t without signs of impatience, but to no purpose; all
became hopelessly involved and incoherent, until at length, like the
ice described by the "Ancient Mariner"--

"The _fugue_ was here, the _fugue_ was there,
The _fugue_ was all around;
It cracked and growled and roared and howled
Like noises in a swound."

The second Violin, overcome by the surging counterpoint, ceased
playing, and with the adroitness of a Raleigh turned to the Prince and
said, "Pardon me, your Royal Highness, I fear we have been carried
away by the vortex of the melody." The execution of chamber
compositions belonging to the higher walks of counterpoint is
frequently disappointing, but seldom or never is the failure so
gracefully and agreeably accounted for.

SALE OF CREMONESE INSTRUMENTS AT MILAN, AT THE END OF THE LAST
CENTURY.

(_Extracted from the "Gazetta di Firenze," 1790_.)

The following instruments were offered for sale at Milan, by Signor
Francesco Albinoni, in March, 1790:--

1. Violin by Antonio and Girolamo Amati, Cremona 1616
2. " " Niccolo Amati . . . . . . . . . . . 1647
3. " " ditto . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1667
4. " " Andrea Guarneri . . . . . . . . . . 1657
5. " " Giuseppe Guarneri, figlio . . . . . 1705
6. " " Antonio Stradivari . . . . . . . . 1708
7. " " ditto . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1719
8. " " Giovanni Ruggeri . . . . . . . . . 1653
9. " " Francesco Ruggeri . . . . . . . . . 1670
10. Tenor by Antonio and Girolamo Amati . . . . . 1617
11. " " ditto ditto . . . . . . . . 1618
12. " " Francesco Ruggeri . . . . . . . . . 1619
13. Violoncello by Amati, Cremona . . . . . . . . 1622
14. " " Andrea Guarneri . . . . . . . 1692

The above announcement cannot fail to make one reflect on the
different degree of interest excited by a sale of Cremonas a century
ago and one at the present time. The sale conducted by Signor
Albinoni, in 1790, at Milan, doubtless passed with but little, if any,
display of enthusiasm, and were it now possible to learn the prices
realised, they would certainly give occasion for surprise when
compared with those now obtained. As regards the increased interest
taken in rare Violins, the sale of the Gillott collection, in 1872,
furnishes an instance of comparatively recent date. The announcement
of Messrs. Christie and Manson served to bring together in King
Street,