[ 59 ] 
fo as to be read at all times one exactly under the 
other, but often in a defultory manner. 
Suppofe then, a capital fpeech in Shakefpeare* never 
feen before, and yet read by a child of eight years old, 
with all the pathetic energy of a Garrick. 
Let it be conceived likewife, that the fame child is 
reading, with a glance of his eye, three different com- 
ments on this fpeech tending to its iiluffration ; and 
that one comment is written in Greek, the fecond 
in Hebrew, and the third in Etrufcan characters. 
Let it be alfo fuppofed, that by different figns he 
could point out which comment is moff material 
upon every word ; and fometimes that perhaps all 
three are fo, at others only two of them. 
When all this is conceived, it will convey fome 
idea of what this boy was capable of, in finging fuch 
a duet at fight in a mafterly manner from the fcore, 
throwing in at the fame time all its proper accom- 
paniments. 
When he had finilhed the duet, he exprefied 
himfelf highly in its approbation, afking with fome 
eagernefs whether I had brought any more fuch 
mufic. 
Having been informed, however, that he was 
often vifited with mufical ideas, to which, even in 
the midft of the night, he would give utterance on 
his harpfichord ; I told his father that I fhould be 
glad to hear fome of his extemporary compofitions. 
The father fhook his head at this, faying, that it 
depended entirely upon his being as it were mufically 
* The words in Metafrafio’s duet, which little Mozart fung, 
are very pathetic. 
I 2 infpired. 
