The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-21 00:00:00

HANDEL.

There are many records extant of Handel's charity and
kindness of heart. At the time when thousands flocked
to witness the performances of his glorious and immortal
work, the Messiah, he determined, with his characteristic
benevolence, to have it performed annually for the benefit
of the funds of the Foundling Hospital, and this as long
as he lived he continued to do. The organ in their
chapel was presented by him to their hospital, and he
also sent as a gift a manuscript copy of the Messiah.
The directors, with either a real misapprehension, or a
simulated one, supposing from the nature of the gift that
it conveyed to them an exclusive right to the per-
formance of the work, were so foolish as to resolve to
apply to the Houses of Parliament for an Act to confirm
it. The first thing, however, to be done previously to
taking such a step was to apply to Handel, as being a
necessary party to their application, for his concurrence,
and a deputation accordingly weited upon him for that
purpose. But the moment after they had explained, and
Handel comprehended the object of their mission, the
latter's rage exeeeiled all bounds, and they were saluted
with " Der teufel for vast salt de Foundling put mein
oratorio in de Partments? Der dormer! mein moosic
sail not go to de Partments." And the discomfited mes-
sengers were compelled to make a hasty retreat, not the
least incitements to which were the dishing (les and
brawny arms of cur in,,dern Timotheus.
HENRY PURCELL.
- - - -

If there be any tame beyond !hat, of all others which
merits to be treasured up with the most affectionate
remembrance and with the holiest veneration in tie,
hearts—in the heart's most sacred shrine—of his country-
men, as the foremost among English musicians, it is the
Mane of HENRY PURCELL! Occupying, conventionally,
with other illustrious masters, the first raok in this
country, but, in the truest and most extended sense of
the term, rising and towering above all, he stands un-
approachable!—alone!---to none is the "Divine Art"
under so heavy an obligation as to his indirltual exer-
tions. No musician ever started into life with a larger
endowment of the ethereal fire to support and improve
that art than Henry Purcell. He was ens whose memory
will endure and works exist " for all time!" Belonging
to no era, he crested an epoch, which in his own times
he raised to the most memorable mention. Notwithstand-
ing his own profound comprehension of the science, his
deep lore of its fundamental rules, in quoting the sonorous
words of Bacon we may say of him,
"Ills understanding beat upon his heart,"
and there is always to be discovered, amid all its won-
derful strength and power, and sublimity, and amid his
rich and massive colourings and beauty, a simple grandeur
of outline, a delicate and exquisitely pathetic refinement,
a fanciful and graceful form of idea as inexhaustible and
varied as were the subjects on which he exerted his
genius. Judge him by the very highest standard, and in
every way will lie be found to be more than worthy of
his undying fame.
His life was like the flash of a meteor, short but
dazzling in its brilliancy. Cut off by the Destroying
Angel in the flower of his age and in the loftiest vigour
of his intellect, he was a man who, if he had been
spared a longer life, would alone have possessed suffi-
cient power to bestow on his country the first rank in
the scale of musical nations—a man giited with so
mighty a genius that what he might have achieved can
only be resolved by futile conjecture. In him we lost
one who would have been able to define and charactetiie
the English School of Music—now lost—and perhaps fur
ever. Well may we exclaim in the language of 27llneas:
" Ostendent terris huac tantum fata, nequc ultra
Esse sinent