Some Account xxii
After an absence of near three years, he
began to think of returning home; and a
slight circumstance which heused to mention,
may serve to shew, that however great may
have been the delight which he derived from
residence in a country that Raffaelle and
Michael Angelo had embellished by their
genius and their works, the prospect of re-
visiting his native land was not unpleasing.
When he was at Venice, in compliment to
the English gentlemen then residing there,
the manager of the opera one night ordered
the band to play an English ballad-tune.
Happening to be the popular air which was
played or sung in almost every street, just
at the time of their leaving London, by sug-
gesting to them that metropolis with all its
connexions and endearing circumstances, it
immediately brought tears into our author's
eyes, as well as into those of his countrymen
who were present.
On his arrival in London in 1752, 15 he
very soon attracted the publick notice ; and