And to them the outbursts of the past week have been a revelation of a something hitherto almost unknown.

And what, you may ask, were the striking features of this time of mob emotion? The striking features were the manifest craving of the mob heart for excitement, and the dishonesty of politics. The crowds liked the excitement, they gloried in it. Men and boys, young and old, typical types of the great unwashed, the unthinking youths with aspirations ever higher than the bar or the betting house, the sturdy mechanic . . . honest but easily led; the factory girl desiring amusement after her hard day of sickly toil;

the clerk who hoped for debate; the old man who remembered 'the stirring times' . . . when the bands made the ether vibrate, and the tar barrels blazed through the night . . . came forth, hurrying, rushing, swaying, making night lively with their shouts. And what laughter was that mob laughter! It shook the very city!

Sometimes a sarcastic laugh at the opposing side. Sometimes a merry, merry laugh.

Sometimes a genuine flow from the heart. But all the time telling plainly that that the mob loved excitement and gloried in it now when they had it.

Freeman's Journal 5 May 1787 FROM the benevolence of the charity, excellence of the orchestra, and brilliancy of the company, that distinguished the first day's commemoration of Handel, for this year, there is a very flattering prospect, that more than even a second day's performance will be necessary to gratify the town on the present noble occasion. Connoisseurs in music speak in the highest terms of praise, pleasure and satisfaction of Thursday's exhibition; and justly observe, that such a feast of harmony was a feast of reason, and worthy the attention of beings superior to mortality. In the delightful science of music, Handel is allowed, by the united voice of critical judgemnt, to have approached nearer to its SUBLIME than any other composer. His oroatorios are correctly calculated to elevate the mind and captivate the heart; and his choruses are in general so great, rich and forcible, as to give, if the term may be allowed, an electrical stroke of animation to the human frame, and to inspire every auditor, who has any spark of soul for harmony, with sensations of a celestial nature. But though Handel's greatest forte, perhaps, is to elevate the mind to a partcipation of the sublime in the musical science, yet do his melting strains hold powerful command over the softer passions, and charm with a sweetness, that is adequately felt, but impossible to describe. With the music of so immortal a composer, and with an orchestra of between two and three hundred vocal and instrumental performers of real merit, aided by the sweet melody of several ladies of fashion, it may well be conceived how infinite was the pleasure and engagement of that thronged and splendid audience which attended the first day's commemoration.