The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-01-31 00:00:00

ACCOUNT OF MOZART.
-11/4n.
FROM A PARIS PAPER.
•
On the eve of hearing the lamas Requicrn of Mes-
o, k. the chef d'eu:rc of Mozart, we suppose that
our readers would be gratified by learning some of
the principal features of the life of that celebrated
composer.
Worfgang Amedie Mozart was born at Salzbourg
ia 1756. At the age of three years he received from
his father the first rudiments of music ; and, at six
years old, he composed some little pieces for the
organ. The same rear (1762) he was presented
to the Emperor }rands the First, who, charmed
with the early genius of this extraordinary child,
called him his Littie Enchaater, and admitted him
to the concerts of the Arch-Duchess Antoinette,
afterwards Queen of France.
Mozart was only eight years old when he appear-
ed at the Court of Versailles. lie touched the organ
in the King's chapel; and, from that time, shewed
himself equal to the greatest masters. He composed
a set of &moat, which lie dedicated to Madame
ViEloire. Zarb, Hasse, and Handel were the com-
posers whom he continually studied.
In 1768, Isis reputation 'vas become so great,
that the Imperial Theatre at Milan appointed him
to compose the Opera Serif:, which is presented every
year during the carnival. Mozart then compoied
his Mrarisfater: and they beheid a child of fourteen
years old, mounted on an eminence, direCting one
of the first orchestras in Europe, in the execution of ,
his own music. .
This same year he made a journey to Rome, and
from thence to Naples. Equally astonishing in execu-
tion and theory, he gave a Concert in this last city,
in which his execution appeared so supernatural,
that some of the Performers exclaimed, that it was
the elfe.Ft of a magic ring which he wore on his fin-
ger ; and he found it necessary to take off the pre-
tended talisman, to convince the auditors of his
wonderful talents.
Mozart, on his return to Vienna, then met the
Chevalier Gluck, who was a Bohemian by birth,
and esteemed it a glory to enlist himself among
the number of the pupils of that great genius, and
he did no; hesitate to connat himself in the same
manner sith the celebrated Joseph Haydn.
In 1782, the Emperor commanded MMtart to
adapt his Entraement do Strad to German words.
The Monarch, astorished at the wonderful richness
of the Accompaniment, said to him, " Here ate a
great many notes, my dear Mozart." " Not one
too many, Sire," replied the young artist.
In 1785, he published sit Quartettos, which he
dedicated to his friend llaydr ; they are equally
worthy of both.
The year following, he produced his No'ee
Figaro, at Vienna ; the Italian Company, jealous of
the astonishing superiority of a German composer,
performed this masterpiece with a determined map.
levolence. The Emperor, Joseph the I Id. was pre-
sent, and when the first AR was reser. Mozart went
to his box and demanded justice. Joseph, irritated
at this unworthy treatment, cleared the players to
be told, that it the second A& was got better per. I
formed than the first, they should be thrown Imo
prison. The performance was then pale& and
Mozart received uabounded applause.
In 1787, there appeared, at Prague, that master-
piece of all his works, the opera, in which he ex-
celled all other composers, II Mendota Panda, or
'DIM June. One•single ciretimstance is sufficient
to establish the name of thi . work and its immortal
author. Haydn received an intimation to compose
an opera for the theatre of Prague, " What are you
thinking of r replied he, " you have a Mozart--
have head Don
.71,001--and you ask me for music."
All those artists who were truly great offered him
their homage. A painter, willing to flatter the cele-
brated Cimarosa, told him, that he esteemed him
as much superior to Mozart ; " Me, Sir," replied
Cimarosa, with quickness, " what would you say to
the man who would assert that you were superior
to Raphael?"
We will pass over to the last years ef Mozart r
he published, in 1791, his Opera of La Rule La-
chanter, of which the Afolcres dins are parodies.
Soon after, he produced his inimitable Requitm,
which was to him his dying song. We have given,
in one of our late numbers, a very singular anecdote
concerning this last prothinion of this rare genius.
An hour before his death, he had a part of it in his
hands.
Mozart died, impressed with the cruel idea that
he had been poisoned by those who envied him.
We might write volumes on this extraordinary
man and his works; hut we must limit ourselves
to say, that he composed in every style, from the
song and the Waltz, to the lyric tragedy and the
sacred musk ; he excelled in all, and is the only one
to whom we can give this eulogium.
We find in his most simple songs a combination
equally rich awl impressive. In a word, it it be as-
serted that the best music is that which yields the
most happy mixture of melody and harmony can
we hesitate to acknowledge Mozart as the first com-
poser of all countries in every age t

A letter from Strashurgh, at the 27th Decem-
ber. says, " The first assembly of the Deputation
trot Milan was held at Paris on the 17th of this
month. It was occupied with the new form of Go-
vernment, which es to be given to the Italian Repub-
lic, but it will not present ith plans until after they
have been submitted to the Emperor Naeot EON."
A letter from Constantinople of the 20th Nov.-
says, " Count HA LIMISK Y, the Russian Minister, has
lately had a long conference with the R. is Err 1:1401.
It is supposed to have related to the interests of the
lonian Islands, and the stay which the Russian
troops are to make there. The Russian Minister
contradicts all the reports of a descent of Russian
troops on the Ottoman empire."
The last accounts from Italy state, that His
NE* POUT A% MAJESTY, in answer to the importu-
nate notes of the French Minister AL.:twee, to shut
his ports against the English, demanded some time
longer, to wait for the arrival of some important
lispatches from St. Petersburgh, London, and
Vienna. ibis At. ourca and the French General
St. CYR said they were not authorived to grant ;
but they both dispatched couriers to Paris for fresh
instruaions. Meanwhile, the British diplomatic
agent at Naples was making preparations fur his
departure.