Handel, however, endeavoured to carry on an opera at his own expellee, while a rival amusement, patronised by many of the leading persons of the metropolis, was esta blished in Lincoln's bin Fields. But his success did not correspond with his expectations ; and although he con tinued to compose, with great facility and expedition, his productions were at length performed to empty houses. Neither did his opponents experience better fortune ; from which we may infer, that the English taste for operas was beginning to decline. Handel produced no less than thirty operas between 1721 and 1740; but in the latter part of this period, both his health and his fortune were so deeply impaired, that he left Britain to visit the baths of Aix-la-Chapelle.
Having returned to London in a state of convalescence, Handel began to direct his attention more parliou""lY to ano ther species of composition, us AWL tus, or sacred dramas, in which he expected, by the simplicity of songs, and the grandeur of chorus, to command that public notice which was denied to lighter compositions. The Messiah was performed at Covent Garden in 1741, and it will scarcely be believed, after an interval of 70 or 80 years, that it was but indifferently received. The inhabitants of Dublin, however, to whom the author had it performed for the be nefit of the prisoners of that city, viewed it differently ; and it was afterwards repeated in England to the most crowded audiences with unbounded applause. Many other oratories followed in rapid succession, of which the majority were favourably received. The tide of public favour was re stored to its original current, and Handel's merits gained their due aPPredation. But some of his productions were nevertheless so adapted to general taste, that the late King George II. them almost alone, when aban doned by the rest of his Handel annually superin tended the performance of Messiah, with laudable libe rality, for the benefit of the Foindling • 1 v duced above 500/. yearly.
In the year 1751, he was attack elby gutta serena ; and from the moment that apprehension: for his sight were entertained, his spirits and vigorous imagination deserted him. An operation proving unsuccessful, hie melancholy increased ; and he was obliged to resort to extraneous as sistance for the management of his oratorios. Years were now crowding upon him without bringing any alleviation of his disease ; and when he, works had so often charm ed an admiring audience, was led forward to make his obeisance ; or when his own composition—" Total eclipse —no sun, no moon—all dark amid the blaze of noon,"— was performed, it is difficult to determine whether he him self or the spectators were most affected.
Handel was attacked by a general debility in 1758, and from that time he considered his own recovery as hopeless. Nor were his anticipations wrong, for he expired m April 1759, in the 76th year of his age. He was entombed in Westminster Abbey, and a statue was erected to his me mory, as one, erected in Vauxhall Gardens in 1738, had already celebrated his genius. In person he was large, and rather corpulent and ungraceful ; and in manners he was rough and impetuous. Over his performers he exercised a magisterial sis ay, exacting implicit obedience in the fulfil ment of their respective duties ; but it is probable, that pos terity 41s heard his music to even greater advantage than was done by himself. He had no prominent vices, however, and he pract;sed many virtues. Handel died possessed of considerable wealth for the period, and what must be es teemed great for a musician, whose fortune was once ruin ed ; he left about 2o,t./Jo/ , of which' 1000/. was bequeathed to the Society for supporting decayed musicians, instituted in London in the year 1738. This Society derived 6000/. more, from the profits of a grand commemoration in honour of Handel, performed by 525 voices and instruments in Westminster Abbey in 1784.
Handel's merit as a composer ranks very high; and few if any have excelled him, in that particular path which he latterly chalked out for himself. The style of music indeed, has undergone inconceivable alterations since his death ; but many of his compositions are even at this day heard with delight, though a century has elapsed since their production. His music is alike sublime in one cha racter, and pathetic in another ; and so long as simplicity and grandeur are valued by Mankind, they will never lose their impression. The quantity that Handel wrote is sur prising. It certainly exceeric what has flowed from the pen any other composer, however voluminous his works ; and it is so great, that we must be content with observing, that he produced between 40 and 50 operas, between 20 and 30 oratorios, besides organ concertos, and other music.