The Violin. By P. Davidson. (Portoons.)—Enthuaiasts for the 'violin, the
moat fascinating, as it is the most difficult, of instruments, may find here all that they want to know about their favourite ; how it ought to be made, and who have boon most successful in making it. One chapter gives an account of the most eminent makers,—the families of Amati, Guarnerius, and Stradivarius, the second of this last, Antony by name, standing at the head of tho list. Antony was born at Cremona in 1614, and spent a life of more than ninety years in the occupation. His last instrument was constructed when he was ninety-two years of age, but the work of the last ten years of his life is not, it is said, equal to that of his period of excellence, 1700-1727. He received on an average
£ 4 apiece for his violins. They have been sold since for as much as
£ 600; and for ono, a double-bass, £800 was offered and refused. We make Mr. Davidson a present for any future edition of his book of a bon- mot of Dr. Purr, which does not appear to have come in his way. The doctor, seeing a valuable violin swept off a table by the ample skirts of a lady, applied with groat felicity the Virgilian line :— " Mantua vie miaow nimlum vicina Cromentel"
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