Ranelagh Gardens were in Chelsea, about where the Barracks now stand. The amusements provided were almost identical with Vauxhall, but, although considered a place of summer resort, its season commenced in February, and closed at the end of May, or the middle of June. The general price of admission was half a crown; but, on a masquerade night, it rose to 10s. 6d. or £1 1s., but that included supper and wine. There were particular fête nights, notably of the Pic-nic Society, when the price of admission varied from 5s. to 7s. 6d. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER XLII. Music—Composers of the time—Mrs. Billington—Her salaries—Mdlle. Mara—Mrs. Crouch—Incledon—Braham—Chamber music—Musical societies—Commemoration of Dr. Arne—Competition of pipers—Dancing—The Valse. THESE open-air concerts showed that there was a natural taste for music in the English character, and when we look at the composers who then flourished, and at the singers who expounded their works, we must own that the dawn of the century could fairly hold its own with its latter days. Dr. Arnold, Dr. Callcott (whose glees are still sung in many a home), Shield, Stevens, and Clementi, were among the composers; and, for singers—was there not Mrs. Billington, with her extraordinarily sweet voice, her forcible expression, and flexible execution? Gillray here has kept an excellent likeness of our _prima donna_, and, probably, did not much exaggerate her proportions. She was paid remarkably well, as most _divas_ are, and, if the satirical prints, and newspaper reports of the time, do not belie her, she was as voracious after “Refreshers” as a modern Queen’s Counsel, or she could not appear. Here we see Mrs. Billington utterly prostrate, until revived by golden pills, of which Sheridan is bringing a good supply. We can see what she earned from a newspaper cutting, or two. [Illustration: MRS. BILLINGTON, AS CLARA, SINGING A BRAVURA (1802).] _Morning Post_, June 12, 1800: “Mrs. Billington is engaged for the King’s Theatre next season, and she is to have two thousand guineas.” [Illustration: THEATRICAL DOCTORS RECOVERING CLARA’S NOTES.] _Morning Post_, July 15, 1801: “Mrs. Billington after _humming_ all the Theatres, has, at last, fixed on the _hive_ in Covent Garden, where she will, no doubt, make much _buzz_ and _honey_ next season. Articles were signed between her and Mr. Harris yesterday. This we can state as a _positive fact_. It is with much pleasure we find she has resolved to return to the English stage; she will revive our Operas, of late fallen into disrepute, and bring music again into fashion. The terms are very liberal, but not more so than we expected so extraordinary, so charming a singer, to obtain. She is to have three thousand guineas, and a free benefit, besides fifty guineas per night at the oratorios; this altogether will amount to upwards of four thousand pounds for the season, and this season is not to extend beyond half a year.”