To the EDITOR of the HARMONICON.
45, High Holborn, April 12th. 1833.
SIR,
I was somewhat surprised on glancing over the pages of the last number of the Harmonicon at finding a letter signed ‘Virtue Millard,’ commencing thus:—‘As I wish to avoid all communications with Mr. Z. T. Purday, Music publisher, &c. &c.’ followed by a charge of my having sent her an impertinent message! Now, although I have the honour of being personally acquainted with most of the professors of any eminence, both in the metropolis and throughout the kingdom, I have never enjoyed or sought the felicity of being introduced to that lady; nor am I aware of ever having authorised any person to convey to her a message of any kind, much less of an ‘impertinent’ character; the ‘offence’ to which she alludes, as well as the ‘accompanying impertinence,’ must, therefore, have been the work of some idle gossip. It is true I have an imperfect recollection of some person having called on me soon after my publication of Mr. T. Haynes Bayly’s ‘Songs for the Grave and Gay,’ stating, he had left the volume with Mrs. Millard for her perusal, which she returned, remarking that there was nothing in it worthy her notice, and that the work would never take with the musical public. Preferring, however, your judgment, (see ‘Harmonicon’ for April, 1831,) which I am happy to say has been borne out by a result perfectly satisfactory to me, and diametrically opposed to that lady’s gratuitous opinion, I think it very probable I might not, in return, have complimented either her musical taste or critical acumen.
A word respecting the ‘French air’ and I have done:—I beg to say that I never knew Mr. Cross had arranged it until he brought the M.S. to me and requested to have it engraved on his own account, neither have I seen the plates, or a single copy of the work since the proofs were sent to that gentleman.
Whether Mrs. Millard had ever seen or heard Rode’s melody, with the well known association of Catalani’s name, or, in examining the ‘Songs for the Grave and Gay,’ had subsequently discovered in ‘Upbraid me not,’ (which is adapted to the ‘French air’ in question,) a great similarity to her own ballad, and hence the pretext for the unwarrantable use of my name, I now leave to her own feelings and the judgment of your readers; regretting that I have been obliged to trespass so much upon the pages of your valuable journal.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
ZENAS T. PURDAY.
MEMOIRS OF DR. BURNEY, BY HIS DAUGHTER MAD. D’ARBLAY.
[Continued from [page 75].]