possible on the same terms as the former."

Mrs Jordan

The handkerchiefs duly arrived--"nice and large"--and Haydn made his
acknowledgments in appropriate terms. At the same time (in January 1802)
he wrote: "I send you with this the favourite air 'The Blue Bells of
Scotland,' and I should like that this little air should be engraved
all alone and dedicated in my name as a little complimentary gift to
the renowned Mrs Jordan, whom, without having the honour of knowing, I
esteem extremely for her great virtue and reputation." Mrs Jordan
has been credited with the air of "The Blue Bells of Scotland." She
certainly popularized the song, whether it was her own or not. In the
note just quoted Haydn must have used the term "virtue" in the Italian
sense.

A Hitch

After this a little hitch occurred in the Thomson correspondence.
Haydn, being asked by Whyte, the publisher of a rival collection, to
do something for his work, at once agreed. Thomson, not unnaturally,
perhaps, felt hurt. He made his complaint through Mr Straton's successor
at the Embassy, Mr Charles Stuart; and in August 1803 Stuart writes to
say that he had broached the matter to Haydn "in as delicate terms as
possible for fear he might take offence." Haydn frankly admitted that he
had done the accompaniments for Whyte, but said the airs were different
from those he had done for Thomson. After "a long conversation, he
informed me," says Mr Stuart, "that being now seventy-four years of
age and extremely infirm, he found himself wholly incapable of further
application to study; that he must therefore beg leave to decline all
offers, whether on your part or from any other person whatsoever. He
even declared that notwithstanding the repeated requests of Prince
Esterhazy, he felt himself utterly incapable of finishing several pieces
of music he had undertaken, and being possessed of a competency he
desired nothing so much as to pass the short time he has yet to live in
repose and quiet." From this letter we learn that Thomson had unluckily
sent a present of a handkerchief for Frau Haydn, who had now been dead
for three years!

A "Previous" Letter of Condolence

In spite of the little misunderstanding just referred to Haydn was
brought round once more, and on the 20th of December 1803 Thomson sends
twenty-four airs, "which will most certainly be the last." Haydn's work
delights him so much that he "really cannot bear the idea of seeking an
inferior composer to