pears to have been formed in the Metropolis, who resolved annually to commemorate their pious

French, and presented by THE ACADEMY OF MUSICK at the Theatre Royal in Covent-Garden, 1674." Dr. Bur ney with good reason doubted the existence of any English Academy of Musick, at this period; and assuredly none such existed, as will appear by exhibiting the full title of this opera, which now lies before me. It was sct to musick, not, as has been supposed, by Cambert, who had been Master of the King's Band, and probably was then dead, but by Grabu, or Grabut, (for the name is written both ways,) who afterwards was employed to furnish the musick of Dryden's ALBION AND ALBANIUS,— The full title is as follows:

"ARIADNE, or the Marriage of Bacchus, an Opera; or a Vocal Representation, first composed by Monsieur P. P. [Pierre Perrin,] now put into musick by Monsieur Grabut, Master of his Majesties Musick, and acted by the ROYAL Academy of Musick, at the Theatre Royal in Covent-Garden. In the Savoy: Printed by Tho. Newcombe, 1674."

The word Royal, which Jacob has omitted, as well as the Dedication to the King, shew, that this Academy was nothing more than the principal musicians employed in his Majesty's band, who were chiefly foreigners: but how with propriety they could be said to have acted this opera, M. Grabu himself would, I believe, have found it very difficult to explain.-The following passages in the Dedication will at once shew what kind of Musical Academy this was:

But, Sir,

your vast mind was not yet fully satisfied in having by your invincible force made England triumph over her fierce and audacious enemies, bringing them, in spight of their obstinacy, to beg peace at your

patroness by a publick performance of vocal and instrumental musick. That such an Association

:

royal hands, and by that happy peace filled the hearts of
your people with joy and satisfaction: you would com-
pleat the splendour and magnificence of your imperial
seat, by establishing within her stately walls your ACA-
DEMY OF OPERAS, the fairest and most charming of all
publick shews: you have made the queen of cities to be-
come also the center, the source of love, pleasures, and
gallantry..... - Your Majesty will doubtless find these
first representations of your opera very defective; but,
Sir, it dares flatter itself with hopes that you will pardon
its faults, and consider that the Academy that executes
the same, is yet an infant, a new-born beauty, whose
features and lincaments are scarce come to their shape
and proportion; but cannot fail of growing to perfection
in her due time and age, provided you deign own her for
your creature, and afford her your royal care and protec-
tion. These gracious favours, Sir, she humbly, and with
a most profound respect and veneration begs at your royal
hands, as being your Majesties most humble and
most obedient, and most faithful subjects and servants,
"Your Royal Academy of Musick."
But how, it may be said, could this opera have been per-
formed at the theatre in Covent-Garden, which was not
then built? Shadwell's opera of PSYCHE was at this time
performing at the Duke's Theatre in Dorset-Garden; for
Downes says, it was first produced in February, 1673-4.
To oppose it, ARIADNE was exhibited at the King's The-
atre in Drury-Lane, which had been burnt down, and
after its rebuilding, was opened March 26, 1674. The
King's Theatre, having its principal door in Bridges.
street, and another in Little Russel-street, is in some
other old plays beside ARIADNE, called the Theatre in

1

existed about that time, we learn from a publication of the last age, entitled "A Musical Entertainment performed November 22, 1683, on St. Cecilia's day, printed in score by John Playford, with a Dedication to the Gentlemen of THE MUSICAL SOCIETY, and particularly the Stewards,

64

Covent-Garden. "This play," says Shadwell, speaking of THE MISER, in 1672, was the last play that was acted at the King's Theatre in Covent-Garden, before the fatal fire there"--and in the present century, LovE THE LEVELLER, a comedy, was printed in 1704, as "acted at the Theatre-Royal in Bridges-street, Covent-Garden.

"This piece is so rare, that I have not discovered a copy of it any where, except in the Musical Collection of Mr. Goodson, in the library of Christ-Church in Oxford. Purcell's Dedication is as follows:

"To the Gentlemen of the Musical Society, and particularly to the Stewards for the year ensuing, "William Bridginan, Esq. Nicholas Staggins, "Doctor in Musick, Gilbert Dolben, Esq. and "Mr. Francis Forcer.

“Gentlemen,

"Your kind approbation and benign reception of the performance of these musical compositions on St. Cecilia's day, by way of gratitude claim this Dedication; which likewise furnishes the author with an opportunity of letting the world know the obligations he lies under to you, and that he is, to all lovers of musick,

"A real friend and servant,

·· HENRY PURCELL."

William Bridgman was probably the gentleman mentioned by Mr. North, in his Manuscript Memoirs of Musick, (quoted by Dr. Burney, iii. 514,) among the dilettanti,

by Henry Purcell, Composer of Musick;” which furnishes the earliest notice of the celebration of this festival in England, that I have met with.

At that period, few of the taverns of the metropolis affording accommodation for very large assemblies, and none of them being furnished with such spacious kitchens as the edifices appropriated to the meetings and entertainments of the various Companies of the Corporation of London, it was customary for the principal gentlemen of several of the counties of England to have their annual dinners at some one of the publick halls; generally either at

who patronized Nicola Matteis :-" Mr. Bridgman, the under-secretary, who accompanied well on the harpsichord." He was Secretary to the Ecclesiastical Commission at its first opening in 1686, and at the same time was sworn Clerk of the Privy Council.-Neither this gentleman, nor our author's friend, Mr. Gilbert Dolben, is answerable for accepting so miserable a song as that which Purcell decorated by his notes; for we here find, they were not the Stewards of the year 1683.

Nicholas Staggins, who attained to the degree of Doctor in Musick in 1664, was composer to Charles II. and Master of the band of musick to William III. He composed the musick for a song in our author's MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE, beginning with the words, "Whilst Alexis," &c. He died in 1698; and was succeeded, as Master of the King's band, by John Eccles.

The principal gentlemen of Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorsetshire, Cheshire, and some other counties, at this time annually dined together in London. Previous to their anniversary feast, they generally went to church, and heard a sermon. The gentlemen bred at

that belonging to the Merchant Taylors in Threadneedle-street, or'at Stationers' Hall. The latter having been consumed by the fire of London, was rebuilt, and the new edifice was completed in 1674.'

Eton and at the Charter-House, from about the 1684, also annually met and dined together for several

years.

The sum at first paid for the use of Stationers' Hall is ascertained by the following entry in the Wardens' account, from the 1st of July 1683, to the 24th of July, 1684:

The hire of the Hall, however, for both feasts and funerals, afterwards rose to two pounds. Of the County Meetings, and those of the Eton and Charter-House scholars, here and at Merchant Taylors' Hall, various notices are found in the London Gazette, between 1690 and 1700.

The Stationers' Hall was also let for other purposes. Thus, in 1698, is the following entry:

Received of Mr. Leigh, for the use of the

Hall, for his Lottery "Received for dancing

£.2
£. 0

In Jan. 1701-2, the use of the Hall was allowed to Mr. Cavendish Weedon, " for the performance of divine musick in it twice a week, for a year, at three guincas a week, with Officers' fees." G. 66. (b.)

Sir John Hawkins says, (HIST. OF MUSICK, iv. 502.) that "the lovers of musick residing in this metropolis