Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 348
Scan 348
the history of the violin, 1864
10 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 326. See the scan on archive.org.
1the first position; he must also have possessed great courage, for after the operation of taking off the first joint by the surgeons in attendance, he, from symptoms experienced, wished them to operate on the second joint, which they deemed useless; when on their retiring to partake of some refreshment, he excused himself, and went to his dressing-room and cut off the injured part, with his penknife, at the second joint, and then returned to the surgeons to have the wound properly dressed. On medical examination of the joint he had operated on, they acknowledged that disease had taken place, and that at some future time it must have been amputated. So choice was he of this violoncello that, when he travelled with it, he endeavoured, if possible, to secure an inside place in the mail or stage coach; but there were times when it was otherwise conveyed, and on one of these the instrument received the fracture in the back, with other injuries not of such serious nature; however when it was repaired, William Forster (2), and other persons did not consider the tone at all affected, although detrimental to its appearance. The following letter will explain Mr. Hole's feelings regarding the injuries:—
3"By this time you have received my old and once famous violoncello. It is a melancholy accident, and as you did not as usual enter it at 500l. value, I cannot recover any compensation from the carrier. He has made this proposition, that he will pay all expenses of repairing; and you will please to state to me the real damage done to the value of the instrument, if it were to be sold, that I may attempt to recover it, or have some allowance. You will please to repair it as soon as possible, & not send to me, as I shall be in London in March.
5"Yours very truly,
7"January 13, 1798.
9"H. A. Hole."
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