MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 135 



The two sons of Charles Avison, the great musical 

 composer,* belonged to this society, and Mr. 

 Beilby and family were on terms of intimacy 

 with them. I also occasionally heard the band 

 at the theatre, but I cannot say I felt much 

 pleasure in listening to them, and I well remember 

 on one occasion of setting them aside. The late 

 Mr. Dibden, who often called upon me, had some 

 performance to exhibit at our theatre, and had 

 quarrelled with the theatrical band on account of 

 their exorbitant demands ; and, in this dilemma, 

 he expressed himself much disappointed, and knew 

 not what to do. I told him I thought, if he would 

 leave the matter to me, I could set all right ; and 

 I instantly applied to old Wm. Lamshaw, the 

 Duke of Northumberland's piper, to play at the 

 theatre. I being well acquainted with the old 

 man, he readily assented. I then told my friend 

 Dibden what I had done, and satisfied him as to 

 the preference the audience would give to the 

 piper. In this I was not mistaken ; for all went 

 well off, and everyone expressed both pleasure and 

 surprise at the change. 



Some time before the American war broke out, 

 there had been a lack of musical performers in our 

 streets, and in this interval, I used to engage 

 John Peacock, our inimitable performer, to play 

 on the Northumberland or small pipes ; and with 



[* Avison was organist of St. Nicholas's Church, to which post he 

 was appointed in 1736. He was born in Newcastle, studied in Italy, 

 and on his return became a pupil of Geminiani. In 1752 he pub- 

 lished an " Essay on Musical Expression," in which he depreciated 

 the German school of music, and involved himself in a controversy 

 with Dr. Hayes. He died May 10, 1770. Avison, it may be remem- 

 bered was one of the "Certain People of Importance in their Day" 

 with whom, Mr. Browning, in his latest volume, recently held parley. 

 His eldest son showed great talent.] 



