12 Jan 1780:22 (343)
Rivington's New York Gazette         
RNYG.780.021                                                            
12 Jan 1780:22 (343)                                                    
From the Morning Post.  Mr. Editor,                                     
A Gentleman who has made the tour of Europe, and is a minute            
enquirer into the different modes of life in different                  
countries, has observed with great attention the influence              
of particular studies and pursuits on the health and long               
life of the professors.  He finds that all, or many, of                 
those who study the more refined arts, particularly Music,              
are in general of great age.  He means those who are real               
admirers, and artists from true feelings of its powers to               
sooth and compose the mind to peace and serenity;  and who              
have distinguished themselves by celebrated works and                   
compositions.  As to mere mechanical performers their lives             
are in general shorted by dissipation and debauchery.  Among            
the real admirers and composers, he gives remarkable                    
instances in his own country, as well as Italy, Germany, and            
other parts;  and instances the following, who are                      
Professors, and Dilettanti:                                             
Geminiani  80 upwards                                                   
Partini  ditto                                                          
Antoniotto ditto                                                        
Leveridge 90                                                            
Mr. St. Andre  90                                                       
Corelli  96                                                             
Handel  96                                                              
Oevetti  96                                                             
Hasse 80, now living                                                    
Farinelli, now living 80                                                
Faustina, now living 80                                                 
Dr. Creighton 90                                                        
Alessandro Scarlatti 87                                                 
Mr. Pepusch 87 or upwards                                               
Rosingrave, sen. ditto                                                  
Old Tallis ditto                                                        
Several of the Harrington family 80                                     
Col. Blaythwayte  80                                                    
The Elder Bach, in Germany 80                                           
Sir Robert Throckmorton, with many more at this time abroad,            
of distinguished abilities and ages.                                    
He has also made the same observation as to many                        
mathematicians - Newton, Fla   ead [middle letters                      
illegible], Leibnitz; and remarks that all those who have               
pursued studies, attended with controversy of disagreeable              
political attentions, have either died early, or, if old,               
impaired their faculties to idiocy - Swift, Warburton, and              
many others.  Voltaire's chearful engagements secured his               
logevity, as nothing ruffled his complacency;  and he                   
concludes his remarks with aequanimitas est sola felicitat.             
Historicus.