"Finding himself, at length, in a region of sympathy so genial and
delightful, a new era in the existence of the composer seemed to
open, and he abandoned himself without reserve to its pleasures.
In retracing a life so ill rewarded by contemporaries, and so
checkered by calamity, it is pleasant to dally awhile in the
primrose path, and enjoy the opening prospects of good fortune.
"In a few days he was called upon to give a grand concert at the
opera-house. This was in reality his first public appearance, and
many circumstances conspire to render it memorable; but chiefly
that every piece throughout the performance was of his own
composition.