LOVE OF MUSIC 153 



So far as science went, the lengthening chain of months 

 enlarged his powers and strengthened his professional position. 

 Without counting the inevitable separation from friends, the 

 chief thing he found lacking on the voyage was music, though 

 he could not profess to be a musician any more than an artist. 

 He tells his sister Elizabeth (May 12, 1843) : 



On board this ship I want music more than anything, 

 and am always ready to break my leave for the sake of 

 hearing it. I often wish I understood it, and perhaps 

 oftener still (am glad ?) that I do not ; since, as matters 

 now are, I cannot perceive those faults that would grate 

 upon the ear of a musician. 



He does not care for * modern ballad music ' but likes the 

 older English and Scotch airs, e.g. * Where the bee sucks,' 

 good sacred music, such as Handel, ' Israel in Egypt,' and 

 Haydn's ' Creation' ; and some operatic music of which he 

 is kept in mind by the nav^l and military bands, and is 

 delighted that the girls and his mother are practising his 

 favourite songs and glees against his return. 



Thus it may be imagined what a double disappointment 

 awaited him at Eio on the homeward voyage. 



To his Sisters 



Rio de Janeiro : June 20, 1843. 



The Americans have an immense fifty-gun ship as Com- 

 modore ship stationed quite close to us, and would you believe 

 it ? the Goths have no band on board but some huge drums 

 and squeaking fifes, which they make a terrible din upon 

 every night, and beat off with Yankee Doodle at 8 P.M. 

 Not only is the noise horrible, but at that time a tolerable 

 band plays on board the Brazilian flagship, whose music 

 is consequently drowned before it reaches us. 



A letter of November 28, 1842, to his old friend, Mrs. Boott, 

 gives the fullest account of his artistic tastes and education. 



I often regret that I never saw any pictures that can be 

 called good. A relish for this branch of the Fine Arts has 

 not yet extended to the Colonies, whose children cannot 



