CONCERT-BILL OF RING GEORGE THE THIRD, IN HIS OWN HANDWRITING.
GEORGE the Third was really and truly the patron of music. To him we owed the unrivalled Commemorations of HANDEL ; to his liberal patronage, ARNOLD'S edition of that great master's works; to his con- stant attendance and correct taste, the excellence of the Concerts of Ancient Music. Here, as in every thing else, his prejudices were strong, and his German extraction and early prepossessions fostered an almost exclusive preference of HANDEL'S music. He had an intimate, though not a critical knowledge, of the voluminous compositions of HANDEL ; whose Choruses, as well as Overtures and Concertos, were arranged for his private instrumental band. The King always made the bills of his'concerts. They were written on small pieces of paper, scarcely more than an inch square, each side containing an act. He used to leave the scheme on a particular table in the Royal library ; and it WES Mr. BARNARD'S (or his assistant Mr. HARDING'S) business to convey it to the master of his private band. The au- tograph of one of these Royal selections is in our possession; and we subjoin a transcript of it as a curious specimen of the musical taste of the Court not half a century.ago.
51. Overture Hercules. 53. Overture Semele.
Concerto Oboe. Concerto Oboe.
52. Overture, Joseph. 54. Overture, Saul 2d,..
Concerto Violin°. Concerto Violino. Concerto Violoncello. Divertissment,W*1 Instruments.
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