without the distinct articulation of words pronounced with proper accent and emphasis does not deserve to be called Singing:-it is merely playing upon the voice-a Concerto on the Larynx, and comparatively, as uninteresting as a Frame is without a Picture. Briefly-THE ART OF SINGING EFFECTIVELY is to Sing every word with the same Accent and Emphasis as You would Speak it *.

* « The Pupils of our excellent English Composer Dr. ARNE, were remarkable for their proper pronunciation.— It will be thought almost incredible when I relate that all the fine and clear pronunciation of the words which distinguished the late Mr. Kennedy, natural as it appeared, was the entire effect of hard up-hill application of the Doctor's lofty conceptions of what was calculated to touch the Hearts and Understanding of the Auditors. This immense difficulty was often accompanied by tears and sobbings, as impossibilities; but ARNE knew otherwise, and‘Omue tulit punctum.' I say it is inconceivable what lights the Doctor threw on the accentuation of each Word, nay on every Letter of every word, whether commencing or finishing with either vowels or consonants, so as to render the sense of the Song intelligible to the most common ears as well as to the most refined. He would pass whole mornings, and never give up the Idea, that the Poetry of a Song ill expressed was a Nullity to the Understanding, instead of a Blaze of Light; and thus he succeeded with the British Public."-(Literary Gazette.)

In singing " GOD! SAVE THE KING," if every Syllable be sung, as it commonly is,

"GOD save great George our King,"

these words are pronounced as if they were spelt

Gaw-od say-eev grey-eat Jaw-orge ow-er Kee-ing; thus making Monosyllables into Dissyllables. "If the proper pronunciation be preserved, it must be thus

GOD! save great George our Kin`g;

the only syllables in this line which should be sung, the time indicated by the notes, areGOD! Save and

George.

"This Solemn Invocation to the ALMIGHTY! as commonly sung, sounds more like a Song of Triumph, than a Prayer for the preservation of our SOVEREIGN - hardly a word of it, except the first and last line, is heard distinctly.

"How much would the effect of this Loyal Anthem be increased, if the name of GOD! was uttered with due reverence!!! And if Singers would consider, that " GOD save the King," is not a florid Song,-but an Anthem,

and like other Anthems admits of hardly any ornament beyond an Apogiatura—

Sing ye Praises with Understanding."

PSALM xlvii. ver. 7.

Instead of vying with each other, which shall introduce most Trills Shakes, &c. let us try who can most distinctly articulate every Syllable and most effectively utter every Word!

"The Loyal Anthem, is not a singular example of the want of the coincidence of the Musical, and the Prosodical Accent.

66

It is almost impossible to point out a Song, that can be sung, exactly, as it is set down, from this want of the coincidence of the Rhythms of the Poetry and the Music,— which it is no easy task, even to Singers of superior ability, to adjust perfectly—so as to give full effect to the Poetry; and, at the same time, preserve the Melody."- See Observations on Vocal Music and Singing*.

The following is a Specimen of the manner of marking the Words which it is recommended to Composers to avail themselves of, as a means of avoiding false Accent and Emphasis of the Poetry they are going to set-and to Singers, * Printed for Hurst and Robinson, No. 90, Cheapside, 12mo. 1821, price 4s.

to mark the WORDS of Songs (as they would speak them) before they think about the TUNE, which will enable them to correct any little errors of accent, which may have inadvertently occurred in Songs already set to music. This may almost always be accomplished without any detriment to the Melody, and to the infinite improvement of most Songs.

GōD! save Great George, our King,
Long live our Noble King,

GōD! save the King;

Send Him victorious,

APPENDIX:

RESPECTING SPECTACLES.

No. I.

RULES FOR CHOOSING SPECTACLES.
BY G. ADAMS, OPTICIAN.

"WHEN the eye sensibly flattens, all delay is dangerous; and the longer those who feel the want of assistance, defer the use of Spectacles, the more they will increase the failure of the eye there are too many who procrastinate the use of them, till at last they are obliged to use glasses of 10 or 12 inches focus, instead of those of 36 or 40, which would otherwise have suited them; thus preferring a real evil, to avoid one that is imaginary. Mr. Thomin mentions several deplorable cases of this kind, particularly one of a lady, who, through false shame, had abstained from wearing Spectacles so long a time, that at last it was impossible to suit her, but with those adapted to eyes that have been couched. Whereas the in