1831 .] Affairs in General 667 



whilst in London, however much they might when abroad, and even 

 occasionally whilst in the metropolis, extend their purses for the purpose 

 of paying " foreign talent," would often refuse to act upon the same 

 principle. Laporte then told him, that as he could not sanction the pro- 

 posed increase of prices of admission, without running the risk of giving 

 everlasting offence to his own subscribers, he could not take any share 

 in the business, but would make the customary charge to him (Paganini) 

 for the use of the house, and of such members of the establishment as he 

 might think proper to select. Upon this Paganini observed, that he 

 would take the matter upon himself, and the scheme of charges was 

 drawn out. To this determination we are given to understand he the 

 more determinately came, because he said that on his arrival at Dover a 

 deputation of the inhabitants waited on him and stated, that if he would 

 but play for one night at their theatre, they would raise the prices of 

 admission to the boxes, which are now 4s. each, and the pit, which are 

 2s. each, to one guinea ; and in order that it might be brought to some 

 sort of certainty, as to what profit he should derive from that performance, 

 they would at once guarantee that 200 tickets, at 1. Is. each, should be 

 taken. Paganini, therefore, argued, that if this act was to be looked on 

 as a criterion of the extent of the anxiety which the English felt to hear 

 him, he could not help thinking that the metropolitan cognoscenti would 

 willingly pay double the customary charge. Laporte, finding that his 

 mind was so firmly impressed with this opinion, left the matter to itself, 

 to undeceive him as to its fallacy." This is certainly not the story which 

 first came to the general ear ; that being simply, that the Frenchman 

 wished to pay the fiddler merely a certain sum for his performances ; 

 but that the fiddler demanded the produce of two-thirds of the house ; 

 the charges being already raised in the ridiculous manner alluded to ; 

 and that on Laporte' s demurring, the signor took the whole upon 

 himself. 



There the matter rests, explanation and all. On whose head the 

 extortion may lie, we cannot say ; but we are glad that it has been ex- 

 posed and punished, let its author be fiddler or farceur. At the same 

 time, we wish that no popular displeasure may be too heavily visited 

 upon Paganini. All foreigners suffer themselves to think, that the 

 wealth of England implies absurdity and extravagance ; and the enor- 

 mous and almost criminal prodigality with which foreign singers and 

 dancers have been frequently paid may seem to justify the conception. 

 We can have little to say for our good sense when a singer, even though 

 that singer were Catalani, could make ten thousand a year among us ; 

 but there is a limit, and that limit the signor has overpassed. We yet 

 have no wish to visit this blunder too heavily on his ignorance of our 

 habits. He is a first-rate violinist ; and as he has a right to make the 

 due profit from his talent, so the public are willing to reward, and gene- 

 rously reward, its display. 



As to his illness, we do not believe a word ; theatrical indispositions 

 form a class of diseases perfectly understood among us, and of those 

 none are ever mortal. Paganini is probably vexed at having lost his 

 object, and at the same time lost his popularity ; but better advice will 

 rapidly restore the king of fiddlers to his happiest state of convalescence, 

 and we shall have him again enchanting the universe on his single 

 string, at the Hanover Square, the Argyle, the King's Concert, and all 

 other rooms and kinds of rooms. The " Sunday Times" thus announces 

 the signor's arrival 



4 Q 2 



