  London, May 18th, 1833. SIR, The adjudication, last Tuesday, of the premium given by the Catch-Club for the best glee, has very much excited the notice of amateurs as well as professors. Not that the taste, much less the impartiality, of those who voted on the occasion is at all seriously impugned, for they had nothing but second-rate compositions to deal with, though one which was rejected is superior to either of the two selected for final choice. But great regret is openly expressed that the members of so long established, so distinguished a musical society,—a society to which we are indebted for the finest works of their kind that this, their native country, ever produced,—should now, when genius is not abundant, bind themselves to award their prize, whether the candidates do or do not establish a just claim to it. Suppose, it is said, that next year another Cooke, another Webbe, a Stafford Smith, or a Callcott, should start up, would any of these feel honoured by a premium that had been bestowed on compositions with which they would hardly have deigned to compete? You probably may ask what remedy there is for the evil? I will endeavour to point one out; and I think that those who have to discharge a duty which often is so perplexing and comfortless, will be inclined to listen at least to my proposal. My remedy is this:—let it not be imperative on the club to give the prize when the positive merits of the claimants are insufficient to entitle any one of them to the reward. Sometimes it happens that two or more competitors, of great and equal ability, appear together; in such cases it is a very painful task to make the selection. Now, if the judges held in hand, had at their disposal, one or more deferred prizes, they would possess the means to reward merit when it should appear in a plurality of instances, and thus stimulate to further exertion those who might be at once depressed by having their reasonable hopes disappointed, and whose failure might prevent them from making another effort. For real genius, Sir, is always sensitive, and sometimes is easily discouraged; while plodding mediocrity is devoid of the finer feelings, is persevering, and ready to profit by the dearth of real, of commanding talent. I wish it to be understood, however, that I have no intention that the latter observation should be applied to any individual whatever,—it is meant to be quite general, not personal. I have the honour to be, &c. |
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