Charles Burney

The Present State of Music in France and Italy (2nd, corrected edition)

London: T. Becket and Co., 1773

Introduction

Its assistance has been called in by the
most respectable profession in this kingdom, in
order to open the purses of the affluent
for the support of the distressed off-
spring of their deceased brethren *.
Many an orphan is cherished by its
influence †.—The pangs of child-birth
are softened and rendered less dangerous
and dreadful by the effects of its
power ‡. It helps, perhaps, to stop the
ravages of a disease which attacks the
very source of life §. And, lastly, it
enables its own professors to do what
few others can boast—to maintain their
own poor; by that admirable and well-
directed institution, known by the name
of The Society for the Support of decayed
Musicians and their Families.