Far from the Public Eye

John Langshaw to John Sainsbury, 3 January, 1824.

"…the proprietors of the New Biographical Dictionary of Musicians request me to furnish you with a short biographical sketch of my life…

…A life spent for the most part at a distance from the public eye cannot present much variety - what particulars however are briefly mentioned here are at your service…

…went to London and there studied with Mr. Charles Wesley, from whom, as also from his brother Samuel Wesley, I experienced the most unremitting kindness. To these instructions and to the frequent opportunities I had of hearing the Wesleys' performances in private may be attributed all my future improvement…

…After visiting London three times I commenced my career as a teacher of music…

…my unpublished works are much more numerous and perhaps more worthy of notice than those which have been printed…

You have here a rough and hasty sketch of my life and works - mould it to suit the plan of your publication."