CONTENTS. 30 Recollections in 1844 دو XI. University Sermons and Preachers XII. Recollections De Bedellis XIV. The Hampden Controversy in 1836 Mr. Ward and his Book, A.D. 1844-5 XIX. Recollections from A.D. 1845 to A.D. 1850 XXI. The Statute De Bedellis, and Recollections from 421 CHAPTER I. Meminisse juvabit. Recollections and Collections. A.D. 1789 to A.D. 1796. It is obvious that my early Recollections' may rather be called 'Collections,' daily impressed by local and traditional sources of information, till my eyes and ears learnt to take a wider range for themselves and received a deeper impression. My young fingers, however, were fully sensible of the severe winter of 1789, which was distinguished by a frost that commenced on the 24th of November and continued, with increasing severity1, for fifty-one days! It was in this year that, in order to support the attempt to revive or keep up the languishing Music Room, Master Crotch, The Musical Prodigy,' was regularly engaged to play a concerto on the organ at the weekly concerts. From 1 I have never forgotten some of the circumstances of that time, when I was a young member of a large family. I do not, however, pretend to vie in early recollections with Lord William Lennox, who in his 'Fifty Years' Reminiscences' records bis own birth in 1799—'an event of which (he says) I may consider myself the hero !' 2 My apology for beginning with Master Crotch' is, that my first impressions were connected with music and choirs, and especially with wonderful stories of his early musical development. B four years of age, when he was exhibited as a wonder, 'non sine diis animosus infans,' he adhered to Oxford (though not born there), and finally succeeded to the Professorship of Music. The Music Room, which had maintained a fluctuating state of existence ever since its erection (by subscription) in 1742, must at least have been filled at the Commemoration concerts which were given there. How they could answer in a room which would scarcely contain with comfort 400 persons, it is difficult to conceive; but public singers, even first-rate ones, did not then ask such extravagant sums for their occasional services1. Madam Storace (an Englishwoman who Italianised her husband's name2) was for some years the prima donna on these occasions, supported by an Oxford native, Miss Mahon (afterwards Madam Seconde), and 'the four Miss Radcliffes from Worcester.' One of these Miss Radcliffes became a regular weekly-singer at the revived subscription-concerts at the Music Room; she was a very sweet singer of Handel's songs (the only music of that day), a very pleasing, amiable person, and eventually married to a Fellow of a College3. This year witnessed great and sincere rejoicings, with feastings and illuminations, on George the Third's recovery 1 The famous Bartleman used to come to Oxford and sing at two concerts for ten or fifteen pounds. 2 As a young chorister, a few years after, I well remember her singing Purcell's Mad Bess' with great effect, and the graceful manner in which she transferred a share of the applause to Crotch, for his skilful and brilliant accompaniment, played (as was then not unusual) from a single bass-line amply marked with thorough-bass figures. 3 Oxford had not been without concerts before the building of the Music-Room. Hearne (about the year 1730) speaks with great disgust of Concerts given by one Handel, with his dirty crew of foreign fidlers, in the Theatre and in Christ-Church hall, at five shilling tickets.' I may be excused for adding, Mr. Walter Powel, Superior Bedel in Divinity, sang with them all alone'-whatever that meant. |