Did set me Wife, poor Wretch! this Evening to mending my Socks, and
myself to Drury Lane, to MONSIEUR JULLIEN his Concert. The first Part of
the Concert all DR. MENDELSSOHN his Musique, which I did long mightily
to hear, and, so to do in Comfort, buy a Ticket for the Dress Circle,
cost me 2s. 6d., but found the Seats all full, and obliged to stand the
whole While, which made me mad, but a pretty full-eyed young Lady being
forced to stand too, and close by me, though with her Brother, did
comfort me a little, not that she could not sit, but that she was by me.
Heard a Symphony that did well please me, seeming to lift me into the
Clouds, and was mighty mystical and pretty; and the Musique in the
_Midsummer Night's Dream_ did give me much Delight, the Twittering
throughout the Overture putting me in Mind of Singing-Birds and Fairies
and I know not what, and the sleepy Passages very sweet and lulling.
Mightily taken with the Prelude to the Mock-Tragedy, _Bottom_ his March,
as droll Musique as I ever heard; but what did most of all delight me
was the Wedding March, a noble Piece, and I did rejoice therein, and do
think to hire a Band to play it under our Window on my Wedding Day.
MONSIEUR JULLIEN in his white Waistcoat and with his Moustachios mighty
spruce and as grand as ever, and did conduct the Musique, but so quietly
in the first Part that I could scarce have believed it, and methought
showed Reverence for the Composer; which was handsome. But good Lack! to
see him presently, when he come to direct "_God Save the Queen_,"
flourish his Batoon, and act the mad Musician! All the Company rising
and taking off their Hats to hear that majestical Anthem, presently some
most ridiculous and impertinent Variations set all the House a laughing
and some hissing, and I do suspect MONSIEUR JULLIEN had a special
Audience this night, that would not away with such Tricks. Between the
Parts of the Concert, I into the Pit to walk about among the Sparks,
where a great Press, the House crammed to the Ceiling. In the
Refreshment and Reading Rooms, young Blades and Lasses drinking of
Coffee and eating of Ices, and Reading of the News, with Shrubs and
Statues round about, and the House all White and Gold, and brightly
lighted, mighty gay; and the Sparks jaunty, but not, I think, wearing
such flaming Neckcloths and Breast Pins as they were wont. Heard in Part
second some Musique of the _Prophete_, full of Snorting of Brass
Instruments and Tinkling of Triangles, and a long Waltz that did give me
the Fidgets, and nothing please me at all, save JETTY TREFFZ her singing
of "_Trab, trab_," which was pretty. Lastly, the Row-Polka played, and
well-named and very droll and absurd, with Chiming-in of Voices and
other monstrous Accompaniments, a good ridiculous rough Musique. But
many of the Hearers did hiss, methought with Unreason, the Polka being
no emptier than any other Polka, and having some Joke in it. Home, the
Wedding March running in my Head, and glad to find good Musique drawing
so great a House, which I do hope will be a Hint to MONSIEUR JULLIEN.
[Illustration: _YE SERPENTYNE DURING A HARD FROST. YE PUBLIQUE UPON IT._