[Johnson, under "Swobber" or "Swabber," gives, "1. A sweeper of the
deck;" and "2. Four privileged cards that are only incidentally used
in betting at the game of whist." He then quotes this passage from
Swift, with the difference that he says "clergymen." Were not the
cards so called because they "swept the deck" by a sort of
"sweep-stakes?"]
* * * * *
_Handel's Occasional Oratorio._--Will DR. RIMBAULT, or some other
musical correspondent of your journal, enlighten us as to the true
meaning of the name _Occasional Oratorio_, prefixed to one of Handel's
compositions, of which no one that I have ever met with has heard more
than the overture? This composition has become almost universally known
from the foolish practice which used to prevail of performing it as an
introduction to _Israel in Egypt_, or any other work to which its
composer had purposely denied the preliminary of an overture; a practice
now happily exploded, which seems to have had its origin in a
misinterpretation of the name; as though Handel had written the overture
to suit any _occasion_ when one might be needed, instead of, as I am
rather disposed to believe, having some particular occasion in view for
which the oratorio was composed.