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wise I would have had some conversation
with him on the subject of his profession.
For I found the shortest and best road to
such information as I wanted, was to talk
with the principal professors, wherever I
went. Learned men and books may be
more useful as to ancient music, but it is
only living musicians that can explain
what living music is. This method, how-
ever, where I had no letters of recommen-
dation, cost me a little money, some assu-
rance, and a great deal of trouble.
Those who visit Italy for the sake of
painting, sculpture, or architecture, do
well to see what those arts afford in
France, first; as they become so dainty
afterwards, that they can bear to look at
but few things which that kingdom af-
fords; and as I expected to have the same
prejudices, or feelings at my return, about
their music, I endeavoured to give it a
fair hearing first, in the capital, and the
two extremities of the kingdom, Paris,
Lisle, and Lyons. Indeed I stopped at
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