I think, sir, I may venture to say there is not a sound in the whole
compass of nature which I cannot imitate, and even improve upon;--nay,
what I consider the perfection of my art, I have discovered a method
of expressing, in the most striking manner, that indefinable,
indescribable silence which accompanies the falling of snow."

[Our author describes in detail the different movements of a grand
piece, which he names the "Breaking up of the ice in the North River,"
and tells us that the "ice running against Polopay's Island with a
terrible crash," is represented by a fierce fellow travelling with his
Fiddle-stick over a huge Bass-Viol at the rate of 150 bars a minute,
and tearing the music to rags--this being what is called execution.]

"Thus, sir, you perceive what wonderful powers of expression have
hitherto been locked up in this enchanting art. A whole history is
here told without the aid of speech or writing; and provided the
hearer is in the least acquainted with music, he cannot mistake a
single note. As to the blowing up of the powder-bank, I look upon it
as a _chef d'oeuvre_ which I am confident will delight all modern
amateurs, who very properly estimate music in proportion to the noise
it makes, and delight in thundering cannon and earthquakes.

"In my warm anticipations of future improvement, I have sometimes
almost convinced myself that music will in time be brought to such a
climax of perfection as to supersede the necessity of speech and
writing, and every kind of social intercourse be conducted by the
Flute and Fiddle. The immense benefits that will result from this
improvement, must be plain to every man of the least consideration. In
the present unhappy situation of mortals a man has but one way of
making himself understood: if he loses his speech he must inevitably
be dumb all the rest of his life; but having once learned this new
musical language, the loss of speech will be a mere trifle, not worth
a moment's uneasiness. This manner of discussing may also, I think, be
introduced with great effect into our National Assemblies, where every
man, instead of wagging his tongue, should be obliged to flourish a
Fiddle-stick; by which means, if he said nothing to the purpose, he
would at all events 'discourse most eloquent music,' which is more
than can be said of them at present.

"But the most important result of this discovery is, that it may be
applied to the establishment of that great desideratum