formed, though under ſuch great diſcouragement; and was revived afterwards at the theatre in Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields. Mr. Addiſon, in the Spectator, Numb. 405, ſpeaking of the juſt applauſe given this opera, by Signior Nicolini (who he ſays was the greateſt performer in dramatic muſic, that perhaps ever appeared upon a ſtage) has theſe words,
‘The town is highly obliged to that excellent artiſt, for having ſhewn us the Italian muſic in its perfection, as well as for that generous approbation he gave to an Opera of our own country, in which Mr. Galliard the compoſer endeavoured to do juſtice to the beauty of the words, by following that noble example which has been ſet him by the greateſt foreign maſters of that art.’
The Ode to the Creator of the World, occaſioned by the fragments of Orpheus, was printed in the year 1713, at the particular inſtance of Mr. Addiſon; and is mentioned with applauſe in the Spectator. This, and the Extaſy, (publiſhed ſince the death of the author) are juſtly eſteemed two of the nobleſt Odes in our language. The ſeventh Stanza of the laſt mentioned piece, is ſo ſublimely excellent, that it would be denying ourſelves, and our poetical readers, a pleaſure not to tranſcribe it. The whole of this Ode is beautifully heightened, and poetically conceived. It furniſhed a hint to a living Poet to write what he entitles the Excurſion, which tho’ it has very great merit, yet falls infinitely ſhort of this animated Ode of Mr. Hughes.
After having repreſented the natural and artificial calamities to which man is doomed, he proceeds,
