mention what degree of merit he profeffed as a musician. When I firft knew him he lived at Bath, where Giardini had been exhibiting his then unrivalled powers on the violin. His excellent performance made Gainsborough enamoured of that inftrument; and conceiving, like the Servantmaid in the Spectator, that the music lay in the fiddle, he was frantic until he poffeffed the very inftrument which had given him so much pleasure-but seemed much furprized that the mufic of it remained behind with Giardini ! He had fcarcely recovered this fhock (for it was a great one to him) when he heard Abel on the viol-di-gamba. The violin was hung on the willow-Abel's viol-di-gamba was purchased, and the house refounded with melodious thirds and fifths from "morn to dewy eve!" Many an Adagio and many a Minuet were begun begun, but none compleated-this was wonderful, as it was Abel's own inftrument, and therefore ought to have produced Abel's own mufic! Fortunately, my friend's paffion had now a fresh object-Fischer's hautboy— but I do not recollect that he deprived Fischer of his inftrument: and though he procured a hautboy, I never heard him make the least attempt on it. Probably his ear was too delicate to bear the disagreeable founds which neceffarily attend the first beginnings on a wind-inftrument. He feemed to content himself with what he heard in public, and getting Fischer to play to him in private—not on the hautboy, but the violin-but this was a profound fecret, for Fischer knew that his reputation was in danger if he pretended to excel on two inftruments.* The * It was at this time that I heard Fischer play a folo on the violin, and accompany himself on the The next time I faw Gainsborough it was in the character of King David. He had heard a harper at Bath-the performer was foon left harplefs-and now Fischer, Abel, and Giardini were all forgottenthere was nothing like chords and arpeggios! He really stuck to the harp long enough to play feveral airs with variations, and, in a little time, would nearly have exhausted all the pieces ufually performed on an inftrument incapable of modulation, (this was not a pedal-harp) when another vifit from Abel brought him back to the viol-di-gamba. He now saw the imperfection of sudden founds that inftantly die away--if you wanted a ftaccato, it was to be had by a proper management of the bow, and you might also have notes as long as you please. The viol-di-gamba is the only inftrument, fame inftrument-the air of the folo was executed with the bow, and the accompaniment pizzicato with the unemployed fingers of his left hand. 1 inftrument, and Abel the prince of muficians! This, and occafionally a little flirtation with the fiddle, continued fome years; when, as ill-luck would have it, he heard Crofdill--but, by fome irregularity of conduct, for which I cannot account, he neither took up, nor bought, the violoncello. All his paffion for the Bafs was vented in descriptions of Crofdill's tone and bowing, which was rapturous and enthusiastic to the last degree. More years now paffed away, when upon feeing a Theorbo in a picture of Vandyke's; he concluded (perhaps, because it was finely painted) that the The bo must be a fine inftrument. He recollected to have heard of a German profeffor, who, though no more, I shall forbear to name-afcended per varios gradus L 4 gradus to his garret, where he found him at dinner upon a roasted apple, and smoking a pipe-*** fays he, I am come to buy your lute— is To pay my lude!" Yes--come, name your price, and here your money. "I cannod fhell my lude!" No, not for a guinea or two, but by G- you muft fell it. May lude ifh wert much monnay! it ifh wert ten guinea." That it is-fee, here is the money. take it away yourshelf?" Yes, yes-good bye *** (After he had gone down he came up again) *** I have done but half my errandWhat is your lute worth, if I have not your book? "Whad poog, Maifhter Cainfporough? Why, the book of airs you have compofed for the lute. "Ah, |