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1 have been informed, by a rnoft able mufician and compofer, 

 that he frequently faw the boy at Vienna, when he was little 

 more than four years old. 



By this time he not only was capable of executing leffbns on 

 his favourite inftrument the harpfichord, but eompofed fome in 

 an eafy ftile and tafte, which were much approved of. His extra- 

 ordinary mulical talents foon reached the cars of the prefent 

 emprefs dowager, who ufed- to place him upon her knees whilft 

 lie played on the harpfichord. This notice taken of him, by fb 

 great a perfonage, together with certain confcioufnefs of his mod 

 lingular abilities, had much emboldened the little mufician. 

 Being therefore the next year at one of the German courts, where 

 the elector encouraged him, by laying, that he had nothing to fear 

 from his auguft prefence ; little. Mozart immediately fat down with 

 great confidence to his harpfichord, informing his highnefs, that 

 he had played before the emprefs. 



At feven years of age his father carried him to Paris, where he 

 fo diftinguimed himfelf by his compofitions that an engraving was 

 made of him. The father and fifter who are introduced in this 

 print are exceffively like their portraits ; as is alio little Mozart, 

 who is ftiled, " Compofiteur et Maitre de Mufique, age de fept 

 " ans c " After the name of the engraver follows the date, which 

 is in 1764; Mozart was therefore at this time in the eighth year 

 of his age. 



Upon leaving Paris, he came over to England, where he con- 

 tinued more than a year. As during this time I was witnefs of his 

 moll extraordinary abilities as a mufician, both at fome public 

 concerts, and likewife by having been alone with him for a con- 

 fiderable time at his father's houfe ; I fend you the following ac- 

 count, amazing and incredible almoft as it may appear. 



c An engraving of the boy himfelf is annexed. 



I carried 



