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TOC
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dents than in the days of Leo X. when
Italy was as superior to the rest of the
world, and therfore as well worth visit-
ing, as Greece was in the time of Peri-
cles or Alexander.
To say that music was never in such
high estimation, or so well understood as
it is at present, all over Europe, would
be only advancing a fact as evident,
as that its inhabitants are now more
generally civilized and refined, than they
were in any other period to be found in
the history of mankind.
Perhaps the grave and wise may regard
music as a frivolous and enervating luxu-
ry; but, in its defence, Montesquieu has
said that "it is the only one of all the
arts which does not corrupt the mind *."
Electricity has likewise, by some, been
considered merely as furnishing matter
of speculation to the philosopher, and of
amusement to the curious; and it has
frequently been lamented, that a princi-
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