I would like to take this opportunity of acknowledging my
gratitude to those who have so kindly assisted me in the research
which has resulted in this volume. I am particularly indebted
to Mr William C. Smith, Assistant in charge of Printed
Books in the British Museum, to Mr E. van der Straeter for
research in Germany and elsewhere, and to Mr L. S. Sheppard
of the British Museum for research in Italy. To the Earl and
Countess of Aylesford, to Earl Howe, to the Prince di Ruspoli
for permitting the search in their archives, or the reproduction
of pictures. To Mr Arthur F. Hill for permission to reproduce
the Hudson and Denner portraits of Handel, and the portrait
of Farinelli of which he is the proud possessor, and for con-
tinuous help in other directions. To the Governors of the
Foundling Hospital for permission to reproduce for the first
time the Kneller portrait of Handel. To Herr Foss of Berlin,
the direct descendant of Dorothea Michaelsen, Handel's
sister, who has allowed me to include their family portrait of
Handel, which has not hitherto been reproduced. This is
believed to be one of the last portraits painted during
the Composer's lifetime. I am also indebted to Professor
Michael of Freiburg for the Water Music information, to
Professor Arnold Schering and Dr Weissenborn of Halle
University, to Dr Kinsky of the Haym Museum, Cologne,
Professor Dr Wahl, Professor Dr Reinke of Hamburg, and
Professor Werner of Bitterfeld. All these friends have made
this work possible.
As regards authority for the statements made in this
volume, I would refer my readers, not only to the footnotes,
but to the bibliography at the end, which I think can be
justifiably claimed as the most complete Handelian Biblio-
graphy yet compiled.