an Infant Muficlan. 197 
his ear, though exquiiitely formed for difcriminating 
founds, is as yet only captivated by vulgar and common 
melody, and is fatisfied with very imperfect harmony. I 
examined his countenance when he fir It heard the voice 
of Signor pacchierotti, the principal, finger of the 
opera, but did not find that he feemed fenfible of the fu- 
perior tafte and refinement of that exquifite performer ;; 
however, he called out very foon after the air was be- 
gun, “ He is finging in f.” 
And this is one of the aftonifhing properties of his 
ear, that he can diftinguifh at a great diftance from any 
inftrument, and out of fight of the keys, any note that 
is ftruck, whether a, b, c, See. In this I have repeatedly 
tried him, and never found him miftaken even in the 
half notes ; a circumftance the more extraordinary, as 
many practitioners and good performers are unable to 
diftinguifh by the ear at the opera or elfewhere in what 
key any air or piece of mufic is executed. 
But this child was able to find any note that was 
ftruck in his hearing, when out of fight of the keys, at 
two years and a half old,, even before he knew the letters 
of the alphabet: a circumftance fo extraordinary, that I 
was very curious to know when, and in what manner,, 
this faculty firft difeovered itfelf; and his father fays,, 
that in the middle of January 1778, while he was play- 
ing the organ, a particular note hung, or, to fpeak the 
language 
