MR. COPLEY OF NETHERHALL. SOCIETY AT HIS HOUSE. DRUMMOND. BURGH. GRAY.
MASON. MILLER THE ORGANIST AND HISTORIAN OF DONCASTER. HERSCHEL.
All worldly joys go less
To the one joy of doing kindnesses.
HERBERT.
There was one house in Doncaster in which cards were never introduced;
this house was Netherhall the seat of Mr. Copley; and there Dr. Dove
had the advantage of such society as was at that time very rarely, and
is still not often, to be enjoyed anywhere.
The Copleys are one of the most ancient families in Doncaster: Robert
Grosseteste, one of the most eminent of our English churchmen before
the Reformation was a branch from their stock. Robert Copley who in
the middle of the last century represented the family, was brought up
at Westminster School, and while there took, what is very unusual for
boys at Westminster or any other school to take, lessons in music. Dr.
Crofts was his master, and made him, as has been said by a very
competent judge, a very good performer in thorough-bass on the
harpsichord. He attempted painting also, but not with equal success;
the age of painting in this country had not then arrived.
Mr. Copley's income never exceeded twelve hundred a-year; but this
which is still a liberal income, was then a large one, in the hands of
a wise and prudent man. Netherhall was the resort of intellectual men,
in whose company he delighted; and the poor were fed daily from his
table. Drummond, afterwards Archbishop of York, was his frequent
guest; so was Mason; so was Mason's friend Dr. Burgh; and Gray has
sometimes been entertained there. One of the “strong names” of the
King of Dahomey means, when interpreted, “wherever I rub, I leave my
scent.” In a better sense than belongs to this metaphorical boast of
the power and the disposition to be terrible, it may be said of such
men as Gray and Mason that wherever they have resided, or have been
entertained as abiding guests, an odour of their memory remains. Who
passes by the house at Streatham that was once Mrs. Thrale's without
thinking of Dr. Johnson?
During many years Mr. Copley entertained himself and his friends with
a weekly concert at Netherhall, he himself, Sir Brian Cooke and some
of his family, and Dr. Miller the organist, and afterwards Historian
of Doncaster, being performers. Miller, who was himself a remarkable
person, had the fortune to introduce a more remarkable one to these
concerts; it is an interesting anecdote in the history of that person,
of Miller, and of Doncaster.
About the year 1760 as Miller was dining at Pontefract with the
officers of the Durham militia, one of them, knowing his love of
music, told him they had a young German in their band as a performer
on the hautboy, who had only been a few months in England, and yet
spoke English almost as well as a native, and who was also an
excellent performer on the violin; the officer added, that if Miller
would come into another room this German should entertain him with a
solo. The invitation was gladly accepted, and Miller heard a solo of
Giardini's executed in a manner that surprized him. He afterwards took
an opportunity of having some private conversation with the young
musician, and asked him whether he had engaged himself for any long
period to the Durham militia? The answer was, “only from month to
month.” “Leave them then,” said the organist, “and come and live with
me. I am a single man, and think we shall be happy together; and
doubtless your merit will soon entitle you to a more eligible
situation.” The offer was accepted as frankly as it was made: and the
reader may imagine with what satisfaction Dr. Miller must have
remembered this act of generous feeling, when he hears that this young
German was Herschel the Astronomer.
“My humble mansion,” says Miller, “consisted at that time, but of two
rooms. However, poor as I was, my cottage contained a small library of
well chosen books; and it must appear singular that a foreigner who
had been so short a time in England should understand even the
peculiarities of the language so well, as to fix upon Swift for his
favourite author.” He took an early opportunity of introducing his new
friend at Mr. Copley's concerts; the first violin was resigned to him:
and never, says the organist, had I heard the concertos of Corelli,
Geminiani and Avison, or the overtures of Handel, performed more
chastely, or more according to the original intention of the composers
than by Mr. Herschel. I soon lost my companion: his fame was presently
spread abroad; he had the offer of pupils, and was solicited to lead
the public concerts both at Wakefield and Halifax. A new organ for the
parish church of Halifax was built about this time, and Herschel was
one of the seven candidates for the organist's place. They drew lots
how they were to perform in succession. Herschel drew the third, the
second fell to Mr., afterwards Dr. Wainwright of Manchester, whose
finger was so rapid that old Snetzler, the organ-builder, ran about
the church, exclaiming, _Te Tevel, te Tevel! he run over te keys like
one cat; he will not give my piphes room for to shpeak._ “During Mr.
Wainwright's performance,” says Miller, “I was standing in the middle
isle with Herschel; what chance have you, said I, to follow this man?”
He replied, “I don't know; I am sure fingers will not do.” On which he
ascended the organ loft, and produced from the organ so uncommon a
fulness,—such a volume of slow solemn harmony, that I could by no
means account for the effect. After this short extempore effusion, he
finished with the old hundredth-psalm-tune, which he played better
than his opponent. _Aye, aye,_ cried old Snetzler, _tish is very goot,
very goot indeet; I vil luf tish man, for he gives my piphes room for
to shpeak._ Having afterwards asked Mr. Herschel by what means in the
beginning of his performance, he produced so uncommon an effect, he
replied, “I told you fingers would not do!” and producing two pieces
of lead from his waistcoat pocket, “one of these,” said he, “I placed
on the lowest key of the organ, and the other upon the octave above;
thus by accommodating the harmony, I produced the effect of four hands
instead of two.”