1821.] Visit of a Musical Amateur to the Metropolis. 3 
which he delivers his tones: liis,manner 
is too complicated, and there wants 
more nature and simplicity in his 
enunciation. By a circuitous motion 
of his mouth, he puts his words upon 
the rack, and produces deformity and 
dislocation.* These defects are much 
to be lamented, as Mr. Bellamy lias an 
excellent voice, great energy, and is a 
good musician. ~ Mr. Kellner has re¬ 
cently made the tour of Italy, by which 
he has learnt every thing, but the fa¬ 
culty of siuging his own language. He 
has a fine bass voice, and accompanies 
himself on the piano-forte with great 
skill and ability, but every word he 
attempts to utter seems imprisoned in 
his mouth, and when they escape, it is 
with such violence and blimtness, as 
more to annoy than delight. If he 
would begin de novo and learn the first 
rudiments of a correct and polite enun¬ 
ciation, he certainly might become the 
first bass singer of the day. 
MRS. SALMON’S CONCERT. 
This lady gives two concerts in each 
season, at which all the first per¬ 
formers appear, and theffiest company 
attend. Mrs. Salmon is, I believe, 
the first instance in which the requi¬ 
sites of a great singer have been found 
united in an English woman ; and she 
is a striking example of what genius 
and industry will do, unaided by tui¬ 
tion and patronage. Her vocal talent 
is entirely her own — she has had no 
master, and is purely original. Like 
the sweet chantress of the grove, 44 she 
sang unheeded and unknown ,” but the 
influence of her voice has broken the 
spell which envy sought to throw around 
her. Her voice is not extensive or 
powerful; but it is of the richest co¬ 
lour and quality : her execution is re¬ 
markable for its brilliant rapidity, and 
lor the grace and facility with which 
she takes up or concludes her passages. 
She is the only singer who has disco¬ 
vered the art of varying her tone to 
the sentiment or passage she has to ex¬ 
press. In her divisions, the beauty of 
the flute is succeeded by the rich and 
mellow tones of the clarionet, and in 
her 44 mezza voce.” the flageolet is sur¬ 
passed in delicacy and beauty. Her 
knowledge of the science gives her a 
great advantage over her contempora¬ 
ries ; and it is only in the encore that 
her fancy and creative power are fully 
displayed. 44 From mighty Kings” a 
* Du-mk-ness— she-ali-dpW'— le-oy-i— 
iux-me-agine—au-noyu-ted. 
second rate song of Handel’s, she has 
raised into importance by the inimi¬ 
table style of her execution ; and such 
is tiie versatility of her powers, that 
there is no department of the vocal art 
in which she is not pre-eminent. 
Miss Stephens next claims our ad¬ 
miration, by her very interesting and 
unaffected manner. There is a pensive 
tone in her voice that'indicates a sweet¬ 
ness of disposition—- so far the voice 
may be said to be an index of the mind. 
Her style is that of nature and simpli¬ 
city ; and as her articulation is clear 
and good, she never appears to more 
advantage than in siuging an English 
ballad; but beautiful and pathetic as 
many of these national compositions 
are, it is to be lamented that the music 
is so seldom worthy of them. 
It is said that Mrs. Dickons has sung 
one song in England three hundred 
times, and it is probable that Miss Ste¬ 
phens will doable that number in her 
performance of 44 Auld Robin Gray.” 
The Nobleman’s Catch Club, at 
the Thatched House Tavern, is very 
difficult of access. It has been kept 
up with great spirit for sixty years,. 
The society consists of forty-four mem¬ 
bers, among whom there are two princes, 
twelve nobles, with several baronets 
and honourables. It is a law, that each 
member shall possess 5001. a year in 
land, and sufficient talent to take a 
part in a .glee, d''he members dine to¬ 
gether every Tuesday from January to 
June, and twenty-two of the first pro¬ 
fessional singers are admitted as hono¬ 
rary members at this Anacreontic board. 
It. is not wonderful, that in so illus¬ 
trious a company, the genius of Web be, 
Cooke, Dan by, Paxton, and Calcot, 
should have been stimulated to pro¬ 
duce those admirable compositions, 
wliich this society has rewarded by 
their gold medal These meetings had 
their origin in the time of Charles II. 
and the following composition by Pur¬ 
cell has nevqr been equalled:— 
Sum up all the delights the world can 
produce, 
1 he darling allurements now chiefly in use: 
You 11 find, when compared, there’s none 
can contend 
With the solid enjoyments of bottle and 
friend. 
for honour, or wealth, or beauty may 
waste: 
Those joys often fade, and rarely dofiast: 
They’re so hard to attain, and so easily 
lost, 
that the pleasure ne’er answers the trou¬ 
ble and coat, 
V 
Noii6j 
