It was an unusual thing for ladies, then, to play on any other instruments than the harpsichord, or piano, and the harp, or guitar; this latter coming specially into vogue, some twenty years later, after the Peninsular War, so Mrs. Billington created some surprise.
"Mrs. Billington who is solicitous for musical distinction in any respect, as far as her talents can extend, is now applying, with very great diligence, to the violin; and, from the present state of her progress, it is supposed she will hereafter figure amongst the most shining performers on that instrument."—(Morning Post, Feb. 16, 1788.)
Judging by this illustration, the ladies of 1799 were not at all restricted in their choice of instruments.
Apropos of Concerts, we get several paragraphs about them from one Newspaper, the Morning Post of Jan. 15, 1789.
"Since the illness of a certain Great Personage,[12] Lady Young has entirely surmounted her religious qualms, and is determined, once more, in defiance of the proclamation, to fix her Concerts on the Sabbath Day. Thus, Politics and religion, and music, go hand in hand."
"Lord Hampden, Lord Cholmondeley, the Duke of Queensbury, Lady Petres, the Duchess of Bolton, Lady Bridget Tollemache, &c., &c., will have their alternate concerts, as usual."
"The dissensions continually subsisting between the different performers and directors of the Tottenham Street Concert,[13] added to the present indisposition of its Royal Patron, and the daily decrease of subscribers, will, it is feared, reduce that light amusement to its primitive obscurity."
"Should Cramer quit the above Concert, it will be a loss not to be repaired, as they might as well attempt to proceed without Harrison, as without that incomparable leader. Mr. Bate may conduct, but he cannot lead; every man may blow the bellows, but it is certainly more difficult to play the organ."
"Lord Uxbridge's new Music Room in Vigo Lane, will be opened in the course of this season; the time is not yet fixed, but it is supposed it will be as magnificent a Gala, as music can afford. The extreme care taken that nothing should obstruct the sound, has nearly answered every purpose, and it certainly promises to be the best private room for music in London;—we hope, when filled with company, the small reverberation at present remaining, will be entirely dispelled."
It is sad to read of such a case of reverse of fortune as the following:—