The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-08
Charles Sraslx.y on tAs Songs Of nngi.na.

Charles Maslxay on tAs Songs o. England
Charles kackay, L. D., delivered his second lecture On
-the National Historical and Popular Songs Of England,
Scotland and Ireland last night 1t Mozart HAIL. Broad
way The attendance was larger than on the evening OF
the opening lecture.
Dr. MAcxAY said that his subject this evening was the
Songs Of England" and In treating OF them became
necessary 70 back the very earliest period Of Eng
lish song; time when there were no authentic
records Of the songs Of that period Immediately after
the time OF the Druds find the bards occupying lead
ing position, not alone poets but as All the
songs Of the early bards descriptive OF battles and
the vaorous feats Of the heroes Of that time Thus
Mcpherson gathered in he Highlands the fragments and
traditions of the Bardc mes and worked them into songs
which he called the poems of Ossan" The lecturer next
referred 70 the songs OF King Arthur and his Round Table,
the Percy Reliques, Old King Cole, AMI King Mervne, ali
of which have been embodied in Saxon song, and had
taken rs much hold Of the popular mind in England
Coopers tales OF the Mohcans and the other tribes
had Of the mind Of the people America and England at
the present day King Arthur and King Cole
now nursery songs and while the Arthur Of history less
than king, the Arthur OF the song than reality
The lecturer then came down to the mnstrels of tn
Norman period in England, who took high position
in social life and were alone song writer's aud must
clans but TO certain extent equivalent to the newspaper
editors and reporters of the present day they put
verse the latest murders AMI love tragedies OF the time
and sung them from house 10 house These bards pro
duced rs much rore in those times Jenny Lind tn
newest ballet troupe from Paris do now. The Battle OF
Chevy Chase the ballads of " Fair Rosamond,' Robin
Hood" and - The Babes in the Wood" were the pro
duct OF this era. The value OF the bards before tho
invention OF printing incaculabe but after that time
they thrown Of bread and travelled among the
poor and iterate. In the reign Of Elizabeth act
passed denomna,ing Thorn vagabonds This, no thought
might apply to he famous Picolomini or to his friend
Thackeray and other lecturers that he could mention.
aughter and appase.) After the invention of printing
Ghaucor was the first noted song writer At that time the
education of English gentleman was considered ncom
pet0 If he could not read music at sight The class of
SONGS which ShaKspere introduced into tho Winters
Tnta tySnra al "a n n
yard or 800 songs for halfpouny Henry VIII found
time To write songs IN the midst of his cares Of state
s.roverses with the Pope, love making ana wife kng-
which remain and about the earliest the Ian
gnago-and they were the first faint radiance that
pr Surrey and Sir Thos. Wild. both of whom
svered on Tower Hill, wrote songs at the same me
nut tho political aspect OF affairs became moro settled
the Of song writing improved Shakespeare and Spenser
appeared. After Shakspeare's time came William Tarle
ton and Martin Parker the latter the author Of the
aye gentlemen OF England" which gave the idea of
Campoeis glorious song of 'Ye Mariners of England
OF the song writers OF Shaxspeares time he himself
the most excellent The lecturer then passed in brief
view the songs Of Ben Johnson, Walter and George
Wkcrs But after all, Shakespeare was the prince aud
king OF song writer's Of his age All his songs were
models o. wit, grace tenderness The lecturer cited
the songs "Under the Greenwood Tree and Take, oh
Take, Those Lips Away" examples. But the golden
age Of c poetry at not oe with rd Ur tne
Milton great musician, and thus exceied all his CO
.temporaries II he had devoted himself TO song writing
would have been tho most popular OF that Glass; and
in fact he had written anything but "Comus we
would have held HIM to our hearts Cowey did not excel
rs song writer because he was not musician; like Sir
Walter Scott, he could discern one air from another.
The of Dryden better adapted to music but
being 1T for decent society they were long ago ban
ished He in the reign of Charles H. when every
moral sentiment was dcbascd an age not pronc IN good
poetry but very prolific IN bad verse The period oil song
writing which succeeded this OF false pretence
Every lover a shepherd dressed la Louis Quatorzc
and had Roman name. The ladies' were all shepherd.
Phnbc or Chloris or Tnlsbe. II we to judge the
English people that time by their songs they were not
Christians but fasans me sun was % ha, 'ns
she was kind; but If she was unkind, she was Dana
Bacchus represented half satyr and half Sir John
Falstan, and known as the god OF drunkards The
lecturer then referred To the national anthem God save
the King" which, he said, was written by Carey, tue
author OF sSally Alley" The song God Save the
King . though written the time Of William Ill was
really meant apply 10 the exile James IL, and WAS
strange ths. il should even considered song
breathing loyalty the house of Hanover when in fact
1t was treason Poor Carey the author Of the song was
discovered 70 be Jacobie and was neglected and at
length persisted London with nothing but his clothes
and halipenny In his pocket The lecturer then
passed Collins and Garrck the latter though not
known song writer, ives the author OF Hears OF
YAK Thompson the author Of 1.-The Seasons" also
wrote "Rue Britannia" Dibdin, the lecturer claimed
60 be the greatest national songster OF England,
Eor he exalted the character Of the sailor and made
Jack the national pet He represented him III all MS
10 WRITES SIDE; that while the soldier was compare
lively despsed the sailor adored by the people aud
IN popular favor Nelson ranked above Wellington ine
lecturer here read the song Of "Tom Bowine,' which
was received with much applause, and proceeded To
state that pbdns followed in the steps OF his faiher
and produced some admirable songs; yet but the
other day he met old Thomas Dbdin wandering IN the
streets OF London without shoe 10 his foot but why ten
what brought him TO this positonswhy Pry into the his
tory OF his private fsf lie had honest heart and DC
voted Il TO honest purposes that was enough zap
pause and cries Of 6codD In the present century .ne
most promising song writer was Thomas Campbell. HIS
exile Of Erin and "Irsh Harper, though Hbernan IN
subject we're English in treatment and style, and may
rank with the best OF English Haynes Bayy the
lecturer characterized the hantini Of the art col
poetasy. or living song writer's he dare not SPEAK en
cept 70 ray tribute To the genius OF Barry Cornwai
Mr. Mckay then concluded by reading an original poem
entitled 1.-The Primrose" which elected much applause
The next lecture will he delivered on Thursday even.
ing and the subject will be the songs OF Scotland aud
Ireland.