a dramatic composition set to music, and sung on the stage, accompanied with musical instruments, and enriched with magnificent dresses, machines and other decorations.—This species of drama is of modern invention. In its present state it was not known even in Italy before the beginning of the last century; and at its introduction into England, a century afterwards, it divided the wits, literati, and musicians of the age. By those who were esteemed the best judges of the art, the English language was considered as too rough and inharmonious for the music of the opera; and, on the other hand, critics, whose taste was built on the basis of common sense, looked upon a drama in a foreign and unknown tongue as the greatest of all absurdities. Many of them, however, pleaded for operas in the English language; and it is well known that Addison, who was one of the opposers of the Italian opera on the London stage, wrote in his native tongue the opera of Roland. This is confessedly a beautiful poem; but, in the opinion of Dr Burney, it adds nothing to Addison's fame, as it shows his total ignorance of the first principles of music, and of course his unfitness for the task he had undertaken.

In questions respecting the fine arts there is no appeal from the general taste; and therefore, as the French opera, which is in the language of the country where it is acted, has always been admired by persons of liberal education, it doubtless has merit conferred as a drama; but how the dramas of this kind which are composed in Italian should find admirers in England among persons who understand not a word of the language, it is to us a matter of astonishment. The music of them may deserve and command the admiration of every one who...