Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 10.djvu/377

 out of tune. On 16 Aug. 1788, Clagget patented: 1, a new instrument called the teliochordon; 2, a new method of constructing the keys of keyed instruments; 3, a method of preserving the tone of strings by protecting them with a parchment covering; 4, the construction of glass or enamelled keys; 5, a celestina stop in which the tone was produced by the scraping of silk strings; 6, 'uniting two French horns in such a manner that the mouthpiece may be applied to either of them instantaneously as the music may require;' 7, newly constructed tuning-forks; 8, an instrument consisting of a number of tuning-forks mounted on sound-boxes and set in vibration by keys; 9, a new kind of tuning-key; 10, a better method of fitting the sound-post of a violin to its place.

About this time Clagget settled at No. 16, Greek Street, Soho, where he opened a 'musical museum,' in which he exhibited and sold his various inventions. He constructed a 'teliochordon' stop for the royal harpsichord, which was delivered (as he informed the public in a long description of this 'harmonizer of musical instruments,' as he calls it) at Buckingham Palace on 17 Dec. 1790. About 1791 he exhibited his musical instruments at the Hanover Square Rooms. In the following year Haydn, who was then in London, called at Greek Street and examined Clagget's inventions, as to the value of which he testified in a letter which appeared in the 'Morning Herald' for 27 Apnl. On 31 Oct. 1793 he gave what he called an 'attic concert' at the King*s Arms, Comhill, at which was delivered a 'discourse on musick,' which was published with a portrait of Clagget. After 1795 Clagget's name disappears from 'Kent's Directory,' and no further trace of him is found; he is said to have died in 1820. Clagget wrote a few songs, and published an account of his musical inventions. About 1760 there were two 'Messrs. Clagget,' who published violin and guitar music in Edinburgh, and a little later there lived in Great Hart Street, Covent Garden, a musician named Walter Clagget, who was a performer on the violoncello and viol da gamba, and published some music for stringed instruments and harpsichord. It is possible that these musicians were related to Charles Clagget, but biographical details of them are very meagre.  CLAIRMONT, CLARA MARY JANE (1798–1879), celebrated in connection with Byron and Shelley, was born 27 April 1798. Mr. Clairmont, her father, apparently died about the time of her birth, and in December 1801 her mother (Mary Jane) became William Godwin's second wife. The girl was thus brought up under Godwin's roof, chiefly by her mother; Godwin confessed 'a feeling of incompetence for the education of daughters.' She was afterwards at school at Walham Green. In 1814 she accompanied Mary Godwin in her elopement with Shelley. Mrs. Godwin pursuea her to Calais, but Claire, as she shortly afterwards began to call herself, refused to return, and accompanied the fugitives throughout their continental excursion. This escapade was the source of most of the calumnies directed against Shelley, to which subsequent events gave additional plausibility. On her return she resided some months with Shelley and Mary in their London lodgings; afterwards went to Lynmouth, and eventually returned to Godwin's house. Early in 1816 she introduced herself to Byron, on the plea of desiring an engagement at Drury Lane [see Btbon, Gbobgb Gordon]. She was then nearly twenty-two, an olive-complexioned brunette, lively, and handsome. The acquaintance resulted in an intimacy which it has been absurdly sought to connect with Byron's separation from his wife. It can hardly be doubted that she forced herself upon him, and was no exception to the general truth of his assertion, 'I can safely say that I never seduced any woman.' He shortly departed for Switzerland, and it was mainly by her persuasion that the Shelleys, as yet unsuspicious of the connection, were induced to follow him thither. Shelley may probably have learned the state of the case on or about 2 Aug., when Mary Shelley enters in her diary, 'Shelley and Claire go up to Diodati; I do not, for Lord Byron does not seem to wish it.' Byron's complacency, indeed, was by no means equal to Claire's vanity; and a total estrangement must have ensued before the parties quitted Geneva. Claire's daughter, Allegra, was born 12 Jan. 1817, at Bath, where she was residing with the Shelleys. She continued to live with them, and accompanied them on their departure for Italy in March 1818, a step partly prompted by Byron's demand for his daughter, whom he offered to acknowledge and educate. At the last moment, Shelley strongly advised Claire against this surrender, which was repugnant to her own feelings, but which she thought required by Allegra's interests. B3rron had promised that the child should never be 