Giovanni, an eminent composer of music, for some time divided the opinions of the connoisseurs of this kingdom with respect to the comparative merits of himself and the great Handel, which gave occasion for the following epigram, said to have been written by Dr Swift:

Some say that Signor Bononcini Compared to Handel's a meer ninny; Others aver, that to him Handel Is scarcely fit to hold the candle. Strange! that such high disputes should be 'Twixt Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.

There is one opera (Italian) published with his name prefixed to it, entitled Pharnaces; but whether the words, or only the music, are his composition, is uncertain; and indeed, in the general, the language of those pieces written merely for musical representation, is so extremely paltry, and so opposite to every thing that can be deemed poetry, that the greatest compliment that can be paid to the authors of them is, to suffer their names to lie buried in the shades of obscurity.