674 THE ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA. 



before the Royal Society of Musicians, the draft of a memorial (it is 

 rather a curious production as a specimen of reasoning and writing) 

 to the King, for a " New Grand National Opera, whose aim should 

 be science whose end, charity." We are not informed whether any 

 petition founded upon this document has really been presented, and 

 if so, what was the answer returned. From his pamphlet* we learn, 

 that Mr. Rod well would form our musicians into a society, for the 

 purpose of obtaining a licence for a " Grand Opera," and raising 

 " forty thousand pounds," to build it, by " donations of any amount 

 down to one penny." Farther into the details of this outline it cannot 

 here be necessary to enter : it would avail nothing were we to explain 

 how Mr. Rodwell would have five directors, a treasurer, and two 

 auditors for this forty thousand pound donation opera ; how he would 

 make engagements, how regulate performances, how choose musical 

 pieces, make payments, and bestow all his profits by way of charity 

 upon the " Royal Society of Musicians," the " New Musical Fund," 

 the " Choral Fund," and the " Royal Academy of Music." To ex- 

 plain these various details, we repeat, were idle, and for the strongest 

 reason possible. We have read Mrs. Glass, on Cookery, and bethink 

 us of the maxim " first catch your hare/' in other words, first get 

 forty thousand pounds in donations ! It is a castle in the air. In so far as 

 it evinces an amiable enthusiasm for the profession, which he practises 

 with a fair and praiseworthy reputation, and shows regard for the 

 distressed condition of his brother musicians, the plan does Mr. Rod- 

 well great credit. But here our approbation must stop ; it betrays 

 great weakness ; it is impracticable. The ' ' gentle public will not 

 give away a tithe of the sum demanded to English music in pounds 

 or pence. 



Mr. Barnett's plan we speak from report, and are subject to cor- 

 rection, for he has not favoured us by publishing a pamphlet is more 

 a matter of business. He petitions for a Theatre for English music, 

 and English music only, and he proposes to raise a capital to build 

 and furnish such a theatre by joint stock shares. The great object is 

 to create an English school of Music, and both Mr. Barnett and Mr. 

 Rodwell see that the surest way, to effect that great and good end, is 

 to procure for English Musicians a certain market for their produc- 

 tions. Mr. Barnett would vest the property and net profits of this 

 market in those who expend their money to erect it, rightly fore- 

 musical dramas, the production of English composers, and if in the construction 

 of such theatre, care were to be had, so to arrange its accommodations and 

 charges as to make them suit the respective tastes and conveniences of the dif- 

 ferent ranks of society, which may be presumed to be likely to become the sup- 

 porters of such an establishment, it seems not unreasonable to suppose that an 

 impulse would be given to the musical abilities of Englishmen, which would ele- 

 vate the English school to a rank gradually approaching, and in time fully equal, 

 to that deservedly enjoyed by the Continental nations. 



" That your Memorialist, therefore, ventures with great humility to submit 

 to your Majesty the propriety of having a new theatre licensed, for the culti- 

 vation and support of English music only, and your Memorialist solicits that 

 your Majesty will be graciously pleased to become the Patron of such theatre. 



" And your Memorialist will ever pray." 



* Letter to the Musicians of Great Britain, by G. Herbert Rodwell, &c. 8vo. 

 Frazer. 



