VOL. LX.} PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 13 



scarcely reach a 5 th on the harpsichord. His astonishing readiness however did 

 not arise merely from great practice; he had a thorough knowledge of the fun- 

 damental principles of composition, as, on producing a treble, he immediately 

 wrote a base under it, which, when tried, had a very good effect. He was also 

 a great master of modulation, and his transitions from one key to another were 

 very natural and judicious; he practised in this manner for a considerable time 

 with a handkerchief over the keys of the harpsichord. These facts Mr. B. was 

 an eye-witness of; to which he adds, that he had been informed by two or three 

 able musicians, when Bach the celebrated composer had begun a fugue, and 

 left ott' abruptly, that little Mozart has immediately taken it up, ^^nd worked it 

 after a most masterly manner. ,^ I,,, i / ., 



._ Mr. B. made frequent inquiries with regard to this very extraordinary genius 

 after he left England, and was told in 1769, that he was then at Saltzbourg, 

 where he had composed several oratorios, which were much admired. He was 

 also informed, that the Prince of Saltzbourg, not crediting that such masterly 

 compositions were really those of a child, shut him up for a week, during which 

 he was not permitted to see any one, and was left only with music paper, and 

 the words of an oratorio. During this short time he composed a very capital 

 oratorio, which was most highly approved on being performed. 

 .^ Having stated these proofs of Mozart's genius, when of almost an infantine 

 age, it may not be improper p<:.rhaps to compare them with what has been well 

 attested with regard to other instancto of the same sort. Among these, John 

 Barratier has been most particularly distinguis\.<.fl, ^ho is said to have understood 

 Latin when he was but 4 years old, Hebrew when o, n^^i 3 other languages at 

 the age of 9. This same prodigy of philological learning .i^q translated the 

 travels of Rabbi Benjamin when 1 1 years old, accompanying his .^rsjon with 

 notes and dissertations. Before his death, which happened under the age or oq^ 

 Barratier seems to have astonished Germany with his amazing extent of learning ; ~ 

 and it need not be said, that its increase in such a soil, from year to year, is 

 commonly amazing. Mozart, however, is not now much more than 13 years 

 of age, and it is not therefore necessary to carry the compai-ison further. 



The Rev. Mr. Manwaring, in his Memoirs of Handel, has giv^n us a still 

 more apposite instance, and in the same science. This great musician began to 

 play on the clavichord when he was but 7 years of age, and is said to have com- 

 posed some church services when he was only 9 years old, as also the opera of 

 Almeria, when he did not exceed 14. Mr. Manwaring likewise mentions that 

 Handel, when very young, was struck sometimes while in bed with musical ideas, 



the queen, and is dated at Ixjndon, Jan. 8, 1760. He subscribes himself, ' tres humble, et tres 

 obeissant petit serviteur-' These lessons are composed in a very original style, and some of them are 

 masterly, — Orig. 



