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Monday 29. Mr. Hamilton being re- turned to Naples, in order to gratify my musical curiosity, made a great concert at his house, where there was much com- pany, and where I had the satisfaction of meeting with the chief musical perform- ers of this city: among whom were the celebrated player on the violin Signor Barbella, and Orgitano, one of the best harpsichord players and writers for that instrument at Naples. But Mrs. Hamil- ton is herself a much better performer on that instrument than either he or any one I heard there. She has great neatness, and more expression and meaning in her playing, than is often found among lady-players; for ladies, it must be own- ed, though frequently neat in execution, seldom aim at expression.
Barbella rather disappointed me; his performance has nothing very surprising in it now: he is not young, indeed; and solo playing is never wanted or re- garded here; so that teaching and or-
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