Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/226

184 Highlander are fully entered into. Several pages are devoted to the plan and progress of that peat na- tional undertaking, the Caledonian /•anal, which Sir John describes as a work of Roman magnificence. Our author embarked from Oban and visited thellebridean islands of Mull, Ulva, and Staffa, with the account of which we have been much gratified : he afterwards pro- ceeded to the lochs Ketterine, Lain, Tay, to Dunkeld, and thence to Glasgow* Every well-wisher to his country will be gratitied with the proofs of the increasing prosperity of the northern division of our island, ex- hibited in the spirited improvements going forward, not only in the ca- pital, but in various parts of the country. We were also much pleas* ed with the temperate observations of our traveller on the errors into which Dr. Johnson seems to have been led in his Tour to the Hebrides, when he suffered spleen to get the better of the sound judgment and strong sense with which nature had endowed him. The volume contains twelve en- gravings in aquatinta, from draw- ings by the author. — All those who are fond of what is denominated tight reading, will, we doubt not, derive considerable entertainment from the Caledonian Sketches, and fo such as are urged by pleasure or curiosity to extend their summer ex- cursions beyond the Tweed, it may be recommended as an agreeable companion.

 MUSICAL REVIEW.

We regret that oar limits will not allow us to enter into an analysis of the merits of the above three sonatas, which will be found extremely brilliant, and written with the usual taste and judgment of their celebrated author, without being difficult as to execution. We were much pleased with the manner in which the Irish airs are introduced, the simple but beautiful melody of which has lost nothing by being transplanted into a foreign soil; a commendation which we have not at all times had it in our power to bestow upon some other foreign composers, under whose hands the originality of national song has been sacrificed by too studied and artificial accompaniments. The flute part, in which the character of the instrument is happily preserved, may be executed by a moderate performer: and the whole of this work is well calculated to afford an evening's treat to a musical family.

Mr. Woelfl's Piano-forte Concertos are deservedly ranked among the first compositions of the present day for that instrument, both in point of musical science and originality; and the present work certainly does not detract in either respect from the author's fame: on the contrary, if we were inclined to form a comparison, we should 