Page "Messiah (Handel)" Paragraph 21

The three charities that were to benefit were prisoners ' debt relief, the Mercer's Hospital, and the Charitable Infirmary.

In its report on a public rehearsal, the Dublin News-Letter described the oratorio as "... far surpass anything of that Nature which has been performed in this or any other Kingdom ".

Seven hundred people attended the premiere on 13 April.

So that the largest possible audience could be admitted to the concert, gentlemen were requested to remove their swords, and ladies were asked not to wear hoops in their dresses.

The performance earned unanimous praise from the assembled press: " Words are wanting to express the exquisite delight it afforded to the admiring and crouded Audience ".

A Dublin clergyman, Rev.

Delaney, was so overcome by Susanna Cibber's rendering of " He was despised " that reportedly he leapt to his feet and cried: " Woman, for this be all thy sins forgiven thee!

" The takings amounted to around £ 400, providing about £ 127 to each of the three nominated charities and securing the release of 142 indebted prisoners.