Cremona. He fondly imagines
that Cremona was a celebrated _maker_, and Stradivari something else;
inquires, and becomes more confused, and returns again to "Duke," with
whom he is thoroughly at home.

Many excellent judges have wondered how it came to pass that Richard
Duke should have been so highly valued, there being, in their
estimation, so little amongst his remains worthy of the reputation he
gained. The truth is that no maker, with the exception of the great
Cremonese artists, has been so persistently counterfeited. The name of
Duke has been stamped upon every wretched nondescript, until judges
who had not the opportunity of seeing the genuine article mistook the
copies for the original, and hence the confusion. When, however, a
really fine specimen of Duke is once seen, it is not likely to be
forgotten. As copies of Amati such instruments are scarcely surpassed,
varnish, work, and material being of the best description. The copies
of Stainer were not so successful.

DUKE, Richard, London. Son of the above.

DUNCAN, ----, Aberdeen, 1762.

DUNCAN, George, Glasgow, contemporary.

EGLINGTON, ----, London, 1800.

EVANS, Richard, London, 1750. His label is a curiosity--

Maid in the Paris of
Lanirhengel, by Richard
Evans, Instrument maker,
in the year 17--

FENDT, Bernard, born at Innsbruck, in the Tyrol, 1756, died 1832. He
was evidently a born Fiddle-maker, genius being stamped, in a greater
or less degree, upon all his works. To Thomas Dodd belongs the credit
of bringing his talent into play. Dodd obtained the services of Fendt
upon his arrival in England, which the latter reached at an early age.
He remained with Dodd many years, frequently making instruments with
John Frederick Lott. The instruments so made bear the label of Thomas
Dodd. Lott being also a German, reciprocity of feeling sprung up
between him and Fendt, which induced Lott to exchange the business to
which he was brought up for that which his fellow countryman Fendt had
adopted, and henceforth to make Violins instead of cabinets. By
securing the services of these admirable workmen, Dodd reaped a rich
harvest. He found in them men capable of carrying out his instructions
with an exactness that could not be surpassed. Dodd was unable to use
the tools himself; but in Fendt and Lott he had men who were
consummate masters of them. When the instruments were finished, as far
as construction was concerned, they were clothed in c