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TOC
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only published one book of little duets
and trios. Musical compositions are so
short-lived in Italy, such is the rage for
novelty, that for the few copies wanted,
it is not worth while to be at the expence
of engraving, and of the rolling-press.
Indeed there, as in Turkey, the business
of a transcriber furnishes employment for
so many people, that it is cruel to wish
to rob them of it, especially as that
trade seems more brisk and prositable
than any other.
As a supplement to the article Venice,
I must add, that, since my return to Eng-
land, I have been favoured with a letter
from thence, dated January 25, 1771,
containing the following particulars re-
lative to the state of music there, at that
time. " At the theatre of S. Benetto
" we have had represented, during the pre-
" sent carnival, the opera of Alexander
" in India ; composed by Signor Bertoni,
" master of the Mendicanti, which has
" been universally applauded ; particu-
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