Introduction
In 1763-64, Leopold Mozart spent fifteen months in England with his daughter Maria Anna (‘Nannerl’) and son Wolfgang, who turned nine during the visit. Leopold was much taken with King George III and Queen Charlotte, who treated the Mozarts like family, and he told his friend Johann Lorenz von Hagenauer, an Austrian businessman, that he was eager to win the affection of the English people too.
To Lorenz Hagenauer, Salzburg
June 28th, 1764.
ON Friday, June 29th, that is, on the Feast of St Peter and St Paul, there will be a concert or benefit at Ranelagh* in aid of a newly established Hôpital de femmes en couche,* and who ever wishes to attend it must pay five shillings entrance.*
I am letting Wolfgang play a concerto on the organ at this concert in order to perform thereby the act of an English patriot who, as far as in him lies, endeavours to further the usefulness of this hospital which has been established pro bono publico.* That is, you see, one way of winning the affection of this quite exceptional nation.
Translated by Emily Anderson
Ranelagh Gardens in Chelsea had recently opened as a rival to the older Vauxhall Gardens. For Horace Walpole’s eyewitness account of the new venture, see Ranelagh Gardens.
That is, a maternity hospital; Leopold may have been referring to the Westminster New Lying-In Hospital on Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, one of the first such hospitals in the country. The foundation-stone was laid in 1765 on the initiative of Dr John Leake; the establishment was later moved a short distance to York Road, and took the name General Lying-In Hospital. Joseph Lister joined the staff in 1879 as consulting surgeon; the hospital remained in service until 1971.
According to Measuring Worth, roughly £32 in today’s money.
Latin for ‘for the benefit of the people’. Unlike some other hospitals, the Lying-In Hospital in Lambeth was not founded for patients from a particular Church or religion, but open to all, and to married and unmarried women alike.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Ever. Five. Use.
2 I. Entrance. Organ.
3 Further. Hospital. Peter.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Act. 2 Lie. 3 Wish. 4 Entrance. 5 Order. 6 Let. 7 Play. 8 Win. 9 Benefit.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Will. 2. Nation. 3. Wish. 4. Lie. 5. Pay. 6. Entrance. 7. Benefit. 8. Play. 9. Let.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
