The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-19 00:00:00

.•• . _ •
THE NATIONAL REGI sr ER.

J'IdSON MEMOIRS of LIVING GENIUS.

No. I.

TO 'TIE EDITOR Or TIM NATIONAL REGISTER.

Pa—ln one of your late numbers you broadly asserted that the arts
and sciences continued to meet with the mo t liberal patronage, not-
sividtstandit g the itycessantstomplaints to the contrary uttered by men
of genius in almost every department of art and science. As I have for
sAree years entertained a ditierent opinion, and with the warm feelings
of an amateur, take a deep interest in the fate of my fellow creatures
who are distinguished by superior abilities, it is my. intention, through
the medium of your pages, relying on your candour, to show that the
d ,ctrine you have broached is totally unfounded. I should perhaps bave
letuained silent, had I not considered that I should encourage the be-
lief that the par:onage of the present day is sufficiently extensive : a be-
lief which would tend to circumscribe it within still narrower bounds
by Making a further exertion of liberality and beneficence appear unne-
e sary. The method which I have adopted is, I believe, new, and will
egible Inc to support the opinion which it is my wish to establish, by
the evidence offacts. _ _

f know that the world tisplays many instances of successful talents:
cht:ered by its smiles, move in the regions of splendour and
sly:rile:ice. I hnow, too, that fashion has frequently obtained the re-
wards of merit ; an•A that truly an impostor possesses a poi tion of pub-.
Favour whi:h forwArd impucl:nee alone has acquired, But I have
I:). ked beyond the glare of fortune, veil or ill attained. I have I.ft the
busy stage whore the filv:in rhos of an hour glitter, deceive, and vanish,
to explore the retreats in which the interested inhumanity of man de.
Celts its own rntrpoFcs, by dooming to in.lction the energies of the most
active, the p.n.Verr, of the greatest genius. There I have found superior
;ea:l:ties Inlried in tn6mentary oblivion, because that patronage which
C.oihtto have aisisted and secured their elevation, was either wasted
on the unworthy, or niggardly bestowed on the deserving, and now to-
tally withdrawn. 1 have closely inquired into the circumstauces which
tad deprived the world of some who might have yielded it delight, and
proved its chief orti.ini;nts, and have generally found that the eye of
patronage had been too dim to nottce.even transcendent abilities when
clothed in Ow garb of native modesty: that miThiced confidence and
the treachery of friends, h;:d caused embarrossine::ts followed by the
loss cit liberty, and that priscza instead of containing only the thought-
t&a. spendquiit, urpyinciyled gambler, or public defaulter, were also
peopled with suil-rir.g virtue, deep learning, and pre-eminent genius.
I have Conned a list of the most distinguished charac'ers for respecta-
bility and vrith whom I have met in the course of my re-
I 1!.-,ve raismood works whenever they could be ob-
zained,aral were pictorial, or musical, ailti collected the
mdsto in:cresting particulars of their lives. 'rinse I shall occasionally
transmit to you, with a critical opinion on the talents of the various
subjects of my biographical sketches, as displayed in their respective
producdons. I shall tlius do an act of justice to the deserving, make
known their grievances and perhaps contribute to hasten their emanci-
pation by leading the eye and heart of patronage to their sad abode. I
shell at the same time do good to the community at large, by showing it
what useful members it might regain, and, I trust, induce it to exert the
power which it always possesses of restoring them to its bosom.
As it is possible that the best intentions *lay fail in their execution or
their effects, and that; even within this circumscribed hpliere, deserving
characters may elude my search, I shall pay proper attention to all com-
mitnications well authenticated and directed to your ofii,:e, where I shall
apply for them in person, should the plan meet with your approbation.
I albeit then corroborate by private enquiry the facts stated, and only lay
before the public, what in the sincerity of my soul, I conceive to be true
and well foundtd.

I shall begin with a gentleman, who, like the country that gave him
birth, has experienced many vicissitudes of fortune. Having been
lately compelled by repeated losses, occasioned by the misconduct of
supposed friends, to suffer his name to appear in the Gazette, his pre-
sent abode is the King's Bench, a place of confinement, which, as it is
the most airy and commodious, is also the best regulated in Europe. I
am almost in doubt whether to call him now a prisoner, as he has ob-
tained his certificate in the most honourable manner, and is therefore
entitled to his freedom, which he will regain in a week or two, as soon
as the usual forms shall have been satisfied, and she Lord Chancellor's

JAN. 19.

. . .
signature given. Contriry to the common practice, he was arrested
before he could have applied for a protection, and is still detained by a
well disposed creditor, who probably thinks it would be unfrierdty to
throw him hack upon the bustling world, as long as it is in his poSver to
make him taste the sweets of rt tirement. This conduct proves, that
although " Music bath charms to bend the knotted oak," it has none to
move a firm man's purpose; for if harmony of sounds could produce
concord amongst us, the great master, an whose biographical sketch I
am going to enter, would in a few minutes be able to soothe the direst
animosities into peace.
JOHN MIJON(F., formerly organist to the church of St. Roch, at
Paris, was bred up to the study of music from his infancy, and thus ac-
quired not only an intimate knowledge of the principles of harmony,
but a degree of ease and execution which, assisted isy a correct and
classical taste, an acute sensibility, and a warm imagination, led him at
an early age to attempt, and enabled him to succeed in, elevated com-
positions. At that time he studied with other youths under Mr. Bat.
bastre, organist of St. Roch, a man of acknowledged talent, who,
perhaps, little thought be had among his scholars a successor who
should surpass him both in abilities and in fa re. It was required of
every student that he should occasionally furnish a proof of his applica-
tion, progress, and capacity, by producing a composition of his own,
and performing it on the church organ, before the assembled congrega-
tion. By such exercises Mr. Nluasue first attracted the public atten-
tion. It was remarked that his pieces united, with a rich fulness of
harmony, a powerful expression and a decided originality. Neither did
he confine himself to the organ alone. The pianoforte occupied as
large a portim of Ins time : for in his country the study of the or:e is
as essential to the acquisition of fame as that of the other; both being
considered as neariy the same instrument with varied powers, and the
praise of excellence being only granted to those who excel in bath. His
reputation increasing continually as a pianoforte player and composer as
well as an organist, at the death of his master, a short time before the
revolution, he was appointed to succeed him. It was then his genius
and superior abilities burst out in• their full strength and lustre. In
possession of the finest organ in all Paris, he soon was deemed the firt
organist in all France. I derive my information from persons of the
highest respectability and even rank, who lived in the French metropo-
lis at that period, and who assured me, when I applied to them for par-
ticulars, on hearing of this. gentleman's present sit uatioe, that his fame,
which was not above his merits, was so great, that parti• s were formed to
go to hear him whet ever and whenever he played, and that on his accouet,
the church became as crowded as any place of amusement." The la-
tronage of the great, and the popular favour, only served as incentives
to increased exertions on his part. His genius expanded, and his com-
po. Hot's assumed a character of grandeur and of sublimity, islet!), ri-
valling the most powerful oratory, struck the hearts of his hearers with
awe. His Day if ludgmeia, which although published ie France, has
I not, to my knowledge, reached this country, has been described to me
as one of the grandest pieces ever produced. It opened as mentioned in
the Scriptures, with harmony imitative of the various rejoicings, mar-
riage festivals, amid pursuits of men unconscious of approaching destruc-
tion. The dreadfal clang of the last trumpet sudden!), burst upon the
peaceful and lively sounds. The fall of earthly edifices, the raging of
the wave*, the groans of human kind, and the thunders of Heaven de-
scending in clouds appalled the ear. The universal roar slowly sets-
sided, when distant and clear voices seemed to warble from the empy-
rean, and growing stronger as they approached, the whole church re-
echoed at last as though with the pealing anthems of Seraphim assem-
bled roand their God whilst he stood in judgment over worlds.
Thus has this :grand composition been d.:-cribed to me by those who
hear.! it, and I do not believe that their at count can be exaggerated, tr m
the experience I have had myself of the I,votic..rful powers of executiom
and expression of Mr. Mugnie en the piano. This gentleman, with
whom two months ago I had not the least acquaintance, has condescend-
ingly obliged me by playing before me all his pieces composed in this
country, and some of those which attracted sr) much notice and admira-
tion at Paris. A storm, which used to shake the vaulted roof of St.
Roch, still burst in imitative thunder from a common piano ; whilst his
later pieces, intended for the piano solely, breathed such genuine and
Original harmony, displayed such variety, now so much grandeur, now
such exquisite delicacy, and always such pointed expression, and were
executed with so much ease, effect, taste. and feeling, that I cannot de-
scribe his compositions better than by calling them 11w poetry of music.
But let me not anticipate a closer and more detailed examination of their
respective merit& In my next I shall conclude the biographical sketch,
which becomes more interesting as we draw near the eventful times
which ueheld the destruction, or necessitated• the emigration, of almost
every loyal subject from France.
• I remain, Sir, yours, &c.

SCRUTATOR..