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request of the boy himself, as was the case of the Grassetto at Rome.
But as to these previous trials of the voice, it is my opinion that the cruel ope- ration is but too frequently performed without trial, or at least without sufficient proofs of an improvable voice; otherwise such numbers could never be found in every great town throughout Italy, with- out any voice at all, or at least without one sufficient to compensate such a loss. Indeed all the musici* in the churches at present are made up of the refuse of the opera houses, and it is very rare to meet with a tolerable voice upon the establish- ment in any church throughout Italy. The virtuosi who sing there occasionally, upon great festivals only, are usually strangers, and paid by the time.
I went again this afternoon to the Fran- ciscan's church, where there was a larger
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