[ **7 ,] 



Amongfl thefe, John Barratier hath been moft particularly 

 difHnguifhed, who is faid to have under/rood Latin when he was 

 but four years old, Hebrew when fix, and three other languages 

 at the age of nine. 



This fame prodigy of philological learning alfo tranflated the 

 travels of Rabbi Benjamin when eleven years old, accompanying 

 his verfion with notes and diflertations. Before his death, which 

 happened under the age of twenty, Barratier feems to have 

 aftonifhed Germany with his amazing extent of learning ; and it 

 need not be faid, that its increafe in fuch a foil, from year to year, 

 is commonly amazing- 

 Mozart, however, is not much more than thirteen years of 

 age ; and it is not therefore neceffary to carry my comparifon 

 further.. 



The Rev. Mr. Manwaring (in his Memoirs of Handel) hath 

 given us a ftiil more appofite inftance, and in the fame fcience. 



This great mufician began to play on the clavichord when he 

 was but feven years of age ; and is faid to have compofed fome 

 church-fervices when he was only nine years old, as alfo the opera 

 of Almeria when he did not exceed fourteen. 



Mr. Manwaring likewife mentions that Handel, when very 

 young, was {truck fometimes whilft in bed with mufical ideas ; 

 and that, like Mozart, he ufed to try their effect immediately on a 

 fpinnet, which was in his bedchamber. 



I am the more glad to ftate this fhort comparifon between thefe 

 two early prodigies in mufic, as it may be hoped that little Mozart 

 may poffibly attain to the fame advanced years as Handel, contrary 

 to the common obfervation, that fuch ingenia fr acacia are gene- 

 rally fhort-lived. 



I think I may fay without prejudice to the memory of this great 

 compofer, that the fcale moil: clearly preponderates on the fide of 



Mozart 



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