firft, ftudious men require, in their relaxa- 
tions, air and exercife Mufic affords nei- 
ther: fecondly, it has often happened, that 
this relief which was at firft admitted as a 
handmaid to Study, became her miftrefs: 
nay, the baggage has fometimes been fo in- 
folent as to turn her miftrefs out of doors. 
When I firft began to fcrape on the vio- 
lin, I was told, by my mafter, that unlefs I 
determined to praclife eight hours every 
day, it was in vain to begin: yet people 
learn Mufic for amufement; an amufement 
that is conftantly to occupy a third part of 
their whole time. There is indeed no art 
that requires more conftant labour, if you 
have the ambition to excel; to excel, I mean, 
as a gentleman performer; for you will never 
advance higher than a humble Repiano in a 
good band. Now, whether the profpect of 
arriving at this degree of excellence, deferve 
the facrifice of one third of your time, ad- 
mits of fome doubt. 
If we reflecT:, that, from the beginning of 
this century to the prefent time, many thou- 
fands of men, in this kingdom, have been 
labouring inceflantly to attain the art of 
playing on the Violin, fome for amufement 
and 
