Salmagundi; or, The whim-whams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, esq. [pseud.] and others. By William Irving, James Kirke Paulding and Washington Irving. Printed from the original ed., with a preface and notes by Evert A. Duyckinck.

196 SALIGGU UNDI.
Apollo had lent them his lyre, and inspired them with his own
spirit of harmony. What then would they have said had they
witnessed the wonderful effects of my skill? had they heard me
in the compass of a single piece, describe in glowing notes one
of the most sublime operations of nature; and not only make
inanimate objects dance, but even speak; and not only speak,
but speak in strains of exquisite harmony?
Let me not, however, be understood to say that I am the sole
author of this extraordinary improvement in the art, for I confess I took the hint of many of my discoveries from some of
those meritorious productions that have lately come abroad and
made so much noise under the title of overtures. From some
of these, as, for instance, Lodoiska, and the battle of Marengo,
a gentleman, or a captain in the city militia, or an amazonian
young lady may indeed acquire a tolerable idea of military tactics, and become very well experienced in the firing of musketry, the roaring of cannon, the rattling of drums, the whistling of fifes, braying of trumpets, groans of the dying, the
trampling of cavalry, without ever going to the wars; but it is
more especially in the art of imitating inimitable things, and
giving the language of every passion and sentiment of the
human mind, so as entirely to do away the necessity of speech,
that I particularly excel the most celebrated musicians of ancient
and modern times.
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 undefinable, indescribable silence which accompanies the falling of snow.
In order to prove to you that I do not arrogate to myself