Letter to James Clark: 24 November 1808
Mr James
Clark Argyle
Shire Militia Band Aberdeen
Paisley
24th Novr 1808 My Dear Friend I,
in due time, received your very obliging letter of Date the 22d June,
and must again cry you mercy for not acknowledging it sooner. The Airs you
favoured me with are quite such as I wanted they were all new to me except Cothnelan
Treil which I had past me under the name of Kitty Tyrrel, being
busied with other matters I have not yet attempted songs to any of them, save
the above, which I am happy to say has obtained the promise of a place in the
work formerly mentioned, but as these things are best lying past till published
in form, I have not yet given away one copy of any I have written for it, which
indeed are only other two. You mention the collection of O’Ferrol, and another
with the compositions of Carolan, &c. I believe I might find them on
enquiry but I would rather pick up any wild stragler such as Dermot,
which, from their not being so common have a supperior chance of being noticed.
You will doubly oblige me by endeavouring to procure one or two more of the
above description for me. I had not the pleasure of being in company with your
friend Mr Knox, but I met old Stanfield the day after
receiving your last, on presenting your compliments to him he exclaim’d “Och!
God bless ˄us˄! how is he? I am extremely
happy to hear from him” --— — We had only one
bottle together, as he had to attend (Rehearsal. [#] Mr Kemble
seems not to set much store by Paisley encouragement as the Theatre here
is already gutted. Beaumont’s management has gained him the completest
good-will of ˄all˄ the Glasgow people – before his engagement commenced they were much
prejudiced against him— all the cry was
“Rock- Rock; nobody like Rock – and, by the by, the latter Gentleman was believed by some folks to do
all in his power to hurt him. however, tho’ Mr B. pleases them so well,
he is generally allow’d by his last
Season to be benifited something in the irish style. I would have written
you a song or something that way but as Mr Smith has two new
ones in the engravers hands I rather wish you to see them accompanied with the
Music – Receive one composed by Mr Ross. he
made a compliment of the Copy Right which I have disposed of to your friend Mr Hamilton. I send you a little collection
selected by Mr Smith
for his classes— you will notice one or two of mine among them – The
Kilbarchan Society are going to Publish Habbie Simpson’s Elegy in a handsome
style — they have fallen in with a very old M.S. copy of it among the Papers of
the Beltrees family — I will try to send when printed —— Receive a copy of
Hardyknute – I send it because I reckon it the most complete of any ˄I
have seen – I send you likewise a Piece published by Thomas Cumming – merely to
show what has been doing here —-- [#] Our friend Mr Smith I
believe is very throng in the Teaching line— I have not seen him these ten days
– Mr Stuart is likewise well, I see him frequently — If you
know any of the Irish Airs “Peggy O’Leven” or “The Does of Loch Gaul”, please
to send them with any others that you may remember ——-- Give my regards to C.
Marshall, tell ˄him˄ his friends here are all something in their
usual way — I have not another of I remain, Dear James, Yours affectionately R.
Tannahill P.S. I have just now seen
Mr Smith and he says he will enclose a few lines with some music for
you — I would have written to Mr Buchanan – but must defer it
at present. Present my good wishes to him along with a copy of Levern Side and
one these little song books. Copy Text: MS Robertson 1/22 Previous Publication: Notes: |