BRITTON (Thomas), the famous musical small-
coal-man, was born at Higham Ferrers in Northamp-
tonshire. He served his time in London, where he set
up in a stable, next door to the little gate of St John
of Jerusalem, on Clerkenwell-green, which he converted
into a house. Here getting acquainted with Dr Gar-
reniers, his near neighbour, he became an excellent
chemist, constructing a moveable laboratory which was
much admired by all who saw it. His skill in music was
noways inferior to that in chemistry, either in the
theory or practice: he had for many years a well fre-
quented musical club, meeting at his own little cell;
and was as well respected as known by persons of the
first quality; being, above all, a valuable man in his mo-
ral character. In Ward's account of clubs, we are told,
that "Britton's was first begun, or at least confirmed,
by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a very musical gentleman;
and that the attachment of Sir Roger and other inge-
nious gentlemen, lovers of the muses, to Britton, arose
from the profound regard he had in general to all man-
ner of literature. It is observable, that this meeting
was the first of the kind, and the undoubted parent of
some of the most celebrated concerts in London. Ward,
who was his contemporary, says, that at the first insti-
tution of it, his concert was performed in his own
house, which is thus described. "On the ground floor
was a repository for small-coal: over that was the con-
cert room, which was very long and narrow; and had
a ceiling so low, that a tall man could but just stand
upright in it. The stairs to this room were on the out-
side of the house, and could scarcely be ascended without
crawling. The house itself was very old and low built,
and in every respect so mean as to be a fit habitation
only for a very poor man." Notwithstanding all this
mansion, despicable as it may seem, attracted to it as
polite an audience as ever the opera did. At these
concerts Dr Pepusch, Mr Handel, Mr Banister, Mr
Henry Needler, and other capital masters, were per-
formers. At the first institution of this club, it is
certain Britton would receive no gratuity whatever from
his guests, and was offended when ever any was offer-
ed him. According to some, however, he departed
from this; and the rules were, Britton found the in-
struments, the subscription was 10s. a year, and they
had coffee at a penny a dish. The singularity of his
character, the course of his studies, and the collections
he made, induced suspicions that Britton was not the
man he seemed to be. Among other groundless con-
jectures, his musical assembly was thought by some to
be only a cover for seditious meetings; by others, for
magical purposes; and Britton himself was taken for
an atheist, a presbyterian, a Jesuit, &c. The circum-
stances of this man's death are not less remarkable than
those of his life. There lived at that time one Samuel
Honeyman, a blacksmith by trade, who became very
famous for a faculty which he possessed of speaking as
if his voice proceeded from some distant part of the
house where he stood; in short, he was one of those
men called Ventriloqui, i.e. those that speak from
their bellies. One Robe, an acquaintance of Britton's, See Ven-
triloquist. was foolish enough to introduce this man, unknown,
to Britton, for the sole purpose of terrifying him; and
he succeeded in it. Honeyman, without moving his
lips, or seeming to speak, announced, as from afar off,
the death of Britton within a few hours, with an inti-
mation that the only way to avert his doom was for
him to fall on his knees immediately and say the Lord's
prayer: the poor man did as he was bid, went home
and took to his bed, and in a few days died, leaving
his friend Mr Robe to enjoy the fruits of his mirth.
This happened in September 1714. Britton left be-
hind him a large collection of books, music, and musi-
cal instruments. Of the former Sir Hans Sloane was
a considerable purchaser. His collection of music,
mostly pricked by himself, and very neatly, sold for near
L. 100. In the British Museum there is a painting of
him taken from the life. A mezzotinto print was tak-
en from this picture, for which Mr Hughes (author
Briva
Broach.
of the siege of Damascus, and a frequent performer at Britton's concerts) wrote the following lines:
Tho' mean thy rank, yet in thy humble cell
Did gentle peace and arts unpurchas'd dwell;
Well pleas'd, Apollo thither led his train,
And music warbled in her sweetest strain.
Cyllenius fo, as fables tell, and love,
Came willing guests to poor Philomel's grove.
Let useless pomp behold, and blush to find
So low a station, such a liberal mind.