1807.] 
Exports. 
Tin, in confiderable quantities. 
Gold, and gold duit, 
Ivory. 
Canes, ratans, and different kinds of 
wood in large quantities. —To be conti- 
nued, 
—tie 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HAT many may ftill be found who 
revere the name of Handel, and 
contemplate his genius with delight and 
aftoniliment, is honourable to our age 
and nation; and though fafhion, frivo- 
lity, and folly, have made fearful inroads 
upon the national charaéter and man- 
ners, we thall not be utterly loft to dig- 
nity and greatnefs whilft the compofitions 
of that extraordinary man are heard 
with admiration, and numbers can feel 
the power of the fublime and beautiful 
in his works with rapturous enthufi- 
afm. 
My own reverence, Mr. Editor, of 
the man’s genius verges upon idolatry ; 
and in becoming more acquainted with 
the treafures he has left ua, my wonder 
is heightened, and my pleafure increafed, 
But, m analyfing my feelings after at- 
tending to any piece of Handel, T find 
they are the “effeét of that power which 
refts in fuch ‘a combination of poetry,, 
fentiment, and mufic, which the Orato- 
rios of Handel exhibit. 
The mufic of that great matter has had 
many eulogilts, who have jufily appre- 
ciated the excuifite {kill difplayed in its. 
compofition ; the power, the pathos, the 
paffion, I may fay the magic and witch- 
ery, of his fong. The merits of the 
poetry which is ertiahed to the mufic, 
and the beautiful feleétion of facred fen- 
timents which (I had almofi {aid) gives a 
sly and divine authority to the mufician, 
1ay have been equally felt, but have not 
in the fame degr ee been noticed by any 
one. Indeed, it is the happy accord- 
ance of fenfe and found, the perfect echo 
of the one to the etter, which forms the 
powerful charm of Handel’s fong: it 
gives a fullnefs of fatisfaction to the 
Mind, than which nothing can be con- 
ceived more complete,—(your readers 
will fimile at my enthufiafin);—we may 
imagine it torefembie the {peaking founds 
from the harps of angels hymning the 
praifes of Jehovah; it awakens emotions 
and fentiments in the foul, which evince 
its own immortality and alliance with 
the heavenly choir,- In Handel’s vocal 
. 
Excellence of Handel's Mufical Compofit ions. 
-mitred head would he fuffer 
But does Handel claim the 
295 
compofitions, the verfe accompanying 
them difplays a {weet fimplicity, an af- 
feéting tendernefs, a forcible pathos, a 
beauty of fentiment, and power of te, 
which caufe a natural curioity to know 
the authors of it; and my principal ob- 
jeét in this communication is to ftate, 
how much I thould be obliged to any one 
of your mufical readers to inform me who 
were Handel’s coadjutors in the poetical 
part of his works? I believe Handel was 
proud of his knowledge of the Bible, 
and jealous of any interference in the 
feleétion of the {criptural paffages he has 
fet to his facred Oratorios: not even a 
to choofe 
for him; and we may rejoice in the cir= 
cumftance, as his judement in the choice 
of them appears to have been under an 
impulfe fhort only of divine infpiration. 
beautiful 
flowers and gems of poetry which are 
{cattered through his works, than which 
it is hardly potiible to prodice any thing 
fuperior in poetical excellence, in {weet- 
nefs, grace, and power of fentiment ? 
As a foreigner, it is difficult to conceive 
he could attain to fo mafterly a {kill in 
the ufe of our language; and if he had 
helpers, who were they that feem to 
have borrowed the very foul of his har- 
mony, and to have written from the im- 
pulfe of the fame ¢ genius which prompted 
i own iunmortal ftrains ?* 
To whom muft we afcribe that beau- 
tiful fong in the oratorio of ‘Solomon, 
which enforces a fpirit of piety fay 
more power than the eloquence of 
whole fynod of divines could do? 
‘* What though I trace each herb and flower 
That drinks the morning dew: 
Did T not own Jehovah’s pow’r, 
How vain were allI knew ?” 
In other fongs we find in a fingle line 
the effence of a thovfand volumes which 
holy men have written to recommend 
virtue by its beauty and excellence ; as 
in the following from Jofhua: 
«¢ Virtue my foul fhall 
Goodnefs fhail make 
And this, 
‘¢ Pleafure, my former ways refigning, 
To Virtue’s caufe inclining, 
Thee, Pleafure, now I leave ; 
fill embrace ; 
me great.*? 
from Time and Truth, 
* It is obvious where Handel has borrow- 
ed from the Mufe of Milton and Dryden ; 
and perhaps fome of your corref{pondents may 
be able to inform me in what inftances he 
has been indebted to the pen of Pope, Addi- 
fon, Thomfon, Arbuthnot, &c. 
Let 
