained
to some degree of musical proficiency, but
it is a dangerous instrument for a mere pupil.
The beginner who uses a metronome is apt to
trust for time' exclusiVely to the eye, and
to-
neglect the ear, the consequence of which s that
When called upon to perform without a metro-
nome the unhappy Wight is placed in a situation
:•, similar to that of the boy, who having learnt to
swim with corks found himself once upon a time
in deep water without them.

LAYS OF THE PALACE.
Mont.° and May, London, 1842.
These are very agreeable melodies, and quite
within the compass of the most limited voice, as
they seldom rise above the octave. The song in
E flat, " My Leonore," will afford the singer the
most display. We cannot say much on the score
of originality; as we played each song we were
strongly reminded of some old favourite—for in-
stance, the first part of the duet " Music at
Night Fall," is very like " Gentle Zitella," and
we were strongly reminded of a few bars from
that pleasing ' song of Barnett's " The Guests
were bidden," on commencing the last duet.
The accompaniments are well under the hands
and written in a scientific and effective manner.
The " Lays" form a thin quarto volume, got up
with considerable neatness and elegance; they
are dedicated, by express permission, to Prince
Albert; and are embellished with several pictu-
resque plates, illustrative of the subjects of the
different melodies.

EXCHEQUER BILLS.—One of the most curious
circumstances in Parliamentary history, is the committal
of Charles Duncumb, Esq., M.P., an opulent banker,
as close prisoner to the Tower, charged with making
false endorsements on Exchequer bills, January, 25,
1697. On the 29th, being ill, his apothecary and his
brother were permitted to see him, when he confessed
his guilt, and was expelled the House. A Bill was
brought in for seizure of his estate, and passed, after
great opposition, 138 against 103. This Bill being sent
to the 'Lords, they desired a conference with the Com-
mons, and not being satisfied, though he had acknow-
ledged the facts, they discharged him from the Tower.
On March 31st following, the Commons recommitted him.
We do not find in the Journals of the House of Com-
mons, that anything farther was done. "Duncumb,"
says Clarendon, " was a judicious man, but very haughty,
and apt to raise enemies against himself."
The Royal Yacht schooner Ariel, Mr. D. B.
Blayds, arrived at Malta on the 29th of December, from
Messina.