Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-07-01
How yankee Doodle got to Europe.

How Yankee Doodle got to Europe. |
Mr.. Winthrop, in his beautiful and eloquent ad-
dress, delivered recently in Boston at the opening of
the grand Musical Festival. gave the following ac-
count of the manner in which Yankee Doodle"
was first brought out in Europe:
Il have heard the late John Quincy Adams-an
intense lover of music himself and whose compre-
hensive requirements embraced knowledge of this
particular subject which would have been extraor-
binary in any body else-tela story which may
as an Illustration ofthe state Of American music atthat
precise period During the negotiation at Client of
that treaty of peace to which have just alluded
festival or banquet or it may have been ball, was
about to take place, at which It was proposed to pay
the customary musical compliment to all the sover.
eigns who were either present or represented on the
occasicn The sovereign people of the United States
represented there, as you remember, by Mr. Adams
himself, Mr.. Bayard, Mr. Clay, Mr.. Jonathan Rus
sell and Mr.. Gallatn-were of course not to be
looked and the musical conductor or band master
called upon these commissioners to furnish him with
national air. Our national air. said they, is Yam
kee Doodle. Yankee Doodle, said the conductor,
"what is that? Where shall find it? By whom
was it composed? Can you supply me with the
score?" The perplexity Of the commissioners may
be better conceived than described. They were fair
ly at their wits ends. They had never imagined
that they should have Of this sort to SETTLE
and each turned to the other in despair At last
they bethought them, in happy moment, that
so many Of his race, frst.rate whistler and
who was certain to know Yankee Doodle by heart
He forthwith sent for accordingly and the pro-
b,em was solved without further delay. The band
master jotted down the air the coored boy whis-
tied it, and before night (said Mr.. Adams) Yankee
Doodle was set to SO many parts that you would
hardly have known it and it came out the next day
in all the pride, pomp, and circumstance of viol and
hautboy, of drum, trumpet, and cymbal to the edi-
fcaton of the allied sovereigns of Europe and to
the gorfcaton of the united sovereigns Of America"
Mr.. Winthrop continued
"I would not dsparage Yankee Doodle, my
friends. 1t has associations which must always
der its simple and homely melody dearer to the
hearts of the American people than the most elo-
borate compositions of ancient modern science.
Should free institutions again be in danger
whether from " malice domestic or foreign levy"
tsm will keep step We must always preserve it
and never be ashamed of it; though do venture
to hope that day may come when, like England
and austria, and Rnssa-to name no other lands
may have something fit to be entitled a national
anthem, which shall combine acknowledgment Of
God with the glorious memories of wise ard brave
men which shall blend the emotions of pety and
patriotism, uniting in sweet accord the praises Of
the Divine Author of our freedom and independence
with those of his chosen and commissioned human
instruments, in strain worthy to commemorate the
rise and progress of our Great Republic"