receipts, the Committee have had recourse to public concerts, public dinners, and lastly a ball. All of these have been to a certain degree productive. But it would be much to be regretted were this establishment left dependant upon such expedients as the two latter for permanent support. Music is a legitimate means of providing for the sustentation of the art and the artist, and therefore the establishment of public concerts upon a splendid scale, for the benefit of the Institution, is to be resorted to, and will probably be found highly advantageous. The prospectus has been issued. The terms are four guineas for six concerts. To fix the prices so high appears to be an error, In the Antient and Philharmonic certain classes enjoy concerts, limited not only in the style of the music performed, but also with respect to the admission of subscribers. The Metropolis now requires a concert of general resort, and as these concerts are for a public purpose, they should be formed upon a public plan. Even half-a-guinea we have always considered to be too high a price for admission-here the price is raised to fourteen shillings. We recommend the revision of this part of the scheme, and we would also advise that the admission to the younger branches of families be extended at a reduced charge. Such a plan was found to be eminently successful at Bath. It is a general object to reduce the cost of music, and as the Academy can conduct a concert far more cheaply than any individual or body, it is incumbent upon them to set the example, and such a design will be found ultimately more beneficial to the Institution than any other, because it will attract a more universal regard and more cordial patronage.

Besides this, the largest and most obvious means of augmenting the funds—it has been suggested that amateurs should be admitted to sing or play with the accompaniment of the students, or that a portion of them may be permitted to attend quartett parties or private concerts on certain terms. Both these expedients would be beneficial to the Institution, to the public, and to the pupils themselves, since they would lead to a better knowledge of the manners of good society and to the formation of connections that must be useful to them in after life. We have before said that the improvement of the national dramatic music-the formation of just taste for opera-ought to be amongst the objects of the Academy, as well as the preparation of those pupils whose

parents may design them for the stage. Might not the composition and the performance of a legitimate opera (by which we mean a drama wholly musical) by such pupils, be made another means both of instruction and pecuniary advantage? Knowing the apprehension with which parents in general view the devotion of their children to the stage, we speak with great diffidence as to this matter-but the fact is, that no department of our music needs so much improvement as the music of the Theatre, and yet no department is so lucrative. It has long been the reproach of our theatres that our singers are not musicians, in the emphatic sense of the word, and hence great difficulties have been cast in the way of those who are desirous to see England possess an opera. Not only the metropolitan but the provincial theatres are lamentably deficient in this particular. Surely then the formation of singers for the stage is one legitimate object of the Academy. And be it recollected that the plan we recommend would have the amelioration of the profession for its object, and insofar as it succeeds, by somuch would it tend to remove the just objections which at present lie against such an employment of talent, by introducing well-educated and well-principled persons into the profession of an actor. That there is nothing essentially degrading in the character of an actor has now been abundantly proyed. The Kemble family, Mr. Young and Mrs. Siddons, Miss O'Neil, and Miss Stephens more particularly, are brilliant examples of purity of manners and elevation of mind, being found in combination with dramatic and musical talent of the very highest order. Why should well-conducted persons constitute the exceptions and not the rule, but from the causes already assigned-but because good principles are not sufficiently often laid and habits fixed in the solid advantages of a sound education ?

One other expedient only remains amongst those which are already under consideration, although probably there are many which future experience will bring into light and activity-this is the admission of a limited number of day pupils. The objection to the reception of such scholars has hitherto been, the dangers to which the females would be exposed in passing through the streets, and the fear of the admixture of children, whose manners and whose morals may not be formed under the same scrupulous government. These impediments are certainly well worthy the VOL. VII. NO. XXVI.-JUNE, 1825.

Y

most attentive examination, and we are not prepared to say whether more good or evil be likely to arise. Certain we are that the experiment ought not to be tried, unless a great practical good be expected-indeed we scarcely think the reputation of the school ought to be put to the hazard.

We have thus endeavoured to present to the profession and the public a faithful, though it may seem a flattering view of this establishment. But we have not been slow to censure, and we are at least as eager to discharge the obligation of duty, when we see so much to commend. We shall be quite content to submit our description to the severest test of examination and of time. We feel perfectly secure of our ground in the substantial character of the Committee-in their enthusiastic devotion of their hours to the supervision and regulation of the Institution-in their judgment, temper, and cool consideration-in the kindness of the superintendants-in the abilities and energy of the professors-in the general excellence of the plan-and above all, in the examples which the pupils give by their progress. Here we come to the practical fact. We are convinced by repeated attendances at the school and the public performances, that no pupils of the same standing, privately educated, are likely to evince the same various knowledge or the same particular excellence that the pupils of the Royal Academy even now display, and we have shewn that we believe the plan to be susceptible of and that it will receive considerable improvement. It remains for us then only to recommend it to the public patronage and to the most earnest regard of the profession, upon the score of its intrinsic merits. The public have a deep interest in its success, inasmuch as it bids fair to ensure to the generations yet to come an intelligent, capable, scientific, informed, and moral race of instructors, and at the same time during its progression the subscribers may derive much pleasure from the performances of the pupils, and perhaps advantage some connection by an introduction to the school. Much personal gratification as well as much benefit to others may be purchased by the subscription of a small sum. But the profession have a deeper stake in its welfare, for if half the good we have described appertain to the Academy, there can be no question but that those who purpose to train their children to follow their own steps, may at once secure to them, for a less sum than they can feed and

educate their offspring at home, all the advantages which the best technical instruction, the best moral government and good society confer; at the same time those pupils who are diligent and clever will obtain a passport to professional recommendation and emolument, invaluable to a youth entering the world. The sister art of painting already possesses a noble foundation. In many respects the education of musicians is far more important than that of painters. Music is not only much more generally practiced than design, but it consequently occupies vastly more of their time and contributes much more to the happiness of the great bulk of the community. Musicians are the more frequent instructors of our children, and also the more frequent companions of our domestic pleasures. Hence the stronger reason why their characters should be carefully formed. The Royal Academy holds out the fairest promise of this careful education, and we are convinced that nothing more now is necessary to perfect the prosperity of the noble undertaking, than that its principles should be examined and understood, and the character of the gentlemen who have done so much and so sincerely for its establishment known.— We feel that we have only performed a duty in endeavouring to awaken the general attention to both, and we can truly say we have seldom enjoyed more personal satisfaction than in pursuing the train of enquiries which have thus enabled us to do justice to the Royal Academy, its founders, and directors.

SIR,

TO THE EDITOR.

In two of your last Numbers there are some just observations upon the abuses of church music, in regard both to the vocal and instrumental departments. According to the article in your last, signed "A Lover of the Organ," in which the work of Bedford on "The Great Abuse of Music," published more than a century ago, is quoted, this appears to be no new complaint, and the same may probably continue for ages yet to come, till at last these matters are ordered as they ought to be, namely, by subjecting the musical part of the church service to the same rules and restrictions with the rest of the service. For want of this it frequently happens in parish churches, that the words to be sung are selected by the clerk, or both words and music by a set of self-appointed singers, who are generally illiterate mechanics.

This is one abuse-another is, that the organist of a parish church is usually appointed by a majority of the votes of the parishioners at large, without regard to abilities or character,* and when chosen, is under no kind of restriction, but left to his own guidance, who having a powerful instrument at his sole command, may either greatly enforce, or as greatly mar the effect of the psalmody, &c. as his discretion, or the want of it, may lead him.

In cathedrals these matters seem to be ordered aright, but how are they executed? A precentor is indeed appointed to regulate every choir, in whom the ultimate power of superintendance is vested; but how often does it happen that these officers, as well as organists, are appointed through mere influence, and without the least regard to musical knowledge, of which, whatever may be their literary and other acquirements, they are sometimes as

*That such elections are often directed more to the wants of the candidate than of the church, there are a thousand instances to prove. A short time ago a parishioner was solicited by a gentleman, who espoused the interest of a young candidate, and who urged his claims upon the ground that the unfortunate youth was totally blind. "Sir," said the parishioner, "I should willingly oblige your friend with my vote, were not my feelings already engaged for another, whose helplessness is still more miserable, he having no In truth the organ-loft ought not to be made an alms-house.

arms."