It may be of interest to note some of the secular music published in New England at that time. We find the following advertisement in the 'Columbian Centinel' of Boston in 1798. 'Just published, price one dollar, neatly bound and lettered, sold by E. Larkin, No. 47, Cornhill, "The Columbian Songster and Free Mason's Pocket Companion." A Collection of the newest and most celebrated Sentimental, Convivial, Humorous, Satirical, Pastoral, Hunting, Sea and Masonic Songs, being the largest and best collection ever published in America. Selected by S. Larkin.' In the same year there appeared in Northampton, Mass., 'The American Miscellany.' From the foreword of the ingenuous editor we learn that in this work 'a general preference has been given to American productions, and perhaps nothing will more effectually exhibit the progress of the human mind in the refinements which characterize the age, than the songs which, from general consent, are now in vogue.' The exhibit is not very complimentary to the 'progress of the human mind.' Most of the songs contained in these collections are flatly commonplace, many of them are cheap and tawdry in the extreme. It would hardly be fair to look upon such publications as reflecting the musical taste of the cultured class in New England. Just what proportion that class bore to the total population we cannot say. We can safely assume, however, that the concerts given in Boston and elsewhere during the second half of the eighteenth century fairly indicate the taste of the musical elect in New England. The citation of a few programs in this place will, consequently, not prove amiss. A concert in honor of President Washington's visit to Boston, given on the 27th October, 1789, is advertised as follows: FOR PUBLIC ORNAMENT AN ORATORIO OR CONCERT OF SACRED MUSICK will be performed at Stone Chapel, Boston, in presence of the President of the United States. First Part 1. A Congratulatory Ode to the President 2. A favourite Air in the 'Messiah' (composed by the celebrated Handel) 'Comfort ye my People.' By Mr. Rea 3. Organ Concerto By Mr. Shelby 4. The favourite Air in the Oratorio of Samson (composed by the celebrated Mr. Handel) By Mr. Rea 5. Anthem from 100th Psalm, composed by Mr. Selby Part the Second The Oratorio of Jonah Complete. The Solos by Messrs. Rea, Fay, Brewer, and Dr. Rogerson. The Choruses by the Independent Musical Society; The Instrumental parts of a Society of Gentlemen, with the band of his Most Christian Majesty's Fleet.[14]