Donald Satz <[log in to unmask]> inquires:

>This isn't a significant matter, but I always assumed than Handel was a
>German composer who happened to write many works while living in England.
>Did he change his citizenship? Was anything like this done formally during
>the 1700's?

Matters of citizenship were handled quite differently back then.
Besides, there was no German state in the 18th century--just scores of
German-speaking sovereignties.  The Georgian Kings of England were also
kings of Hanover, and the early ones spoke German primarily.  Handel would
not have been considered English by English society but because of his
elevated social position that shouldn't really have mattered to him.

To travel abroad you carried nothing resembling a modern passport.  A paper
from a government office with an official seal on it would do, and if there
were questions, then the consul or ambassador, or minister,of the country
concerned would proovide guidance on the basis of his own judgement to the
authorities making the inquiries.  Remember, too, that many high ocfficials
both in the civil and military services back in that day could be aliens
who were recruited for their abilities or their connections.  (There were
plenty of Gemran, Polish, French and whatnot officers in the forces
commanded by George Washington.)

Denis Fodor