Both these objects have been effected in many parts of Germany and Switzerland. Music is regularly taught, both in theory and practice, and has become the delight of childhood, the amusement of youth, and the cordial of age. He resolved to do all which his ignorance of the science would permit for extending the same benefits to our own country, by bringing from abroad the music and the system of Switzerland, in the hope of finding persons able and willing to attempt a work which he deemed of no small importance to our national character and interests. Such individuals he has found: he has placed all these materials in their hands, and hopes soon to see the essential works before the public.

But another object still remains to be accomplished-to awaken public interest, and inspire public confidence; and this he fears will be the most difficult task. It was the reluctance to lose an occasion so favorable as the present, which induced him to accept the invitation to deliver this address, amidst the pressure of peculiar circumstances, which allow him no opportunity of doing justice to the subject.* It was the desire to convince others of the importance and the practicability of giving instruction to children in music, and thus to obtain coadjutors in the cause, and if possible to persuade every teacher to endeavour to introduce it into his school, and every parent to provide the necessary means of instruction for his children.

It is the same motive also, and not the desire of exciting the admiration of the audience or the vanity of the performers, which has induced him to invite a juvenile choir to exhibit to you some specimens of the music he has referred to; and he knows not how he can better win his way to your indulgent feelings, than by calling on them to aid him with one of these simple melodies.

* He has to regret that a train of similar circumstances, combined with ill health, oblige him to send it for publication, almost in the same imperfect form in which it was delivered.

waking, Thro' the distant darkness breaking, See the

The Creator seems to have formed an immediate connexion between the ear and the heart. Every feeling expresses itself by a tone, and every tone awakens again the feeling from which it sprung. Hence children and passionate persons increase their sorrow or their anger by cries, or heighten their joys by shouts.* Hence the instinctive huzzas of a joyous crowd; and hence we may trace the origin of vocal music. The feelings of the more passionate produced a succession of varying sounds. The ears of the more sensitive perceived these variations, and their skill was employed to imitate them, in order to awaken anew the same feelings, in connexion with the rude recitation of traditional history, or the more refit ed melody of the poetic tales of Bards or Troubadours. They roused to war, and soothed to peace-they kindled anger, and awakened joy, and calmed the paroxysms of sorrow and passion-and the influence of David's harp, and the effects of songs in the battles of the barbarous Germans, and the melting power of the sweet Ranz des Vaches on the Swiss soldier, would seem to indicate that the tale of Orpheus is but half a fable.

'When Music, heavenly maid, was young,
While yet in early Greece she sung,

The passions oft to hear her shell,

Thronged around her magic cell,

Exulting, trembling, raging, fainting,
Possessed beyond the muse's painting.'

But whether it be owing to the deteriorating character which Buffon ascribes to the new continent, or to the withering influence of our rude and variable climate, or to the inhospitable treatment she has received, this well nigh fairest of the muses has lost her power of fascination on this side the Atlantic. Her voice has become harsh and dissonant; her

* I cannot omit, on such an occasion, the important maxims suggested in educating ourselves and others. He who governs his voice, will find it easier to govern his feelings; and he who allows himself to use habitually the tones of passion, will increase its strength.

palsied head moves in unequal time; her lyre, notwithstanding every effort of a few distinguished masters to keep it in tune, has lost half its cords, and more than half its harmony; and her trembling hand wanders among the few remaining strings, without regularity or force.

We listen, we criticise, and sometimes we are delighted with music; but how seldom do we feel what the melody is designed to express! Whether it be in the solemn service, or the social circle, it is too often retained, like some old servant, from mere habit, and is generally heard with listless indifference, or positive uneasiness, even by ears that are not tortured with its jarring notes. It sometimes excites a smile, when it is intended to call forth a tear; and its joyous notes are too often only a discordant clamor of voices. Could we but divest it of the artificial character which a false taste has given it, and bring it back to its native simplicity; could we but employ the voice of childhood in its execution, and gradually train up the whole community to join in harmonious chorus, we might then hope to restore to music its pristine beauty, and its soul-subduing power. It might again soothe to rest the sons of sorrow. It might assist in subduing to peace the unsated cravings of the lust for gold, the devouring rage of ambition, and the ferocious spirit of party that infest our lands-more unsparing, more desolating in their ravages, than the wild beasts that were subdued by the harp of OrpheIt might do much to calm the demoniac passions, and overcome the grovelling propensities which follow in their train. It might assist in elevating our hearts to the Author of our being, and invigorate us in our progress toward heaven, and give us many a foretaste of its joys on earth.

us.

The immediate object to be accomplished by making vocal music a branch of common education, is, to cultivate one of the faculties which our Creator, in his wisdom, has seen fit to bestow upon us. To neglect it, is to imply that it was unnecessary-that it is useless. It is to treat a noble gift in a manner which in any other case would be considered as disrespectful and ungrateful.

But the ultimate objects are those for which it is obvious this gift was bestowed. The first and highest is to unite with our fellow Christians in expressing our gratitude and love to our heavenly Father. In doing this, we rouse and excite our own devotional feelings, and stir up each other to new life in the worship of God. For these purposes, God himself commanded the use of music in the Israelitish church. Indeed, he has written this law on the hearts of men. Scarcely a temple, or a service, has ever existed, except in Mohammedan countries, in which music did not occupy an important place.

In this view, the subject is of great importance. The defects in our church music are felt as well as admitted; and no thorough improvement can be made without acting on the rising generation. In order to produce its proper effects,' as an able writer on music observes, 'it must not be a mere tickling of the ear, in order to effect through that medium the susceptible nerves, and never reach the heart. We have degraded it by making it a mere instrument of gratifying the senses.' We must elevate it, by employing it as one of the wings of devotion, in union with poetry, its sister art.

But it is highly useful as a means of refreshing the weary mind, and is perhaps the only employment which leaves the intellect in complete repose. On this account it is peculiarly important to literary men. A distinguished professor of the island of Sicily, on hearing the sad tale of the influence of study on our literary men, asked me, 'What amusements have your literary men in America?' As you will readily imagine, I was only able to answer-None. He expressed his astonishment, and added, 'No wonder they are sick, and die of study.' He informed me that he spent a stated portion of the day in recreations, of which instrumental and vocal music were an essential part, and thought he could not live without the relief which they gave his mind.

Vocal music is also very useful, by its direct effect on the constitution. It was the opinion of Dr Rush that young la