FOUNDLING HOSPITAL_, where about an hundred of such poor children, as have hitherto been placed out to trades and services, in which they had no opportunity of making_ a noise _in the world, are, in future, to be trained to harmony from their infancy, and constantly employed in the study of music; ’till in process of time they take their regular degrees as_ Doctors_, and_ Doctoresses _of music, and come forth, sufficiently accomplished (as they must be under such masters,) to form the national taste, by the true_ Italian _standard. When I was informed of this event, I hailed the happy omen, the dawn of an_ Augustan æra_; and resolved to offer my tribute of congratulation and applause, and to dedicate this work to a set of gentlemen, who have so distinguished their zeal for the interest and advancement of music. Perhaps it will at first appear a bold undertaking in the guardians of deserted orphans, chiefly supported by parliamentary grants of public money, to declare, that they cannot be maintained by the public for a more useful purpose, than to be taught to sing and play_ Italian _airs. For men of narrow and contrasted minds, who have neither_ ear_, nor_ voice_, nor_ hand_, will still imagine, that it might prove of more national utility, to breed these adopted children of the public, to Husbandry, Navigation, &c. the objects of their original destination; than to convert one of the noblest of our public charities into a nursery for the supply of musical performers at our Theatres, gardens, and hops.—But this is a vulgar prejudice. The improvement of the fine arts ought to be the first object of public attention in an age of luxury,_ PEACE_, and plenty, like the present; when we have rivalled the_ Italians _in music, it will be time enough to think of our navy, and our agriculture. We have already (to our shame be it spoken,) better sailors than fiddlers, and more farmers than_ contrapuntists_. But as I take this circumstance to arise entirely from the different degree of encouragement those occupations have hitherto received; I do not despair of seeing the reverse take place, when gentlemen of your rank deign to stand forward, and correct the errors of the public, by the influence and sanction of your example. Should any obstacles arise to impede the immediate execution of your plan, from some obsolete but unrepealed parliamentary restrictions, doubtless the same legislators who so readily expended the public money in the purchase of Sir_ William Hamilton_’s_ collection _of antique vases, and_ Etruscan _rarities, will not only repeal any former act which may stand in your way; but rejoice in a fresh opportunity of displaying their fine taste and love of the arts, by laying an additional tax upon such of the necessaries of life as are not already overloaded, in order to raise a competent sum for the purchase of the best_ Cremonas_, and other instruments which can be procured on the continent, for the service of your_ Academia_.