to drink in Germany is to drink eternally. Pardon my digression, and judge of our troublesome entertainments in the cellar. You must do penance there for some time, and at last hide yourself behind the casks, steal away, and make your escape. You must further know, that the glasses are as much respected in this country, as the wine is beloved. They place them all en parade. The greatest part of the chambers are wainscoted to twothirds of the walls, and the glasses are ranged all about upon the cornices of the wainscot, like pipes of organs; they begin with the little and end with the great ones; and these great ones are always used, and must be emptied at a draught, when there is any health of importance. At going out of the cellar, we went to a concert, where we hoped we should find nothing but music; but the bread, pepper, salt and wine followed us in such abundance, that an air was no sooner finished, but the whole company rose up to drink. We e saw yesterday, in the evening, some part of the celebration of a wedding. The future husband, accompanied with a long train of his relations, came first to the church. He walked from a house, which was not two hundred paces distant, whither he came in a coach. His bride, who was in the same place, followed a while after, being also attended by a great number of her friends. When both were come to the church, the bridegroom sat down with his company on one side, and the bride on the other, directly opposite to him; over each of their heads there was a figure of death upon the wall, whether designedly done I know not. They both approach the minister, who expected them in the midst of the choir: and after he had performed his office, four or five trumpets, which were on the top of the steeple, sounded a great many levets, and the new married couple returned in the manner as they came. The husband was in a black suit, with a cloak overlaid with lace, a great ruff, and a little crown of gold plate lace above his peruke. But the bride's dress will be a little more difficult to describe. The best account I can give you of it, is to tell you, that in framing to yourself an idea of her head tire, you must fancy a mixture of gilt wire, like a bob peruke, half a foot high upon the forehead, and very much curled and swelled out on the sides. This was ordered after such a manner that in all the thickness of this bushy dress, there was no more space or distance between the wires, than was sufficient to fasten to them an infinite number of little plates of gold, round, polished, and shining, which hung both within and without, and waved with the least motion. Her habit. was black with long skirts, resembling the Hongrelines, which were, not very long since, used in France. The body of this little cassock, which was cut very short, had a gold lace over all the seams. The skirts were full of little close knots of black satin ribbon, and the straight cuffs fell just on the fist. Over this she had a neck band of fine antique lace, cut before like a man's band, and ending in a point behind, which reached down to the middle of the back. She had besides a great gold chain on her shoulders, just like a collar of some order, and such another chain for her girdle. Her petticoat was short enough, and adorned below with gold fringe, and black bone lace. We had the pleasure to see this fair one dance with a senator in a great ruff: and, I believe, at Japan, there could not be found customs more different from ours, than those which we observed at this feast. I should never make an end, if I should undertake to describe all the other habit. But, as fantastical as all the dresses, might seem at first view, one might be easily accustomed to them; and every habit appears handsome and becoming, when the persons that wear them are of themselves beautiful and agreeable. There are not more industrious people in the world, than the artificers of Nuremberg: some think they were the inventors of fire arms and gunpowder; others affirm, that powder was invented at Chioggia, in the state of Venice, and there are some who pretend that it came from Denmark. The diversity of opinions concerning the first invention of artillery, is no less remarkable and surprising than the controversy about the invention of printing. *John Mendoza Gonzalez, whom I had occasion to mention in one of my former letters, who wrote a history of China, whither he was † sent by Philip II., says, that if we may give credit to the common tradition and annals of that country, fire arms, and consequently gunpowder, were invented by their first King, Vitey, from whom to the Emperor Bouog, who possessed the throne in the time of Gonzalez, about the end of the last age, they reckoned 243 princes who succeeded one another in a direct line from father to son. This author was too judicious to depend upon their imaginary chronology; but without entering upon so intricate a controversy, he seems to be convinced, that these people were very early acquainted with the use of artillery. Tavernier writes that fire arms were invented in the kingdom of Asem. It is thought, says he, that gunpowder and cannon were found out in the kingdom of Asem, from whence the invention was communicated to Pegu, and from thense to China, which is the reason why the invention is usually ascribed to the Chinese. Leonard Ramoolf, a physician of Augsburg, who travelled in the eastern countries, and seems to incline to Gonzalez's opinion, endeavours to prove, that gunpowder was known and used in the time of Pliny, grounding his conjecture, but I think, without any probability, on a passage in that ancient author concerning Saltpetre. And Girolamo della Corte,§ another chimerical conjecturer in this point, thinks he has reason to believe that Scipio found great guns and carabins in Carthage, when he || made himself master of that city. Count Galeazo Gualdo Priorato, ¶ Bishop of Lipari.-ED. + Anno 1580.--ED. In his Itinorarinne Orienta.-En. In his History of Verona.-ED. ¶ In his account of the imperial and Hans Town.-ED. says, that these machines were invented, anno 1012, Naucher in 1213. Anthony Comazani,* in 1330. Cornelius Kemp, † in 1354. James Gautier or Gaulterus, ‡ in 1365, 1380, and 1425, according to the several authors whom he cites. The most common opinion, which is followed by Polydor, Virgil, Sabellicus, Forcatel, Collemiccio, Camerarius, and some of the abovementioned authors, is that one Berthold Schwartz, a Franciscan friar, who was a lover of chemistry, was the author of this invention at Nuremberg, anno 1378. Others are of the same opinion, as to the time and place, but ascribe the invention to one Constantia Aukelitzen, a professed chemist; and Anthony Camozani, believes the place was Cologn. Cornelius Kemp, upon the authority of Sibast, Murster, and some others, pretends that Cimossus, King of Friezland, was the inventor of these machines. Some call the author of them, Bertrand, the black, and say that he invented gunpowder at Chioggia, in the state of Venice. But this seems to be only a mistake, occasioned only by the resemblance of the names Berthold and Bertrand, and the signification of the surname Schwartz, which in the German tongue, signifies black. I leave you to judge, whether it is possible to reconcile so many opposite opinions; but if the controversy was to be decided betwixt the eastern and western parts of the world, the pretensions of both might perhaps be easily justified; and though it should be allowed, that the oriental nations got the start of us in the invention of printing and gunpowder, we might still claim the honour of the same invention in Europe. For I see no reason why it may be supposed, that the same thought may enter into the mind of several persons, who had' never the least communication with one another. Great guns were first put into ships by the Venetian Admiral Barbadigo, and the famous Bartholomew Coghone was the first who brought artillery into the field. For, before his time, the only use they made of these machines was to batter the walls of the towns. M. de Fabert, who lately published the history of the Dukes of Burgundy, assures us, that the first essay that was made of them was against the fortress of Preux. All Europe is full of the little curiosities of Nuremberg. There are some of wood, of ivory, of alabaster, and even of paper and starch. Their houses are large and neat, and I believe there is not a ceiling in all the city, which is not accompanied with a very fine platfond of joiner's work. I cannot express the particular kindness they have for horns, for all their houses are full of them. They are every where hung up amongst pictures and other curious things. You often see in the finest chamber, a stag's or bull's head, with a magnificent pair of horns hanging from the ceiling, intended merely for ornament. In the life of Bartholomew Coghone.-ED. In his Chronology.-ED. Domestic Intelligence. The whole of our Domestic Intelligence is extracted from the Journals of the Island with trifling alterations. Mr. Peck's Concert, on the 30th instant, was the best ever got up in Van Diemen's Land-every thing went off remarkable well, and very general satisfaction was given to a highly respectable and numerous assemblage of auditors. The overtures of "Der Frieschutz" and Preciosa," performed with the assistance of the band of the 63rd regiment, were splendid; and we cannot help regretting, that the public are about suffering a loss, which, we are fearful, cannot be replaced-we mean that of the departure of the band of the 63rd regiment; the loss will be more severely felt, on account of the public having become, as it were from the frequent appearance of the band at the Concerts, acquainted with them individually-we trust, however, we shall have, at least, one other Concert before these accomplished and obliging musicians leave us, Blewitt's glee of "Welcome merry month of May," was well supported, in all its parts, by Mrs. Henson, Miss Deane, Messrs. Hulks, Marshall and Peck, and pleased remarkably. We have so frequently heard Miss Deane on the piano-forte, that, unless there was indeed peculiar and rare talent evinced in her performance, we should have become tired of always seeing her brought forward-as it is, on every occasion, she makes us listen to her with attention, and compels us to be first and foremost among those who wish an encore. The style (called Hertz's new style) of fingering, has an extraordinary effect, which, of course, would not be understood but by a musician. Mrs. Taylor appeared, for the first time, before a Van Diemen's Land public. She sang two songs-Lee's "Come where the Aspens quiver," and "O merry row the bonnie bark." The former, a very difficult performance-the latter, somewhat more of a ballad. With respect to this lady's singing, it will, of course, be expected that we should offer a few remarks. Mrs. Taylor, if we mistake not, is the daughter of Mr. Hill, who some twenty-five years or more since, was the only rival dreaded by the English Apollo-as he has been termed by some of the admirers -Braham, and, as might naturally be expected, a daughter of such a musician Mrs. Taylor is perfect in all the mysteries of harmonic science. Her voice, however, is much more adapted for the showy difficult performances, than it is for plaintive melody-Rossini should be her favorite composer. Jackson, Arne, nay Bishop, and such like gentry are not worthy of her consideration: her tonation is distinct, and in the rapid movements of a cadenza, every note strikes on the ear as distinctly as though it had been produced by a keyed instrument: she has great range, and her upper notes partake not of that shrill harshness which is so common with most female vocalists. We have not heard Mrs. Taylor in a private room, but judging from her performance on Wednesday, we should consider her voice much more adapted for a concert than for amateur singing-but we may be judging wrongly. She was, of course, encored in both songs; but the first was much more adapted to her voice, than was "O merry row." Mrs. Henson, whose plaintive voice we have so often admired, sung much better than we ever before heard her. She appeared to feel more confident than hitherto-perhaps, she had been taking a lesson from Mrs. Davis. "Away to the mountain's brow" was deservedly encored-in our opinion. "Tell me my Heart" was her best performance. The "Scotch Air in Harmonics" was most unquestionably the attraction of the evening: it was announced to be performed by an amateur. This talented musical gentleman was Mr. Adam Smith. On his coming forward, we really looked to the ceiling, thinking the applause would be sure to awaken from their sleep the beams which supported the roof. We have never before had occasion to speak of this gentleman's performance, but, from what we ourselves heard on Wednesday, we must acknowledge it to be superior. Mr. Smith, as is usually the case with ama teurs, was a little confused on his first appearance; but he soon recovered himself, and commenced the performance in a most masterly style. We do not know which most to admire his bowing, his fingering, or his execution-they were each superlative, and we must not omit mentioning, that an amateur who can stand up and perform an air in Harmonics, must be extraordinarily gifted. The piece was, as a matter of course, encored. Mr. Peck attempted a solo on the violin; but, although we considered that gentleman's performance quite equal to any we ever heard by Spagnoletti, still, after Mr. Smith's brilliant harmonics, it would not go down-he was rapturously applauded, but not encored. Mr. Reichenberg's variations on "Oh! no, we never mention her" were excellent, as was, also, the melange of Lindsay," performed by Messrs. Deane and Marshall. The glees, too, of The Red Cross Knight," O by Rivers, by whose Falls." and "To welcome Mirth and harmless Glee," were deservedly appreciated by the audience, who appeared, on the termination of the Concert, highly delighted with the entertainment. Before leaving music and the profession, we might observe, that our corps de musique is now strong-that we have real talent, and that if the profession will abstain from private quarrelling among themselves, the better will it be for the public, and very much better for the parties concerned. It was asked, why was not Mrs. Davis one of the performers-we believe that lady was the only one public singer who was absent. We beg to ask the same question, be cause, we know, she was invited to take her place in the orchestry. The public will not be trifled with. Mrs. Davis must either cordially assist at the public Concerts, or else consider herself as a retired performer. The additton of such a real splendid singer as Mrs. Taylor to our musical corps will render the retirement of Mrs, Davis less felt; but we cannot help remarking, that more unison is required among the musical professors of Hobart Town, than is usually the case, The aborigines, captured by Mr. Robinson, and at present lodged at his residence, on the New Town Road, paid a visit to Government-house on Monday. They appeared extremely pleased with their visit, and with the several presents which were given to them: they are to proceed forthwith to join their fellowcountrymen at Flinder's Island. Orders were received on Tuesday, for the embarkation for India, of the Head quarters, and 5 companies of the 63rd regiment. We believe our little com munity, will experience a loss in the departure of the gentlemen, attached as officers to this regiment, as their conduct has been universally divested of all frivolity, foppery and pride. The Gazette has renewed the notice of a reward of 200 sovereigns and a free pardon, for the apprehension of the bushranger Britton. This fellow, with his two confederates, Brown and Jeffkins, attacked the house of Mr. Vaughan, River Mersey, and plundered it of much valuable property. Britton wanted to make a "clear sweep," but his compa nions would agree to take such things only as they could conveniently carry. They appeared much exhausted on their first arrival, and might, we should have thought, have been easily captured, There is something to us very strange in the hitherto successful career of these ruffians: either the settlers and their servants must be very indifferent, or the bushrangers very powerful. The slovenly and inaccurate manner in which the names of prisoners are inserted in the informations, presented to the Criminal Court of this Colony, is extremely reprehensible. In arraigning the prisoners on Tuesday, a man named "Friend" was called "Field," and another named "Burnell," "Burnett.". We know not with whom the blame of this carelessness rests, but, we presume, with the clerks of the Committing Ma gistrates: let it rest, however, with whom it may, it is a fault that ought to be immediately remedied and reformed. have, also, to reprehend the inaudible manner in which some of the Jury re peat their oath, after the crier of the Court. We will take upon ourselves to affirm, that no person ten yards from Major Fairweather could hear distinctly any two words he uttered: it is curious, also, for the foreman to deliver the ver dict standing. We would advise the clerk, Mr. Stephen, to read the inform ations more correctly and emphatically We it would be as well, herhaps, if he previously looked them over. |