C 3*9 ] 



never deferted him. For the next mufical ftage he commenced 

 compofer, from emulation of the applaufe given to a country- 

 ,dance made by a neighbouring clergyman. He accordingly 

 ■fet to work, and by playing the treble on the violin, whilft he 

 fung a bafe to it, he formed a minuet, the bafe of which he 

 wrote in the treble cleffp, and was very profufe of his fifths and, 

 octaves, being totally ignorant of the eftablifhed rules of compor 

 fifion q . 



This minuet was followed by a duet for two French homs ? 

 whilft the piece concluded by an Andante movement, thus con- 

 lifting of three parts, all of which being tacked together, he 

 ftiled a ferenata. At this time he had never heard any mufic, but 

 from his father, fitters, and the old painter. 



He ftuck to the violin till he was fourteen ; but had; always a 

 ftrong inclination to the harpfichord ; from which his fitters drove 

 him continually, faying that he fpoiled the inftrument, notwith- 

 ftanding which he fometimes ftole intervals of practice. 



About this time the late Lord Mornington declared his inten- 

 tion of having an organ for his chapel, telling his fon, that he 

 (hould have been*the organift, had kebeen able ^p^play on the 

 inftrument. On this the fon undertook to be ready as foon as 

 the organ could be finifhed ; .which being accomplimed in lefs 

 than a year and a half, he iat down at the maker's, played an 

 extemporary fugue, to the aftoniOiment of the father, as well as 

 others, who did not conceive that he could have- executed a fingle. 

 bar of any tune. 



It is well known that this inftrument is more likely to form a, 

 compofer than any other, and his lord/hip, in procels of time, 



p Having only played in this cleff on the violin. 

 Which forbid two fifths or two octaves to follow each other in the 

 fame direction, the ear being glutted with fuch perfect confonances in 

 fucceffion. 



4 both 



