I have been fortunate enough to obtain, through the politeness 

 of Dr. Jacob, a folio volume of manuscript music collected by Mr. 

 Kirwan, and entitled '' Pathetic Music, or the Language of the 

 Passions, as expressed by Pergolese, Galuppi, Haisse, Cocchi, Pe- 

 rez, Pescetti, Piccini, Joraelli, Ciampi, Vinci, Bach, Vento, Gugli- 

 elmi, Arne, Handel, and others." The conception is original, like 

 every other work of its author. He has classified the melodies of 

 the most celebrated Italian and a few English composers, according 

 to the passions which the music and words are intended to express ; 

 as grief, pity, dismay, anxiety, remorse, reproach, disdain, and va- 

 rious others. The extent of knowledge of Italian music displayed in 

 this book is quite remarkable, especially as it was collected at a pe- 

 riod when Italian music was little known in the British isles. 



Lady Morgan, describing her first interview with Mr. Kirwan, 

 when the conversation turned on music, informs us that she 

 chanced to say something in praise of that of Ireland. " Mr. Kir- 

 wan," she says, " called my taste barbarous, and became quite vehe- 

 ment in his expression of abhorrence of Irish music. ' Madam,' he 

 said, ' I left Ireland at your age, and, full, as you are now, of all 

 the vulgar errors of enthusiastic patriotism, I thought there was no 

 poetry like Irish poetry, no music like Irish music. When I re- 

 turned I could not endure either.' " He then informed her, that 

 at Christmas and other festivals he used to throw open the sen'ants' 

 hall at Cregg Castle to all comers, beggars, bards, and story-tellers, 

 after the old Connaught fashion ; and at night he took his place 

 amongst them, and made each guest tell a story, recite a poem, 

 or sing a song in Irish. " Madam," he exclaimed, " it was too much 

 for me; it almost threw me into convulsions." Lady Morgan then 

 sung for him the song of" Ned of the Hills," composed in the time 

 of Henry VIII., and accompanied herself on her harp. Before she 

 had finished the first stanza, the tears gushed from his eyes,, and' 

 seizing her hand, he said with vehemence : " Madam, I won't hear 

 you — 'tis terrible — it goes to the very soul! — it wrings every nerve in 

 the body !" " Then, Sir," replied Lady Morgan, " I ask no more; the 

 effect which Irish music produces on you is the best proof of its 

 excellence.'' " You may as well say," retorted Mr. Kirwan, " that the 

 howl of a dying dog, which would produce the same effect, is the 



VOL. IV. k 



