Transcriber’s Notes Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected, but period spelling remains unchanged. Quotation marks around dialogue was absent in some paragraphs and has been corrected. Italics are represented thus _italic_ and underline thus +underline+. MUSICAL TRAVELS THROUGH ENGLAND. BY JOEL COLLIER, ORGANIST. Nam, adhuc per domum, aut hortos cecinerat; quos ut parùm celebres, et tantæ voci angustos, spernebat. Non tamen ROMÆ incipere ausus. T A C. LONDON: Printed for G. +KEARSLY+, in Fleet-street. M. DCC. LXXIV. (Price One Shilling.) TO THE GOVERNORS of the HOSPITAL for the Maintenance and Education of exposed and deserted young Children. GENTLEMEN, _While I was extracting the following sheets from my voluminous Journal, and connecting them together as accurately as I was able, in order to present the Public with a Specimen of my laborious investigation of the present state of_ MUSIC _in this my native country, I was somewhat at a loss to whom I could with most propriety inscribe my work. Whether to_ DOCTOR BURNEY_, as the original inventor of this species of composition, and the first musical traveller of our nation, to whom I stand so much indebted for the plan, and conduct of my book, and of whom I might truly say in his own words, “that he has long been my_ magnus Apollo_:”—or whether I was in duty bound to pay homage to the King of_ Prussia_, as the greatest_ Dilettante _performer of the age; who, I suppose, at this present writing, like another_ Nero_, is playing his new_ Solfeggi _to the dying groans of the obstinate_ Dantziggers_;—or whether I ought not to call forth from his obscurity that venerable Judge, who contented with less ambitious pleasures, cultivates the fine arts by humbler and modester, but not less curious experiments, and amuses the leisure hours of a long vacation in_ caponizing blackbirds[1]_; or whether I should not do well to express my gratitude, and that of the nation, to the honourable Directors of our Opera, for having at last condescended to permit an_ Englishwoman _to be called_ Signora_, and by virtue of that title to share some of the princely incomes which have been hitherto lavished on_ Italians_, and which, I dare say, those worthy Noblemen and Gentlemen would as readily bestow upon_ EnglishMEN_, if they would but consent to be properly_ qualified. _This dilemma, however, was at an end, as soon as I learnt, that Dr._ Burney_, and Signor_ Giardini_, had, under your authority, just founded a school for music (in imitation, I suppose, of the Italian_ Conservatorios_) in the_