The illustrated book of English songs

Preface

The following Collection of the Popular and National Songs of England is offered to the lovers of this delightful department of literature with the hope that it will be found to present, in a small compass, a large portion of the most celebrated effusions of this kind which the language affords. The ordinary Songbooks, of which large numbers are annually, if not daily, issued, at prices varying from one penny to a shilling, are for the most part valueless to those who desire to know the age in which the songs were written, the names of the authors, the circumstances which led to their production, or any fact of interest connected with their origin or their influence. They contain neither names nor dates, make no attempt at classification, and often include effusions which are objectionable to. -the right-minded, and unfit to be placed in the hands of the young. The -Collection now offered to the public aims to supply a deficiency in these respects ; and although it has no pretensions to being complete — for fifty volumes would scarcely exhaust a subject so extensive — it is hoped that it presents a fair view of the progress and present state of English literature in this particular branch. The songs have not been uniformly selected for their beauty or their excellence. While these claims have not been lost sight of, the popularity which they may have at any time enjoyed, or the influence, direct or indirect, which they may be supposed to have exercised upon the popular mind, have been considered legitimate passports to a place in the Collection. It is possible that many readers, "with whom particular songs may have become favourites from old association, may look in vain in this volume for the lyrics

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that have been impressed on their memory by accidental circui stances ; but they will possibly admit upon reflection that thes* are, to a great extent, matters of individual taste, and that th song which is beautiful to one man, because his mother, his sister his lover, his wife, or his friend, may have sung it, may be with out charms for him who has not heard it repeated under simila circumstances. It should also be remembered, that he who selects with small space at his disposal, from a vast mass of materials must necessarily omit much, which, had he been less restricte< for room, he would willingly have included.

The Editor regrets that he has not been able to obtain, fron the proprietors of the copyright of the Songs of the late Thoma Moore, permission to include in this volume any of the beautifu compositions of that writer ; but as every reader of taste and everj lover of music is familiar with " Moore's Melodies," it is hopec that the volume will not be on that account the less acceptabL to those who desire to know the past as well as the presen state of song-literature. The Editor cannot, while explaining this involuntary deficiency of the volume, omit to express hi; thanks to the living writers who have so cordially given hin permission to make extracts from their works. He has also tt return his acknowledgments to Messrs. Cramer and Beale, Regen Street ; to Messrs. Goulding and D'Almaine, of Soho Square ; tc Messrs. Bradbury and Evans, Whitefriars ; and to Messrs. Adan and Charles Black of Edinburgh, for the permission to insert th< compositions of deceased authors, of which they possess the copyi right; and to Mr. William Chappell and Dr. E. F. Rimbault foj the kind communication of many interesting facts connected witl the authorship of old songs.