[ 3* 2 ] 



At the fame time, I received the following account from the 

 mother, of the firft appearance of a mufical difpofition in the 

 child. 



His father is an ingenious carpenter of Norwich, and had made 

 an organ, on which he was capable of playing two or three eafy 

 tunes, and which had not been u fed for fome time. When little 

 Crotch was two years and three weeks old, he heard, " God fave 

 " great George our King," on this inftrument, after which he 

 was exceffively fractious, whilft they were putting him to bed ; 

 his mother then conceived, that he wanted to get at the organ, 

 and placing him fo as to command the keys, the boy immediately 

 ftruck them, though fhe did not then diftinguifh that he played 

 any particular tune. The next morning however there was no 

 doubt but that he.fuccefsfully attempted, " God fave great George 

 44 our King." After this, the child's mufical fame fpread quickly- 

 through the city of Norwich b . 



The accuracy of this child's ear is fuch, that he not only pro- 

 nounces immediately what note is ftruck, but in what key the 

 mufic is compofed c . I was witnefs of an extraordinary inftance 



of 



b This account differ?, in fome particulars of no great moment, from 

 that given by Dr. Bumey in the Philofophical Tranfadtions, which I 

 conceive, however, to be more minutely accurate, as the information 

 •which he received depends upon the authority of others, as well as that 

 of the mother. I have not 'the moll diftant fufpicion indeed that fhe 

 wilfully misftated a fingle circuniftance, but all memories are fallible, 

 when we are queftioned on a fudden about tranfaclions that have hap- 

 pened at fome diftance of time. 



c I. have the fatisfaction of being confirmed by Dr. Burney, with re- 

 gard to both thefe extraordinary fa&s ; who adds, that the child diftin- 

 guifhed any particular note, when he was but two years and half old, by 

 laying his finger upon that key of the organ. 



As to the latter proof of his moft exquifite ear, impoffible almoft as it 

 feems, yet it mud neceffarily follow., that from two or three bars of the 



com- 



