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performers of the first eminence carry
their own instruments through the streets.
This seems a trivial circumstance to men-
tion, yet it strongly marks the diffe-
rence of manners and characters in two
countries not very remote from each other.
In Italy, the leader of the first opera in
the world carries the instrument of his
fame and fortune about him, with as
much pride as a soldier does his sword
or musquet; while, in England, the in-
dignities he would receive from the po-
pulace would soon impress his mind
with shame for himself and fear for his
instrument.
I obtained from Signor Fabio an exact
account of the number of hands employ-
ed in the great opera orchestra; there
are 18 first, and 18 second violins, 5 dou-
ble bases, and but two violoncellos; which
I think has a bad effect, the double base
being played so coarsely throughout Ita-
ly, that it produces a sound no more mu-
sical than the stroke of a hammer. This
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