After we had satiated our philosophical Appetite in Your Excellency’s learned Letters so far as our Capacity would admit, I return the same thankfully: it is astonishing, how much our present Age is refined by so many usefull Discoveries. By Your Excellencys Observations on Handles Compositions I suppose, that You are still a Patron of Vocal Music, which is an excellency Study, and a Science inferior to none in all the World. She claims a Share in Mathematiks, and her Rules are so uniform over all the World, as that 2 times 2 are 4. Besides there is nothing, that gives great Delectation to human Mind than vocal Music, as Plato say: Musicam divini quid Spirare, if she sounds out the Praise of the Most High, for which she is solely calculated. Her noble Character was greatly abused by Handle and other in theatrical Diversions, and they have greatly hurted her heavenly Sweetness by their curl’d Compositions, when they, as Your Excellency has well observed, sometimes dwell two Minutes on one Syllable, which is a great Nousance in Music. Further is it a grand Mistake in a Concert, when all Sorts of Instruments are joined with the vocal Music without Consideration, for thereby the Dignity of the human Voice is eclipsed: and I am of Opinion, that among all musical Instruments non would insinuate itself better with human Voices than your Excellency’s new invented Glass-Organ. The human Voice is a most noble Instrument by which a Man may reveal his most intimate Recesses, even as God Himself made known by His eternal Word: many Ways have been contriv’d to refine the Voice for Singing, and for this Purpose Castrates were introduced, for it was supposed, that human Cohabitation hurts the Voice, Vox enim raucescit. I should think, the Convents would afford the best Voices without violating nature, and what I have learn’d by Experience, is, that with a Convent-Man his juvenile voice returns when Sixty Years old, and I know Sundry, who have sung the Pass in their Youth, and now are employ’d in the highest voice. I beg Your Pardon for my Garrulity, and wish that the Lord our God would prolong Your Days for the public Utility, and grant You his paternal Assistance, in all heavy Struggles, which my befall You in your grand Age in wishing that I remain Your Excellency’s most humble Friend