--and to some considerable extent all the Principality, felt the shock and partook in the lamentation; for "a great man and a prince had fallen," and along with himself there had been gathered in the sheaf of death the best beloved of his heart and of the Churches!

The cacoethes scribendi is not one of the rarest infirmities of frail humanity. How often are we brought into vexatious contiguity with a man who is resolved in spite

His pure life and his gentle spirit won the respect of all, of even the most unconcerned. The comprehensiveness and consistency of his theological views, the lofty flights of his genius, and the splendour of his conceptions are so well known to all that I need not at length refer to them. I never enjoyed his company, but I felt my mind expanded and my spirit gladdened. He always appeared to me to excel all others, but also always to be aiming at making others to excel. I believe it would cause him joy to see all his brethren better preachers than himself. But I know not where, or how, to stop."

Rev. W. Jones, vicar of a parish in Anglesea, in a prize essay on the na tional character of the Welsh, has thus written: "One of the ablest and most popular ministers that ever graced the Independent body was the Rev. W. Williams. He was doubtless an extraordinary character-possessed of thinking powers at once original and splendid. Of all the orators of the age (amongst our nation) he was probably the clearest

Of Nature and his stars to write! All this was reversed in the case of Mr. Williams. Of all the brilliant performances of this man of wisdom and eloquence nothing remains but mere disjeeta membra a few imperfect skeletons of his sermons. In the course of thirty and three years what an amount of thought and power did he dispense, which, if preserved, might be a lasting boon to society! But to writing he had an invincible antipathy, and there was no man wise enough to become a Boswell contiguous to him. On account of his dislike to writing, and on several others, he might be called the Robert Hall of he preached so lucidly that not only Wales-although wanting in the classic did all understand, but it would seem culture of that great man. Not only in impossible not to have understood him. eloquence-in large and sublime con- His imagination was ever travelling to gaceptions-in polemical acumen and bold-ther the fairest flowers of rhetoric for the ness-in catholicity of spirit towards all sections of Christians-but also in the power of mentally surveying the length and breadth of his subject, arranging all his ideas and illustrations, and freely delivering the whole in unbroken succession, without committing a line to paper,-did he resemble Robert Hall. Many a time was he importuned to write out some of his most powerful discourses. But no: he deemed not his "poor thoughts" of such value-living in the midst of mental affluence, he had come to consider all his precious things as

common.

In a small volume of memoirs compiled by Mr. Rees are several letters and extracts from ministerial friends who had long known Mr. Williams, from which we subjoin a few remarks as concluding illustrations of the character of this rare and lamented man.

Rev. T. Pierce, Liverpool, says: "He did not confine his usefulness to the pulpit merely, but his entire life was a preaching and a consecration for the universal good of mankind. Christianity shone in his private intercourses -grace sounded in his every word-the Gospel radiated from his countenance.

pleasure and for the instruction of his auditors. He had great power over attention and feeling: smiles would sit on many countenances: but when the preacher thundered, fear laid hold of the transgressor, and alarm was visibly depicted on his mien."

Rev. M. Jones, late tutor of an Academy at Bala, writes: "How clearly. would he show that the laws of the Divine procedure towards our world were the same in all ages, only that the circumstances of their administration varied. The great principles according to which God dealt with Israel at the Red Sea he saw at work in the small affairs and events of families and Churches in his own locality. The law after which Pharaoh's heart was hardened he detected in operation in the conduct of of those who still reject the truth; and he expounded these principles in a manner so masterly and felicitous that one might suppose he had been an actual witness of their first manifestations."

Rev. S. Roberts says: "I do not remember ever being in his society but that he gave the conversation a turn beneficial both to mind and heart. He would begin, perhaps, by inquiring

concerning the last work on theology he had read or heard of; or by asking the meaning of some passage of Scripture; or by noting the wonderful improvements taking place in the arts of life, and their bearing on human happiness; or by referring to the aims and reasoning of men in Parliament in refer ence to liberty of conscience and the spread of truth, &c. I had once the privilege of travelling in his company through a part of North Wales, in the anti-slavery cause, and I remember noticing two things very particularly in his conduct during that tour-his indefatigable endeavours to possess himself of all possible information concerning the slave trade, and his exceeding care to narrate the facts he collected in a manner consistent with candour and truth. After observing his industry and watchfulness in these two things, I did not greatly wonder at the marvellous effects produced by his energy and eloquence on the minds of the people. He was one of the loveliest men that our country ever nurtured."

Rev. D. Rees, alluding to the work of writing a biography of Mr. Williams, observes: "Much skill is sometimes required to lift up to view the virtues which are worthy of imitation in a man, without at the same time exposing defects. But here you need not be afraid. Give full license to your powers of portraiture-say what you may of his excellences, his talents, his amiablenessnone who knew Mr. Williams will ever say you have drawn a flattering likeness. Seldom, if ever, did the Christian virtues meet in such a rich uniform cluster.. When he last visited the South he spent a fortnight as my guest; and I then plainly saw the meaning of the Apostle's language, Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.'

6

An American divine, the Rev. Calvin Colton, happened on one occasion in London to hear Mr. Williams preach, and wrote an account of the event to the New York Observer. He was invited by a friend who promised to induce Mr. Williams, who was to preach in Welsh, to give the substance of his discourse in English, for the special benefit of the American brother. "Great

Through Mrs. Williams' assistance, who preferred English, and always spoke it in the family, he had by slow degrees attained to a tolerable knowledge of that language-he could speak, not with accuracy, but with considerable ease and effect.

was my surprise," he writes, "at the
powers and attainments of the man. In
many respects he is a man of God's
own formation. . . . He is one of the
great meu of Wales-great in natural
capacity, great as the effect of labour
and industry, and great in religious
While
knowledge and excellence.
he spoke in English it was sufficiently
obvious he was not at home. The
audience were listless: but the moment
he opened his lips in his native speech
[though most present understood Eng-
lish] their attention was awakened; the
effect grew as he proceeded; they hung
upon his lips; opened their mouths;
smiled in approbation; and some actually
laughed. This last, as a friend replied
to my inquiry, was not so much the
effect of a witticism, but of a vivacious
and pertinent application of the truth
he was illustrating."

Rev. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, gives his estimate of him thus: "As to what he was as a preacher, I could only learn from the testimony of others, and from the effects I saw produced on those who understood the language in which he spoke. As to what he was as a man and a Christian, I had the privilege of knowing something from personal observation; and I can assert that every time I had the pleasure of enjoying his society, it produced on my mind a still deeper impression of the fervency of his piety and the tenderness of his heart. I have often said that I considered him one of the most lovely and cheerful characters I ever had the delight of knowing. I was frequently reminded when in his company, of the beautiful language which Andrew Fuller used when speaking of the late Mr. Pearce, of Birmingham- Mild as a summer's evening-fragrant as the

May."

roses

of

Thus have we shown, we hope, that Williams, of Wern, was such a mansuchn preacher-that his name ought not to be allowed to sink into oblivion. He was great as a divine-great as a sacred orator, and, what is more-on his humble tomb in the rural burialplace of Wern may be placed the inscription which, with less truth but more blazonry, is put on that of Gregory the Great

"Implebatque actu quidquid sermone docebat." HE LIVED WHAT HE PREACHED.

T. N.

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MOZART,

PERHAPS to no one of the "dead kings of melody"- —as Shelley finely designates the musical Titans whose works have contributed so largely to the enjoyment of the whole civilised world-is the art more indebted than to the subject of our memoir. Handel was undoubtedly more massive, Beethoven more profound and impassioned, Haydn and Mendelssohn more refined; but Mozart's precocity of genius, versatility of talent, and multitudinous achievements render him unique among the greatest musical geniuses the world has ever known.

| violin and clavier, the latter being a keyed instrument, which was the precursor of the pianoforte. His mode of tuition seems to have been very ju dicious, and his reputation was soon greatly increased by the publication, about the time of his boy's birth, of his Violinschule, a work highly esteemed by violinists. Himself an enthusiast in music, it was but natural that the father should be solicitous for the musical education of his children. His little daughter, Maria Anna, had no sooner reached the age of seven than she became her father's pupil, and made rapid progress. Little Wolfgang was at this period only three years old, but as he was constantly present at his sister's lessons, he soon manifested his interest in the music by striking thirds and other harmonious intervals. When a year older his father began to give him lessons also, and it is recorded that even at this infantine age he could remember the solos in any concerts he attended. So much, indeed, had his musical precocity now developed itself, that he could learn a short piece in half an hour, and play it neatly in true time, could unravel intuitively the mysteries of harmony, and even compose little pieces which his father wrote down for him. The book in which these productions were written was kept by his sister, as a precious memorial, to the end of her life. Mr. Holmes, in his fascinating "Life of Mozart," presents us with several specimens of his composition in his fourth and sixth years.

JOHN CHRYSOSTOM WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART was born January 27, 1756, at Salzburg. His father, Leopold, was the son of a bookbinder at Augsburg, whence he removed to Salzburg, where he studied jurisprudence at the university. Being a good musician, and an excellent violinist, he entered, on leaving the university, the family of Count Von Thurn, a canon of the cathedral, and afterwards, at his recommendation, the service of the Archbishop of Salzburg. Here he by degrees raised himself to the post of sub-director of the Archbishop's chapel; a situation which seems to have been anything but a lucrative one, as we find him, in his twenty-first year, publishing six violin trios which he had composed, and which he had engraved himself to save expense. That he was a man of some ambition and considerable industry is evident from the fact of his having composed, before his eclipse by the superior talents of his son, no less than twelve oratorios, besides a multitude of The father, Leopold Mozart, whose pieces for the church, the theatre, &c. shrewd business like habits As soon as he found himself in posses- strengthened, no doubt, by his slender sion of the means, he married one Anna means, seeing the indubitable evidences Bertlina, and the young couple were so of singular musical talent in his children, distinguished for beauty, that it was re- decided to take them both to the Bavamarked in the city that so handsome arian Court at Munich, for which place couple had never before been seen there. they set out in January, 1762. Seven children were born to them, all of whom died in their infancy, except a girl and a boy. The girl, Maria Anna, was some five years older than her brother, whose life we propose to sketch, and survived him many years.

With the increase of his family, poor Leopold Mozart was compelled to redouble his efforts as a teacher of the

were

As a child little Wolfgang was ardent and sensitive to an extraordinary degree; continually he would ask those about him whether they loved him, and if in jest they answered in the negative, his eyes would fill with tears. His ardour was so great, that before he applied himself to music he would be sometimes so absorbed by a game that he would forget even his meals. Of arithmetic

the first violin, and Schachtner, a trumpeter, the second. Little Wolfgang begged he might be permitted to play the second violin, which his father re

he was so fond that the walls, the tables, and the floor were covered with his figures. But, although his fondness for arithmetic remained with him through life, yet music gradually gained the com-fused, on the ground that he had had no plete ascendancy over him, and even instruction. The child replied that it the removal of his playthings from one was not necessary to have been taught, to room to another was often done by him play a second violin part, but the to music. father bade him go away and not disturb them. At this rebuff, he left the room, with his little fiddle, crying bitterly, but was recalled at the special request of his friend the trumpeter, who begged he might be allowed to play the second part with him. Little Wolfgang, though he had been allowed to play only on condition that he played so softly that no one could hear him, played so well that the trumpeter, looking at the astonished father, laid aside his violin. The father was so overjoyed that he could not refrain from tears, and after they had played through the whole of the six trios, the young violinist was so intoxicated with the applause of the party that he actually attempted the first violin part.

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The precocious genius of young Wolfgang began now rapidly to develop itself. Nothing in his musical tuition appeared new to him; it seemed impossible to teach him anything he did not know before. He now, although only six years old, began to display the ambition and the science of a composer, and could even write in score, and compose without an instrument. One day the father, returning from church with a friend, found his little son busy with pen and ink. "What are you doing there?" said the father. Writing a concerto for the clavier," was the reply; "the first part is just finished.” “It | must be something very fine, I dare say: let us look at it." No, no, it is not ready yet," said the boy. The father took up the paper, which was covered with blotted notes so as to be scarcely legible, and with his friend laughed heartily. Examining the composition, however, more attentively, his laughter was turned into tears of joy, for he found there were ideas in the music far beyond the years of the little composer. Observing to the boy that it was exceedingly difficult, "It is a concerto," he replied, "and must be practised before it can be performed. It ought to go in this way." And, as well as he was able, he began to play, in order to give an idea of the music. This concerto was written with accompaniments in full score. The

father's time now became so absorbed in the musical tuition of his children, that he gave up his general teaching, and about this time took them for three weeks to Munich, where young Wolfgang played a concerto before the Elector with great applause.

Returning to Salzburg our little genius began to study the violin, some one having given him a small one adapted to his size. He had as yet received no regular lessons when an ex cellent violinist, named Wenzl, called one day on his father to try over some new trios he himself had composed. The father played the bass on the viola, Wenzl

In the autumn of 1762 the father started with his two children for Vienna, and during their tour gave concerts with great success. At one small town where they stopped, we find little Woferl, as he was familiarly called, rattling on the organ belonging to a Franciscan monastery there so cleverly that the astonished fathers hastened from the dinner table into the choir to listen. At the opera the delighted father overhears the Archduke Leopold talking to some one respecting his boy. They were continually introduced to personages of the highest rank, and the father writesEverywhere the ladies are in love with my boy." So great an effect was produced by these concerts that the family soon received a summons to attend at the Austrian Court. Their appearance there is thus described by the father:

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We were so graciously received by both their Majesties, that my relation would be held for a fable. Woferl sprang into the lap of the Empress, took her round the neck, and kissed her very heartily. We were there from three to six o'clock, and the Emperor himself came into the ante-chamber to fetch me in to hear the child play on the violin." These visits were repeated again and again, and on one occasion the Empress sent two robes for the children, Wolfgang's being "of a lily