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was told lad dimmer, that he was then at Saltz- 
bourg, where he had cornpofed feveral oratorios, 
which were much admired. 
I am alfo informed, that the prince of Saltzbourg, 
not crediting that fuch m after ly compofitions were 
really thofe of a child, fhut him up for a week, 
during which lie was not permitted to fee any one, 
and was left only with mufic paper, and the words of 
an oratorio. 
During this ftiort time he cornpofed a very capital 
oratorio, which was moft highly approved of upon 
being performed. 
Having ftated the above mentioned proofs of 
Mozart’s genius, when of almoft an infantine age, 
it may not be improper perhaps to compare them 
with what hath been well attefted with regard to 
other inftances of the fame fort. 
Amongft thefe, John Barratier hath been moft: 
particularly diftinguifhed, who is faid to have un- 
derftood 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 
difiertations. Before his death, which happened 
under the age of twenty, Barratier feems to have 
aftonifhed Germany with his amazing extent of. learn- 
ing; and it need not be faid, that its increafe in fuch a 
foil, from year to year, is commonly amazing. 
Mozart, however, is not now much more than 
thirteen years of age, and it is not therefore neceftary 
to carry my comparifon further. 
The 
