and agreeableness than in any part of
Europe, where they are also imitatively performed, as in Italy,
Germany and in several other countries. Nor is it without reason
they obtain, here the preference over the like in other places.
They are no where so well executed. The music is extremely well
adapted, and the steps in general are very pleasing. Some
foreign comic dancers, on their coming here, apply themselves
with great attention to the true study of the hornpipe, and by
constant practice acquire the ability of performing it with
success in foreign countries, where it always meets with the
highest applause, when masterly executed. There was an instance
of this, sometime ago at Venice, at an opera there, when the
theatre was as well provided with good singers and dancers, as
any other. But they had not the good fortune to please the
public. A dancer luckily for the manager, presented himself, who
danced the hornpipe in its due perfection. This novelty took so,
and made such full houses, that the manager, who had begun with
great loss, soon saw himself repaired, and was a gainer when he
little expected it.

It is to the HIGHLANDERS in North-Britain, that I am told we are
indebted for a dance in the comic vein, called the _Scotch
Reel_, executed generally, and I believe always in _trio_, or by
three. When well danced, it has a very pleasing effect: and
indeed nothing can be imagined more agreeable, or more lively
and brilliant, than the steps in many of the Scotch dances.
There is a great variety of very natural and very pleasing ones.
And a composer of comic dances, might, with great advantage to
himself, upon a judicious assemblage of such steps as he might
pick out of their dances, form a dance that, with well adapted
dresses, correspondent music, and figures capable of a just
performance, could hardly fail of a great success upon the
theatre.

I do not know whether I shall not stand in need of an apology
for mentioning here a dance once popular in England, but to
which the idea of low is now currently annexed. It was
originally adapted from the Moors, and is still known by the
name of Morris-dancing, or Moresc-dance. It is danced with
swords, by persons odly disguised, with a great deal of antic
rural merriment: it is true that this diversion is now almost
exploded, being entirely confined to the lower classes of life,
and only kept up in some counties. What the reason may be of its
going out of use, I cannot s