less likely to excite suspicions of improbability or hyperbole, in such readers as were not so fortunate as to participate of the surprise and rapture of all that were present at these magnificent performances, and are able to judge of the reality of the sensations described.

After so long a Preface to so short a Book, I shall add nothing more in apology for my narrative, than that I was stimulated to the drawing it up thus hastily, by the extreme satisfaction I felt in finding that the late COMMEMORATION was not only an undertaking of such magnitude as to merit the patronage of an enlightened public, but that the public, by its liberal support and profound attention, manifested itself to be worthy of the undertaking.

COMMEMORATION OF HANDEL.

How this great idea was generated, cherished, and matured, will, probably, be a matter of curiosity to the public, as well as the manner in which it was executed. And having had the honour of attending many of the meetings of the Directors and Conductor, while the necessary arrangements were under consideration, as well as opportunities of conversing with them since, I shall state the principal facts as accurately as possible, from such authentic information as these favourable circumstances have furnished.

In a conversation between Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam, Sir Watkins William Wynn, and Joah Bates, Esquire, Commissioner of the Victualling-Office, the beginning of last Year, (1783,) at the house of the latter, after remarking that the number of eminent Musical Performers of all kinds, both vocal and instrumental, with which London abounded, was far greater than in any other city of Europe, it was lamented that there was no public periodical occasion for collecting and consolidating them into one band; by which means a performance might be exhibited on so grand and magnificent a scale as no other part of the world could equal. The birth and death of HANDEL naturally occurred to three such enthusiastic admirers of that great master, and it was immediately recollected, that the next (now the present) year, would be a proper time for the introduction of such a custom, as it formed a complete century since his birth, and an exact quarter of a century since his decease.

The plan was soon after communicated to the governors of the Musical Fund, who approved it, and promised

their assistance. It was next submitted to the directors of the concert of Ancient Music, who, with an alacrity which does honour to their zeal for the memory of the great Artist, HANDEL, voluntarily undertook the trouble of managing and directing the celebrity. At length, the design coming to the knowledge of the King, it was honoured with His Majesty's sanction and patronage. Westminster Abbey, where the bones of the great Musician were deposited, was thought the properest place for the performance; and application having been made to the Bishop of Rochester for the use of it, his lordship, finding that the scheme was honoured with the patronage of His Majesty, readily consented; only requesting, as the performance would interfere with the annual benefit for the Westminster Infirmary, that part of the profits might be appropriated to that charity, as an indemnification for the loss it would sustain. To this the projectors of the plan acceded; and it was afterwards settled, that the profits of the first day's performance should be equally divided between the Musical Fund and the Westminster Infirmary; and those of the subsequent days be solely applied to the use of that fund which HANDEL himself so long helped to sustain, and to which he not only bequeathed a thousand pounds, but which almost every Musician in the capital annually contributes his money, his performance, or both, to support.

Application was next made to Mr. James Wyatt, the architect, to furnish plans for the necessary decorations of the Abbey; drawings of which having been shewn to His Majesty, were approved. The general idea was to produce the effect of a royal musical chapel, with the orchestra terminating one end, and the accommodations for the Royal Family, the other.

The arrangement of the performance of each day was next settled, and I have authority to say, that it was at

His Majesty's instigation that the celebrity was extended to three days instead of two, which he thought would not be sufficient for the display of HANDEL's powers, or fulfilling the charitable purposes to which it was intended to devote the profits. It was originally intended to have celebrated this Grand Musical Festival, on the 20th, 22nd, and 23rd of April; and the 20th being the day of the funeral of HANDEL, part of the Music was, in some measure, so selected as to apply to that incident. But in consequence of the sudden dissolution of parliament, it was thought proper to defer the festival to the 26th, 27th, and 29th of May, which seems to have been for its advantage; as many persons of tender constitutions, who ventured to go to Westminster Abbey in warm weather, would not have had the courage to go thither in cold.

Impressed with a reverence for the memory of HANDEL, no sooner was the project known, but most of the practical Musicians in the kingdom eagerly manifested their zeal for the enterprise; and many of the most eminent professors, waving all claims to precedence in the band, offered to perform in any subordinate station, in which their talents could be most useful.

By the latter end of February, the plan and necessary arrangements were so far digested and advanced, that the Directors ventured to insert in all the Newspapers, the following advertisement :

"Under the Patronage of His MAJESTY. In Commemoration of HANDEL, who was Buried in Westminster Abbey, on the 21st of April, 1759. On WEDNESDAY, the 21st of April next, will be performed in Westminster Abbey, under the

Earl of Exeter

Earl of Sandwich

management of the
Lord Paget

Right Hon. H. Morrice

Viscount Dudley Ward | Sir Watkin W. Wynn, Bart.

Viscount Fitzwilliam

Sir Richard Jebb, Bart.

Directors of the Concert of Ancient Music;

B

Some of the most approved pieces of Sacred Music of that great Composer.-The doors will be opened at Nine O'Clock, and the Performance will begin precisely at Twelve.

And on the Evening of the same day, will be performed, at the Pantheon, a Grand Miscellaneous CONCERT of Vocal and Instrumental Music; consisting entirely of pieces selected from the Works of Handel.The doors will be opened at Six o'Clock, and the Concert will begin exactly at Eight.

And on Saturday Morning, April 24th, will be performed, in Westminster Abbey, the Sacred Oratorio of the MESSIAH."

Such is the reverence for this illustrious Master, that most of the performers in London, and a great many from different parts of the kingdom, have generously offered their assistance; and the Orchestra will consist of at least Four Hundred Performers, a more numerous Band than was ever known to be collected in any country, or on any occasion whatever. The profits arising from the performances, will be applied to charitable purposes.

The Directors of the Concert of Antient Music have opened books to receive the names of such persons as are desirous of encouraging this undertaking, and will deliver out the Tickets for the several performances, at ONE GUINEA each. Books will likewise be opened, and Tickets delivered at Mr. Lee's, No. 44, Wigmore Street; Birchall's Music Shop, No. 129, New Bond Street; Longman and Broderip's, in the Haymarket and Cheapside; Bremner's, near the New Church in the Strand; and at Wright's and Co. Catherine Street, Strand.

No person will be admitted without a Ticket; and it is hoped that those who mean to subscribe, will do it as early as they conveniently can, that proper seats may be provided for them."