_An intermediate Instrument._—With the plausible view of filling up a void in the range of stringed instruments—that which occurs through the interval of an _octave_ between the pitch of the viola and the violoncello—a new instrument of the violin class was invented, a few years ago, by a French Amateur, who proposed to designate it the _Contralto_. Its four strings were tuned an octave below those of the violin, and, consequently, a fourth below the common viola, or tenor, and a fifth above the violoncello. In quartetts (according to the inventor) the _second violin_ might in future be replaced by the _viola_, and the viola by the _Contralto_; which latter would possess the further advantage of enabling its player to execute with ease those high passages that are so difficult on the violoncello.—That an instrument thus designed _might_ sometimes participate effectively in orchestral business, is extremely probable; but that it should displace in quartetts the _second violin_, the importance of which, as an aid, arises so much from its brilliancy, is not _at all_ to be supposed. The truth appears to be, that what is here referred to as an invention, possesses little claim to that character; for it was preceded by _the baryton_, a stringed instrument of a character between the tenor and violoncello, which has now entirely fallen into disuse. Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, an ardent musical Amateur, was very fond of this instrument: and Haydn, who composed a great number of pieces for it, in order to supply the Prince’s incessant demand for novelty, frequently said that the necessity he was under of composing so much for the baryton, contributed greatly to his improvement. _Something more than a Violin!_—M. Vincenti, a lute-master at Florence, invented, some years ago, a violin with _eighteen strings_ and _two bows_, and called it the _Violon-Général_, because it combined (or professed to combine), with the tones of the violin, those of the contra-basso, the violoncello, and the viola! _An Air Violin._—A new and ingeniously invented instrument was presented, some years since, to the “Académie des Sciences” of Paris, by M. Isoard. It resembled the common violin, with the strings extended between two wooden (or metal) blades. It was vibrated upon at one end by a _current of air_, while, at the other, the player shortened the strings by the pressure of the finger. In fact, the strings of this instrument were acted upon by the current of air, _instead_ of the common _bow_. The sounds were said to vary between those of the French horn and bassoon. Were it possible for this invention to come into ordinary use, the violin would have to be classed as a _wind_-instrument!