and for the express purpose of encreasing the fund then raising. The offer was accepted: Mr. Gretton produced the words, and Dr. Busby the music. But the Committee, hoping that the King would honour the performance with his presence, in compliance with his Majesty's known partiality to Handel's music, relinquished the original plan of the performance; and after several interviews between Dr. Busby, Mr. Alexander Davison the treasurer, Mr. George Rose, and others of the Committee, on the subject, it was determined that the concert should be miscellaneous, and consist of selections from the works of Handel and Dr. Busby's proposed oratorio. His Majesty, however, was not present, and the performance took place under the immediate auspices of their Royal Highhesses the Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Duke of Clarence, Duke of Cumberland, and the Duchess of York; his Majesty's Cabinet Ministers, and twelve of the first ladies of distinction, The concert was conducted by Dr. Busby and Mr. Greatorex ; the former gentleman presided at the piano-forte, and the latter at the organ, All the first performers, vocal and instrumental, assisted. A most brilliant and numerous audience attended, and the concert was received with enthusiastic applause, especially one song of Dr, Busby's, sung by Master Elliot, and accompanied by Mr. Linley on the violoncello, which was heard with rapture, and loudly and universally encored. The complete oratorio of Britannia was afterwards performed at Covent-garden for the benefit of the Humane Society, where it attracted a crowded

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crowded audience. Madame Mara was the principal soprano, and Mr. F. Cramer the leader. It was received with universal admiration; and every one ex. claimed, "why did not the Naval Pillar Committee adopt this oratorio in preference of a miscellaneous concert?" Indeed, so excellent was the music of this grand composition, that Dr. Arnold, Dr. Aryton, Messrs. Charles and Samuel Wesley, Mr. Battishill, and Mr. Shield, after hearing a part of it, signed an attestation of its merit, written as well as signed by Dr. Burney, and presented to the Prince of Wales and the Right Honourable Committee.

In the succeeding winter Dr. Busby was employed in the useful but arduous task of writing a New and Complete Musical Dictionary; a work loudly called for, both by professors and amateurs, and which he executed in a style expected by all who were as well acquainted with his literary as with his musical knowledge and talents. The Monthly Review for April last pronounces it" by far the best Musical Dictionary in the English language."

Soon after this he projected and undertook the conduct of a new work, under the title of a "Monthly Musical Journal," by which the public was to be regularly supplied with the best new foreign music, Italian, German, and French, interspersed with original compositions produced expressly for the work by himself, Dr. Arnold, Dr. Callcott, and other eminent composers. The undertaking was highly extolled for its novelty and utility, and greatly encouraged but the communications with the continent, especially

especially with Italy, being at that time greatly interrupted, the foreign materials could not be obtained with a regularity and expedition correspondent to the spirit of the plan; so that after the appearance of the fourth number, it was discontinued.

In the summer of 1800 he was prevailed upon by his friends to become a candidate for a Doctor's degree in music; and he accordingly entered himself a member of Magdalen college, Cambridge, and in the June of the following year became a graduate of that university. His exercise was a Thanksgiving Ode, written by Mrs. Crespigny, for the victories obtained by the British Navy. The composition was per formed in St. Mary's church, and heard with delight by a most crowded auditory; and the Vice-chancel lor the next day expressed, in a letter to the composer, his admiration of the music and performance.

But the applause bestowed by the university on this composition had indeed been anticipated by a London audience; for on the 14th of the previous month his oratorio of the Prophecy was repeated at the Haymarket theatre, together with Mrs. Crespigny's sublime Ode, and a new Coronation Anthem. Mr. Raimondi led the band, and Madame Dussek was

the principal soprano. Mrs. Crespigny, so well known to the world of taste, and to whom Dr. Busby had been just introduced by Isaac Heaton, Esq. of Norfolk-street in the Strand, exerted on this occasion her interest and patronage with a kindness and ener-. gy of which the Doctor speaks with the most glowing sensibility Through her personal influence the house exhibited

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exhibited a splendour almost unknown in the annals of the theatre. The ladies evidently made a point of doing honour to Mrs. C. and the composer; and the boxes absolutely blazed with jewellery. The compo→ sitions were throughout received with an applause which greatly augmented the reputation of the composer, and justified the patronage he received.

On Mrs. Billington's late re-appearance on the English stage, the public attention was so strongly attracted by her exquisite performance in Artaxerxes and the Duenna, that the Doctor thought a new edition of her songs in those operas, with all her variations and embellishments, would be a desirable acquisition to the public; and he accordingly entered upon the delicate and difficult task of taking them by his ear, and acquitted himself with a facility and precision which at once proved his profound science, highly cultivated ear, and uncommon powers of re

tention.

In March last the Doctor lost his old master, Mr. Battishill, who was buried in St. Paul's cathedral. Dr. Busby, in company with Dr. Arnold, followed the corpse as one of the chief mourners; and composed for the occasion an excellent funeral anthem, which was performed by the gentlemen of the choir under the center of the dome. Shortly after he was unanimously elected a member of the society of Musical Graduates, now consisting of Dr. (Sir William) Parsons, Drs. Burney, Arnold, Ayrton, Callcott, Smith, and Mr. Guize. Dr. B. has been heard to

express much gratification in holding a seat among that scientific and respectable body.

Dr. Busby has had seven children, five of whom, three sons and two daughters, are still living: they have been all educated at home; and to their instruction Mrs. Busby has, by her talents and accomplishments, considerably contributed; the Doctor and herself having been their only preceptors.

The Doctor's third son is intended for the musical profession; and though little more than eleven years of age, already evinces powers of the maturity of which the highest expectations may be justly formed. He now takes the organ at the Cicilian Society's concerts held at Painters'-hall. His execution as an organ or piano-forte performer is truly astonishing.

Dr. Busby's style as a composer is a happy mixture of the old and new school In his oratorial productions, we find the learning and solemn grandeur of the former constantly relieved by the elegance and sweetness of the latter; by which an effect is produced at once gratifying both to the lovers of ancient and of modern composition.

Dr. B. is simple in his mode of living, plain in his appearance, and unassuming in his manners. His humanity and benevolence of heart are well known; and his liberal promptitude not only in acknowledging, but in setting forth the merits of his contempora❤ ries, must be evident to all who have perused his lives. of Mozart, Dr. Arnold, Mr. Shield, and Mr. Batti