"He took an early opportunity of introducing his new friend at Mr. CROPLEY'S concerts; the first violin was resigned to him; 'and never,' says the organist, 'had I heard the concertos of CORELLI, GEMINIANI, and AVISON, or the overtures of HANDEL performed more chastely, or more according to the original intention of the composers, than by Mr. HERSCHEL. I soon lost my companion; his fame was presently spread abroad; he had the offer of pupils, and was solicited to lead the public concerts both at Wakefield and Halifax. A new organ for the parish church of Halifax was built about this time, and HERSCHEL was one of the seven candidates for the organist's place. They drew lots how they were to perform in succession. HERSCHEL drew the third, the second fell to Dr. WAINWRIGHT of Manchester, whose finger was so rapid that old SNETZLER, the organ-builder, ran about the church exclaiming: '_Te tevel! te tevel! he run over te keys like one cat; he will not give my piphes room for to shpeak._' 'During Mr. WAINWRIGHT'S performance,' says MILLER, 'I was standing in the middle aisle with HERSCHEL. 'What chance have you,' said I, 'to follow this man?' He replied, 'I don't know; I am sure fingers will not do.' On which he ascended the organ loft, and produced from the organ so uncommon a fulness, such a volume of slow, solemn harmony, that I could by no means account for the effect. After this short _ex tempore_ effusion, he finished with the Old Hundredth psalm-tune, which he played better than his opponent.
"'_Ay, ay_,' cried old SNETZLER, '_tish is very goot, very goot indeet; I vil luf tish man, for he gives my piphes room for to shpeak._' Having afterwards asked Mr. HERSCHEL by what means, in the beginning of his performance, he produced so uncommon an effect, he replied, 'I told you fingers would not do!' and producing two pieces of lead from his waistcoat pocket, 'one of these,' said he, 'I placed on the lowest key of the organ, and the other upon the octave above; thus by accommodating the harmony, I produced the effect of four hands, instead of two.'"[6]
The dates in this extract are not so well defined as might be wished. HERSCHEL had certainly been more than a few months in England at the time of his meeting with Dr. MILLER, which was probably about 1760. The appointment as organist at Halifax was in 1765, and the pupils and public concerts must have filled up the intervening five years. During a part of this time he lived in Leeds, with the family of Mr. BULMAN, whom he afterwards provided with a place as clerk to the Octagon Chapel, in his usual generous manner.