The Sun. — 1841-10-18 (London, England)

ERA T U I:.E. THE MIRI:OR. imbird, London. It is always with pleasure that we refer to this oldest and, in some 'reipects, best of the cheap literary periodicals, by which of late years so '' much information and'Wholesome ell tertaiament has been diffused over every part of the earth where the English larnzuage is spoken. In the last Number of this eNcellent work, amongst a variety of articles, we find one worthy of attention. it is from the per of Mr. Fennel, the wellknown author of "..A Natural History of Quadrupeds," and it is entitled "Au Essay upon the Effects of Music upon Men and Animals." Although in some particulars we differ from the author's views, we consider the information conveyed in his essay respecting- the beneficial effects of music -upon the.health of the young, and upon the temper of persons of all ages, to be valuable in a very high degree. e could not help smiling, however,,at the credulity of some of his historical- references. lie tells us that " Tyrteus, the Spartan poet,. by certain verses m which he *sung to the accopaninient of flutes, so inflamed the courage of his countrymen, that they achieved a great victory over tho:gesse7 nians, to whom they had submitted in several previous conflicts. Timotheus with his flute, could more the passions of Alexander as lie pleased, inspiring him at one moment with the greatest fury, and soothing- him in the next into the most gentle and placid state. Shakspcare says music can  ravish savage ears And plant in tyrants mild humility.' Low's Labour Lost,_'pct IV. Scene 3. The truth of this assertion is abundantly shown both in ancient and modern history. Pythagoras instructed a woman, by the power of music, 0 arrest the fury of a young man Who came to set her house on fire ; and his Empedocies, used his lyre with such success as to prevent another person from murderinm his father when the sword was unsheathed for that purpose. The fierceness of Achilles was allayed by playing on the harp, On which account Homer gives him nothing else out of the spoils of Aaion. With quieted wild and dt nskaemne yionustthr su t; i 1 ta Tin dt ad es, in a similar manner, brought back seditious multitudes to temper and reason." This History is apocryphal. We thought it was pretty well established that Alexander was insensible to the influence of music--that he could not perceiVe the hatmony of Hotner,;s, verses, which -he loved only for the,exploks they recorded—and that the _,effects produced -upon him by Timotheus were purely fabulous, notwithstanding the brilliant use made of them by " glorious John" in the immortal Ole to St. Cecilia. We believe that much of the " credible history" quoted by Mr. Fennel rests upon little better foundation. The following extract is the only one for which we can here afford room :-It would, unquestionably, be rash to suppose that all men who are not pleased with the concord of sweet sounds would commit those crimes against the person and the State which the poet says they are fit to execute. Certainly they must lack a reverence for, or the power to appreciate, that which is harmonious ; but this physical defect, if I may so term it, mayshow itself by destroying things of less consequence than life and State. Lord Chesterfield, if he did not dislike music, certainly ,rfAgadrldieede the hpi his asc(t)inc,e"o ei t 51,sysn accomplishment. In his ,o "I cannot avoid calling playing upon any musical instrument illiberal in a gentleman. Music is generally reckoned one of the liberal arts, and not unjustly; but a man of fitshion, who is seen piping or. fiddling at a concert, degrades his own dignity. If you love music, hear it; pay fiddlers to play to you, but never fiddle yourself. It makes a gentleman appear frivolous and contemptible, leads him frequently into bad company; and wastes that time which .might otherwise be well employed." Such is the opinion of an exquisite; but I cannot agree with his Lordship. Hunting; and other fashionable sports seem to me much more likely to Lad young gentlemen into bad society (as that of' betterS, gamblers, jockeys, &c., to wit) than playing upon the violin. His advice, that if one loves music one shuald not learn to play it, reminds one of the lazy Turk who, seeing some English gentlemen dancing, observed to them, " If you like that sort of amusement, why do you not: get your servants to do it for you? "