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TOC
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Music has indeed ever been the delight
of accomplished princes, and the most
elegant amusement of polite courts: but
at present it is so combined with things
sacred and important, as well as with our
pleasures, that it seems necessary to our
existence: it forms a considerable part of
divine service in our churches; it is es-
sential to military discipline; and the
theatres would languish without it. Add
to this, that there is hardly a private fa-
mily in a civilized nation without its flute, its
fiddle, its harpsichord, or gui-
tar: that it alleviates labour and miti-
gates pain; and is still a greater blessing
to humanity, when it keeps us out of
mischief, or blunts the edge of care.
Had the books that I have hitherto
consulted, which have been very nume-
rous, supplied me with the information I
wanted, relative to a History of Music,
upon which I have been long meditat-
ing; I should not have undertaken a
journey that has been attended with
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