Notes from Autograph Letters of Thomas Moore to Mr Power

[cont.]

Seven Letters, four 4to. (one of two sides) three 8vo., 1st, 4th, 5th, 10th, 17th, 19th, and 29th November, 1830
“I think it the most respectful way (as well as most modest) to send only the songs she asked for.” Sir John Stevenson. “I have been sadly interrupted of late - but it seems my destiny.” “I wish you could get for me and send by the first opportunity the Daily Diary or Remembrancer (I don’t know which it is called (at Bailey’s I think, No. 9, Fleet Street.) I want the large size at 65.” I have written a Comic Duett for two Almacks Dandies (Male and Female) which as soon as I have finished- the verses that introduce it, you shall have.” “I wish you would send me by next parcel the last number of the Belle Assemblee and any French Magazine that may be about fashions, as I want to dress my two Dandy people properly.” “I was in hope of a letter from you this morning to say whether dear Tom was (as well as his Majesty) prevented by the Ministers from coming out. What a farce (a tragical one) the great Duke has made of it.” “I send you the corrected music and 100 lines more of the Summer Fete.” - u You will be a little startled, I fear, to see the instruments of War I am sending to you, but it is for a purpose which I have long intended, though the state of our neighbourhood just now has put it more immediately in my head. I want you to get

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new locks to these pistols for me, and whatever else may be necessary to make them sound and trust-worthy. They were given me some years since by a genuine Sir Lucius G’Trigger of my acquaintance, and my neighbour Napier says they are excellent pistols, but at present dangerous (not to one’s enemies but one’s friends) from the state of the locks.” “I do not fear the hundreds of poor devils that are congregating on all sides, and whose aim is entirely (as it ought to be) against the parsons and landlords. They are not likely to molest me
- but the stray stragglers from these great bodies and the number of ruffians that will take advantage of this state of things to rob and plunder are the evils that are most to be dreaded through the long nights of winter, and if we stay here (which it is just possible we may not) I should not like to be undefended.” e< Since I wrote the within one of the locks has broken off with a touch.”

Four Letters, two 4to., two Svo., 3rd, 10th, 11th, and 23rd December, 1830
“I have done some more of the Fete, bringing in two more of our stray Songs, so that there remain but three or four more (if so much) to finish it.” “We find the mould candles here so bad that we wish to try some of your London ones; and would be glad to have a box down by waggon. By buying them for me you can, I suppose, leave them to be paid by me. Best regards to all your large little circle. The candles are to be long fours.”

Two Letters, one Svo., one 12mo., undated (1830)

“Three or four days ago I wrote to Sandon (19, Bury Street) to know whether his second floor would be vacant this next week and he has not answered me. You could perhaps * stir him up with a long pole’ on the subject to-morrow, as I am rather in a difficulty about a lodging, and would not go to his but from my hatred of strange places and faces.”

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whelmed with devilish letters. - One of the inclosed is to the Artists Proprietors of the National Gallery, who have applied to me (on account of that < taste which flows almost exclusively from my pen’) to write the dedication to their work to the King. I have just despatched off another answer to an application from York for me to write the inscription on a monument they are erecting there to the seven young people who were drowned ! There is no end to these applications.”

Five Letters, two 4to., three 8vo., 2nd, 13th, ISth, 25th and 31st January, 1831.
“A merry new year to you and yours” - “To write a genteel comic Song is no easy matter. I have tried at different subjects till I am tired, and now have produced one that has too much ivit (at least what was meant for wit) for a Song. However as tune or no tune I mean to keep it in - I send it to you.” <f I am bleeding at every pore, in the money way. Building and furniture, &c. is now running away with more than s6300, in addition to the a£200 I paid in the summer. However once over it, and with jEIO a year rent, I shall manage perhaps to get into smooth water again.” “Some you cannot touch. But the Canadian Boat Song I certainly altered, and so I did c The last Rose of Summer.’ My Romaika they have stolen under the title of Sappho and given the name Romaike to another Waltz in the same set. The Titles I should think are fair game for you to fly at.” Mentions his “highbuilt nest” at Bowood. “I have been employed these two days in routing up Irish Melodies, and think we shall be able to make a very good show in the 10th Number.” “You shall hear from me soon about Wade’s MS.”

Four Letters, two 4to. two Svo., 8th, 10th, 17th and 28th February, 1831
“I shall have great cutting and slashing on the Slips” (of

1GI

the Summer Fete). “I have just heard such intelligence from Dublin as makes it necessary for me to start immediately. You shall hear from me on my road, or from Dublin. I fear I shall hardly find my poor mother alive.” “I know you will be glad to hear that my dearest mother has rallied in the most extraordinary way, and that I am able to leave her with the hope that she is in a fair way of recovery.* It has astonished every one, and a great deal of it is certainly owing to the vigour and composure of her mind which exceeds any thing I could have expected even from her in such circumstances. I have seen poor Stevenson, who is a sad wreck, but still full of laugh and fun (at least while I was with him) and as much a Dandy as ever
- quite a Lord Ogleby.” “Myself and my cold (which still sticks to me) arrived here safe on Friday night, finding all pretty well at home.”

Four Letters, three 4to. one 8vo., 6th, 10th, 11th and 18th March, 1831
“”What interesting doings you have up in town just now!”
“Pray look in the last (or last but one Evening Post) for a letter of Arthur O’Connor’s and put the proper Number to the address of the inclosed which you must frank off to-morrow for me. It is to ask a question of him.” Enquiry about a watch. “As soon as my Lord Edward is off my hands, I mean before I commence any thing else to take a long spell at Music.”

Three Letters, two 4to. one 12mo. (two sides), 5th, 9th and 17th April, 1831
<e I trust you will be able to hasten the publication [of the Summer Fete~] as I should like to have two such things as my

* Mrs. Moore survived fifteen months after this. She died at Dublin on the 10th May, 1832. The Gentleman’s Magazine records that “Her intellect was of the highest order, and it is stated to have been a fixed rule with Mr. Moore to write twice a week to her.”

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Life of Lord Edward and this gay poem coming out as near as possible together. I want you to manage a little matter for me in which we are both interested. A gentleman lent me a set of Bohemian Airs, from which I have selected about a dozen, which are just of the very sort to catch the popular ear, and yesterday I sent the book back to him, forgetting to erase the pencil marks which I had made before the airs to be selected. This, ever since I have recollected it, worries me, as it will be a guide for him and others to the few airs I have appropriated out of the 400 in the book, and somebody else might be tempted to make use of them. I have therefore written the inclosed to him to say that the book was sent off without my knowledge, and that there is an air or two more I want to transcribe if he will allow me to have them again. You must send this to his house immediately, and if he should not send the book to you, as I bid him, by Monday evening, you had better perhaps write a note on Tuesday morning to say that you have a parcel making up for me, and understanding that he has some music to send me, take the liberty of apprising him.”

Four Letters, three 4 to., two 8vo., 9th, 13th, 21st and 22nd May, 1831
“I send you a most beautiful Air (which the Duchess of Kent by the bye gave me) and which I have succeeded, I think, in matching with words most luckily.”

Four Letters, one 4to., three 8vo., 1st, 3rd, 6th and 7th July, 1831
“In addition to the other bother I bequeathed you in coming away, T wish,” &c. “I found all here very well.”
“Thanks, my dear Sir, for the fine salmon, which I am within half an hour at this moment of attacking,” Five Letters, 8vo., 13th, 17th, 19th, 20th and 30th July, 1831 ‘’ Not to lose time I send you back the two proofs and Horn’s Song, which is, I think, very good indeed, and with

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much more feeling than any thing of his I have ever seen. We are just about to prepare for our Archery Fete to-day and looking very anxiously at the sky. Your supply of fish for the occasion is most magnificent.” ’• I expect my Life of Lord Edward will be out next week.” “The proofs that are in the Box you will throw by somewhere till I return to town to destroy them.”

Five Letters and a Song, four 4to.,two 8vo., 2nd, 7th, (two), 2 1st, 22nd, and 28th August, 1831
•’* I had just sat down to copy out two new things for you, when Napier brought a Scotch friend of his to visit me, and I must defer my task till to-morrow.” “I hope your copy of Lord Edward was among the first sent as I ordered.” “I send you the 4th verse of the last Anthology Song and words to be set for our Second Evening in Greece. This forms one of the groups or pictures I told you of - an Arab girl and her lover conversing by signs in presence of her parents. He kissing a lotus flower (which is the emblem of beauty among the Arabs) and she holding up to him a small Mirror, such as the Arab women wear fastened to their thumbs. You shall have the verses descriptive of the same in the course of this week.” Song and Duett of The Lotus and the Mirror (unpublished) two Verses,

“Love hath a language of his own, A voice, that goes From heart to heart, whose mystic tone Love only knows,” &c. The Longmans have sold nearly the whole 1500 of my Lord Edward, which will be, they say, about £500 to the credit side of my account, another 1500 is what it ought to sell, but *-■■ ■ I fear it won’t.”

Five Letters, one 4 to., four 8vo. (three of two sides), 5th, 1 4th, 17th, 20th, and 26th September, 1831 11 Have you yet looked out Napier’s verses for me ? you will

m 2

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know them by the odd upright hand writing, and let the original stay where it is, till I decide what I (or we) shall do with them.” “I have heard a good deal about my brother lyrist, but he is not, I think, in the King’s Bench.” * * * “in short the whole * Butterfly bower’ is blown in the air. Poor devil!” “I have been engaged in a task which, of all others, I dislike - namely, writing an Article for the Edinburgh Review, having long promised the Editor I would give him one, and wishing also to oblige the Longmans.” “The Air was given to me by Young, the actor.” “Young lives in Pall Mall, I think.”
“Pray pay the inclosed to Paris; it is in answer to a communication from no less a personage than the King of France about my book.” “I am almost ashamed to tell you how pleased I was with the things of my own you sent me. I had forgot all of them but their names, and they come therefore fresh upon me. I have seldom, if ever, written anything so truly lyrical as two or three of them are. I was also glad for another reason, as two of them will come in most charmingly for our second (and last) Evening, so that we have now at least five or six pretty things towards it.” “What you sent me is not Napier’s, nor was it, I think, among the things I gave you with Napier’s; for those were for the Miscellany, and this (which I inclose) was merely given for you to have set by somebody. Napier’s verses were, if I recollect right, with a little packet of verses, prose,
&c. chiefly of my own, which I intended for the Miscellany. Translations from Catullus, Sketches of Pere La Chaise,
&c. There was also some verses of Luttrel’s which are now of no use, as on understanding that I had given up the idea of a Miscellany, lie made a present of them to his Son, who got twenty guineas for them from the Keepsake. Pray look again for his verses. It shows how much better supplied I am with words than with airs that (as I find by the MSS. you have sent me) I have actually written two sets of words to each of two airs - bigamy in Song completely. I must now find part-

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ners for the discarded wives, which are both (though I say it that should’nt say it) pretty” “I understated the duplicate words I had written; there were no less than three airs to which I had put two sets of words each.” “What do you think of Murray ? Besides the 8vo. Edition of my life of Byron, which he has printed, he is going now to publish a small one like the Waverley Novels to come out Monthly, with vignettes,
&c. My portrait, from Lawrence, to be among the engravings
- what enormous expenditure !”

Four Letters, one 4to., three 8vo., 2nd, 11th, 21st, and 24th October, 1831
“You have here my attempt at setting ‘Guess, Guess,’ [printed in Collected Edition of Moore’s works, until then unpublished^] for our Greek work. I have not been able to satisfy myself, but I think when Bishop and I meet, we shall contrive to make something pretty out of it.” “The Napiers have been passing their last two farewell days with us, which has interrupted me. I was very sorry not to have his verses to give him, and cannot think why you have not sent them to me. I have some little idea of coming up to town to take leave of poor Sir W. Seott, who has expressed a wish to see me before he goes. I am told he is a good deal better.” “I had something to send you yesterday, but as you will see myself on Wednesday or Thursday, I may as well be the bearer of it. My chief object in coming up is to see Sir W. Scott before his departure, and Murray has also some matters to consult me upon relative to the illustrations of his New Edition of the Life,
&c. &c. so I go to his house for the few days I stay. I was disappointed in not receiving my Edinburgh Review which I suppose was sent to you. If so, open it and read Shiel’s Article upon Lord Edward, and also (as I know you are fond of the Church) an Article entitled ’State of Protestantism in Germany,’ which is the one I told you I was employed about; - but this you will keep to yourself. I am sorry I gave you such trouble about

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these verses of Napier’s, but I felt quite sure they were among the Miscellany Papers. I suppose I have them myself somewhere. I will see you if possible on Wednesday evening.”
“I got down very comfortably,” &c. “I want you to go as soon as you can conveniently, to a book-shop in Piccadilly, not far from Bond Street, and on that side of the way, which contains books labelled with their prices in the window, and there to buy me a copy of Bland’s Anthology which I saw in the window, but was in too great a hurry at the time to stop to purchase it. It is marked 12 shillings, but yow will, I dare say, get it for less.” “You shall have, by to-morrow’s post, the Dedication and Introduction to the Summer Fete. I don’t know what to do with that thing you have so often sent me, * Good bye, my youth’ - having tried over and over to make something tolerable of it, without success. I shall see, however, whether upon the same thought, and taking what sailors call ■ a fresh departure,’ I may not do something better.”

Five Letters, one 4 to., four 8vo., 2nd, 7th, 9th, 19th, and 28th November, 1831
“I send you a very pretty Air of Miss Houlton’s, to which I was very glad to. be able to write nice words.” The Cholera panic. “I dare say Doctor Russell himself would, in the event of the disease actually reaching London, dismiss the whole school, as that part of the town would be of all others least eligible in such circumstances. But I should not like you to wait for this, but on the first intelligence of the approach of Cholera to do as I have said above, shewing this letter to Doctor Russell as your authority for what you do. The Newspapers to-morrow morning may perhaps decide me as to the steps to take, but in the mean time (that is, between this and your hearing from me again) I leave all to your own discretion.” “Many thanks for the good fish, which feasted Miss Starkey, Hughes and ourselves yesterday. I want you to go with the letter to Rogers yourself, and to ask whether he is in

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town - if not, enquire his address (that is, if he is not expected back soon), and, directing the letter accordingly, put it in the post.” “I see the alarm from Cholera has subsided; but we shall have it yet.” “They had some hundred policemen stationed in the Charter House the other day. What a state England is brought to!” Directions to bind a copy of the Irish Melodies “for a wedding present, and the sooner it is done the better.”

Five Letters, one 4to., three 8vo., one 12mo., 8th (two) and 28th December. Two undated (one of two sides), 1831 Note (undelivered) to the Rev. Doctor Russell, of the Charter House. “I have had just time to read over Mr. Wade’s MS. and dispatch it back to you. I find it is merely a History of Ancient Music, and, though appearing to be done with considerable talent, by no means comprises the part of the subject which would make it a work of much general interest. This is all I have to say, but you may shew him

. this note, with my compliments and best thanks for the flattering manner in which he has spoken of myself. The piracies another time. It is too bad of the fellows to rob me of my Romaika.” “The books need not be bound, nor need they come down to me, as it will be sufficient to write in them. ‘From the Author,’ and the persons that occur to me at present, are C. C. F. Greville, Esq. 11, Suffolk Street, Haymarket, (I think it is 11, but you will know at the Council Office), Lady Frances L. Gower, Bridgewater House, Cleveland Row, and Henry Luttrel, Esq. Brookes’ Club House. You had better, I think, send one also to E. L. Bulvver, Esq. M.P., 1 from the Author.’ He is, you know, Colburn’s Editor, and lives in Hereford Street, May Fair. As to Barnes and Jerdan, if you send copies to them, you may put ‘from the Author ‘or not, just as you think adviseable.” “If I puzzled Bishop, he has, in return, puzzled me still more. The fact is, though his accompaniments are beautiful, he has, by the alterations he has

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made, changed the whole character of the Air,” &c. “I cannot find where my verses, ‘Die where you will/ have been published, but, I rather think, it must have been in the last editions of the Two-penny Post Bag, or, perhaps, of the Fudge Family
- at the end.”

Four Letters, one 4 to. (two sides) three 8vo. (one of two sides), lOthj 17th, 21st, and 31st January, 1832
“Our dissipations here continue, but, thank God ! the meeting of Parliament will rid me soon of all this idling. I have had lately most splendid offers from Colburn (through his new Editor), to furnish Squibs to his Magazine - but have declined. ‘Terms (says Bulwer in his letter) which only so opulent a publisher as Mr. Colburn could afford to offer.’ I could not? however, let this boast pass without saying, that liberal as was Mr. Colburn’s offer, I must do the Magnificos of the Times the justice to say that it fell short of them. It was for such things as I sent the Times he had asked.” “Murray writes me word that his new Edition is doing very well. Have you observed the usual shuffling in his advertisements of it ? At first suppressing my name altogether, and now putting it the most prominent, as if the whole was edited by me. There never was such an odd fellow.” Sends “the MS. of that tiresome namesake of mine, to whom you may give a pound for me, if you think he is really so wretched as he says.”
“The address of my namesake is 48, Chandos Square, St. Martin’s Lane. The poor devil, as a last hope, has since written to beg a copy of the Summer Fete, meaning, of course, to pawn it. Let hiin have the Sovereign instead.”

Two Letters, 8vo., 19th and 26th February, 1832

“I am very nearly well of my Influenza, and hope you and yours keep free of all aches and alarms, in these alarming times.”
“I have nothing for you in the way of work to-day,” &c.

Six Letters, four 4to. (one unsigned), two 8vo. (one of two sides), 8th, ilth, 14th, 18th, 21st, 23rd March, 1832

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“I send you more of the Evening; the four last lines not yet finished. My closing scene will be a puzzler, as I wish to make it both a lively and probable termination of the whole work by bringing the absent Warriors home, while the young ladies are at supper. As to pictures this poem abounds with them; but where is the artist ?” “I don’t know where Crofton Croker lives, and this letter being upon a subject in which a neighbour of mine is interested I wish it forwarded by Twopenny Post immediately.” “My own movements will also a good deal depend on the answer, as it will decide, I think, whether I shall go before Patrick’s day, or after.” “Did I tell you of another Magazine Editor being at me with all sorts of good offers ? The new opponent of Blackwood in Edinburgh. He got the usual answer. They appear to be making great efforts for this new start.” “Doctor Russell’s answer has decided me not to come up till the end of next week, which will suit me much better (all except the losing St. Paddy’s day).” “I have had no formal requisition yet from Limerick, but I rather think they mean to tempt me. What they propose is a subscription among the women of Ireland for the purpose, which would certainly be a very pretty way of doing the thing.” “There was a Grand Fancy Entertainment given at a private house in Bath lately, consisting of scenes out of Lalla Rookh and the Evenings in Greece; the Music of the latter got up by professors. They ought to have asked the author to it.”

Three Letters, 4to., 11th, 13th, and 26th April, 1832

“I have not been able to finish copying out the lines I showed you in town sufficiently soon to go in this cover; but they and more shall go next time.” “I should like to have at the same time a copy of the Summer Fete, for which I fear, by your account, I am your best customer.” “A man called upon me yesterday, who told me he had enquired for me at your house on Tuesday. Harding, the bookseller of Cornhill. He came expressly by the Mail to offer me 1000 guineas for a Poem -

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the third of the size of Lalla Rookh - to have illustrated in the manner of Rogers’s. I asked him was he aware that Rogers’s book had cost him 567000 ? He said, yes- ‘But then the badness of the times/ said I. All this, he answered, that he had taken into consideration, but the rage for illustrated works was so great, that he had no doubt of success, if I would write the Poem. I did not like to give the poor man a decided ■ No/ So he returned by the Mail last night as he came. I mention this to you, because you were talking of having the Evenings in Greece illustrated, and it is at least a bookseller’s opinion in favour of the success of such a plan.” “I send you a portion of the Second Evening corrected for the Press,” &c.

Two Letters, one 8vo., one 12mo., 4th and 16th May, 1832

”I send you some more of the Evening.” “Bishop is, I must say, very provoking. I send his account book back.”
“We are both much obliged by your kind note, but it is not the intention of either of us to come to town for some time. I was myself about to start for Ireland when the melancholy news [of his mother’s death] reached me.”

Four Letters, one 4to., two 8vo., one irregular, i lth June, 1st, 8th, and 14th July, 1832
“I sent by mistake, yesterday, both of Bishop’s settings of the Dying Warrior to his Sword, and want one of them (it does’nt matter which) back again to write words to, any time will do.” “I was in Devizes from Thursday till yesterday evening, and did not receive your packet till my return.” “I should be glad when you have occasion to write again that you would say through what channel the Collection of Irish Airs sent to me from America (which came in the last parcel) reached your hands.”

Three Letters, one Svo., two 12mo. (one of two sides), 6th, 8th, and 26th August, 1832
“I am sorry to have been obliged to make bo much alteration

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in the words of ‘Welcome, sweet bird,’ but it has, from the first

given me a great deal of trouble, being a most awkward air to

put words to.”

[On the back is ivritten and struck through.’]

”Sloperton, August 6, 1832.
“My Dear Sir,

“I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. O’Connell at Bristol the other day, when we had a good deal of conversation on the subject to which you allude, and were it lucky my to have enjoyed the advantage. - “

”I send you two Songs. ’The Russian Lover,’ and ’Hush, sweet Lute,’ and the reason of my troubling you with them on a Sunday is to request that you will oblige Mr. Phipps by performing the inclosed commission for him. I forget the name of the fishmonger in your neighbourhood (whether it is Garbage or Groutage), but you will know the person I mean, and be so good as to mention that I recommended him.” Three Letters, one 4to. (franked “Lansdowne”), two 8vo., 4th, 7th, and 8th September, 1832
“I return the Proofs and Revises, with (I am sorry to say) a few more corrections in the latter. I send you also a new Song, ‘The days are gone,’ which with two of the four others inclosed (you can take your choice) completes the number that were wanting to make up my due quantity. By my next parcel I shall send a third verse for ‘The days are gone,’ and your account book, as also the copy of the Pere La Chaise Anecdotes, which I am very sorry your daughter had the trouble of writing, as it was not that I wanted, but two or three translations from Catullus, which were with it, and which I should be glad to have by the next parcel.” “I send the third verse of ‘The days are gone’ - a very appropriate title for the last Song it is possible I may ever write for you. It is not without pain that I use these expressions, and I will hope for both our sakes that the result may be otherwise -but all will depend upon

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the shape in which the enclosed Account Book is returned to me.” “Have the goodness to say, in your next, the exact day on which my last bill upon you becomes due.” “I send you a Melody. Will you have the goodness to ask at Ridgway’s, Piccadilly, for a speech of Sir H. Parnell’s this last Session, and send it to me when you have a parcel.” “Many thanks for the nice oysters.” “I had got this frank \i\ot posted] from Lord Lansdowne, but find he misdated it.”

Five Letters, one 4to., two 8vo., two 12ino., 5th and 16th October, 5th, 17th, and 30th November, 1832.
“I forgot to say that the Guittar is wanted almost immediately, and you will therefore lose no time in sending it.” “I have only time in dispatching the inclosed to express my sincere regret at your continued illness, and my hope that you will soon have better news to send me.” “I rejoice to hear that you are so much better.” “I have not time for more, but hope to hear that you are quite recovered.” Four Letters, three 4to., one 8vo., 3rd, 15th, 26th, and 28th December, 1832
“Pray forgive all this haste and trouble.” “There is nothing more necessary to be done, in the way of preface or advertisement for the Second Evening.” “Mrs. Moore is much obliged for the copy of the Second Evening, and I am thankful to you for sending one to my sister.” “We have to thank you for a very fine present of Fish, which has not only feasted ourselves but many of our neighbours.” Unpublished MS. by Mr. Moore, in his autography Eight closely written pages, 4to, on three sheets of paper, with indorsement of date in pencil by Mr. Power, referring to September and November, 1827, and headed by Mr. Moore, “Sketches of Paris. Sketch the First - Pere la Chaise.” Four Letters, 8vo., 1 1 th, 1 3th, and 2 1 st March, and 3rd April, 1 833
“It gave me much pleasure to receive your note, and I regret having been obliged to defer our meeting so long- but as the

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printer is at my heels, I am obliged to work all the first hours of the morning. On Wednesday, however, as soon after halfpast ten as may suit you, I shall be very glad to see you.”
“I shall thank you to send as soon as you receive this, a copy of the two Evenings in Greece, directed to Miss Barbara Godfrey, 35, Berkely Square. She leaves town in the morning, and therefore I wish her to have the book to-night. I shall expect to see you to-morrow evening.” “The dinner the other day was more of company than I expected, and accordingly I had not an opportunity of mentioning our business to Mr. Rees; but as soon as my occupations will allow of my going out in the morning, I shall call upon him on the subject.”
“Mr. Rogers, to whom I have spoken, has consented to assist us in our object.” “I was sorry not to be able to see you yesterday, being still very much occupied all the mornings - but if you can call here on Friday morning between ten and eleven I shall be glad to see you.”

Two Letters, 8vo. (one of two sides), 4th December, 1834, and 21st November, 1835
“I have to apologize for not sooner applying myself to the subject to which you drew my attention - but being busily employed in sending off the first Copy of my Irish History to the press, as also fancying, that the task you sent me was something requiring more time than I find it actually does, I was induced to defer it till this moment. It strikes me (after turning the matter over in my mind a good deal) that the present Preface with the few alterations you will find made in it, is as good and apropos as any new one I could prefix. I have found, however, a most extraordinary erratum in the Letter Press of the Tenth Number, which cannot be allowed to go forth without correction; and if it was really in the proofs sent to me, nothing but the unlikelihood of such a mistake occurring could have prevented me from perceiving it. In order to turn aside the too strong application of the words of the Song, * To-morrow, Comrad,’ &c. to the present state of Ireland, I had taken care to

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prefix to it ‘Time, the Ninth Century,’ and the Printer here, in order to saddle me with what I took so much pains to avoid, has made it the nineteenth Century! As a joke it wouldn’t be bad, but from a Printer’s devil it is rather too much. I meant to have said something more - but do not like to lose this post. Pray see that this passage is corrected.” “Dec. 5. The parcel was, after all, too late yesterday, and I open my note to insert a few additional words. I think it but fair, after our long connexion together, to apprize you that I occasionally still occupy myself with music, and mean in the course of next Season to publish some single Songs (either single or in a set), and likewise to finish a set of Sacred Songs which I have been from time to time employed upon. I shall only add that I have not yet entered into negociations. I inclose a letter which I received some time since from the Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald, on the subject of his intended work. I had better see a proof of the corrected Preface, and if you will have your inclosure left with the waiter at Brooks’s it will come franked to me.” “I have just recollected, in sending off these proofs, that I have another still uncorrected (’ Not from Thee ’) to send you. It shall go in the first parcel I am forwarding to the Longmans.” “I should be obliged by your letting me have a set of proofs of these Songs for my own use when you are sending again - as I think you had better - at least revises of those in which I have made much correction.”

Four Letters, 8vo., 16th February, 10th, i 6th, and 2 1st March, 1836
“I send back the proofs, and shall be obliged by your looking particularly to the restoration of the original accompaniment to a bar or two in the Song, * Go and forget it all.’ I don’t know how or by whom the accompaniment (which is Cheru^ bini’s own) was altered or mangled, but it makes havoc of the whole Song.” “I have not yet been able to satisfy myself in an Air to ‘The days are gone,’ but you shall have it before long.”

Mr. Power died on the 26th August, 1836.

175

NOTICE OF MR. POWER.

[From the London Literary Gazette, vol. xx. No. 1024, p. 573.J

“We have to record with feelings of sincere regret, the death of this eminent music-publisher, and most excellent man. He died on the evening of Friday the 26th ultimo at his house, 22, Buckingham Street, Strand, after a very short illness, and at the age of seventy, according to the newspaper announcement.

”As ‘the noblest work of God’ an honest man, and as an upright tradesman, Mr. Power enjoyed the respect of every one to whom in the way of business he was known; as well as the private friendship of many distinguished individuals, and the personal esteem of all who were capable of appreciating the moral dignity of his character. But it is as connected with national music and literature, that the name of James Power will long be remembered. He was the early and unostentatious patron, and subsequently, the steady friend of Moore, when adverse circumstances clouded the poet’s fortune.

“Mr. Power was born at Galway, in Ireland; his parents were highly respectable, but they had the good sense, instead of allowing their son to grow up a fox-hunting gentleman, to apprentice him to a pewterer in his native town. By the same regularity of habit, and attention to business, which distinguished him in after life, James Power soon became so skilful an artificer, that he undertook to repair the bugles of a light infantry regiment, then quartered at Galway. This undertaking, although at the time he was perfectly ignorant of the construction of the instrument, was accomplished by him so skilfully, that the bugles and trumpets of different regiments in Ireland, were sent to him for repair. Finding the reputation of his workmanship was daily increasing, Mr. Power removed to Dublin, and established himself in Westmoreland Street as a military instrument manufacturer. This step involved the necessity of dealing a little in music, and he took a younger brother (Mr. William Power) into partnership, for the purpose of attending to his increasing business.

“The demand in Dublin for lyrical compositions, induced Mr. Power to enter into the speculation of offering Mr. Moore, some of whose productions had already been published by him, the sum of fifty pounds for a set of twelve songs, adapted to Irish melodies, to be arranged by Sir John Stevenson. We have been told ths J the success of the first number of the ‘Irish Melodies ‘was

176

such as to induce the Messrs. Power to enter into an agreement with Mr. Moore, for an annuity of five hundred pounds for seven years, on condition of receiving from him a certain, and not very large number of songs. And this agreement was, we believe, twice subsequently renewed by Mr. James Power, who, shortly before the appearance of the second number of the ‘Irish Melodies ‘(October 1807), removed from Dublin to London, and commenced business as a music-publisher on his own account, at his present warehouse, No. 34, Strand.

“The publications of Mr. Power embrace a collection of the compositions cf the most popular lyric writers of the last thirty years, which were always produced from his press in a style of neatness of embellishment, superior to all contemporary works. Many oi them have received a passing tribute of approbation at our hands, as a reference to the pages of the Literary Gazette will prove. But the principal work with which the name of James Power will remain proudly associated, is the collection of ‘Irish Melodies ‘by Moore, arranged by Stevenson and Bishop; a publication which extends to ten numbers, with a supplemental one, which appeared at intervals between 1807 and 1834, a space of twenty-seven years, with undiminished popularity. The publisher, although as unostentatious a man as ever breathed, and lost strongly opposed to the tricks of puffery, appears himself to have felt a degree of honest pride out of his connection with this beautiful national work, from his having latterly adopted the punning imprint of ‘The Power of Melody ‘around an Irish harp.

“Mr. Power has left a widow and a large family, by whom no doubt his lucrative business will be carried on, as he possessed the copyright of many valuable musical and literary works.”

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