The opening movement, together with the Minuet, Trio, and Andante having been rendered with pleasure and satisfaction, the Finale was entered upon with due determination. Its fugal subject-- [Illustration: _Molto Allegro_.] was well under way, and speedily in full sail. Ere long an evident indecision of purpose manifested itself, the motive or subject failing to elicit other than dubious answers to its calls; it was emphasised with loudness, not 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