with in the volumes of those minor poets whose powers or exertions have never reached to compositions of the highest order, but have been particularly employed on performances of the light and amusing class. Of these,

"the wits of either Charles's days, qu The mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease, were examples; though, for the most part, that ease degenerated into a negligence which prevented them from polishing their strains to the requisite degree. Their licentiousness, likewise, imparted a taint to most of their productions; and even sometimes appeared in a coarseness of language little corresponding with what might be expected in the style of men of fashion. Many sprightly and unexceptionable songs, however, haye been composed by writers of the preceding description, both in earlier and later periods; and upon the whole, the works

of

of the minor poets may be reckoned the most copious store of these pieces. Among these may be included such as have sappeared, mostly anonymously, in colleetions of fugitive and miscellaneous poetry, often written by persons who have taken up the pen only for occasional amusement, but have been well qualified to bestow upon short compositions the care and polish requisite to give them value. Even -the more respectable of the periodical publications afford specimens of songwriting, the early attempts of young poets, which are pleasingly marked with the 2-warm feelings and active imagination characteristic of that period of life.

Plays, particularly those of the last band the preceding century, frequently introduce songs in their scenes, some of which are composed in the best style. Congreve has one in each of his comedies;

and

and indeed audiences at that time seem regularly to have expected such an addition to their entertainment. They were written sometimes by the dramatist himself, and sometimes by a friend; and not un frequently are superior in their kind to the piece which they accompany.) It might have been expected that the modern introduction of comic operas on our stage would have afforded an abundant store of approved songs, since musical airs are an essential part of those dramas; but, whether from the inferior poetical talents of those who have been employed in these works, or from the circumstance of the songs being written to the tunes, instead of these being composed to the songs, it is a fact, that very few are to be found in them deserving a place in a standing col+ lection. Still less aid can be procured from the pieces written for the orchestras

of

£་

of the public gardens, and other places of amusement, which are for the most part extremely contemptible.ont of modif There is scarcely, I believe, any other instance of the composition of songs for the express purpose of forming part of a collection, than the recent one of Burns, whose latest poetical exertions were made for the service of a spirited collector of Scottish vocal poetry. Regarding his work as a national publication, he enriched it with many pieces of singular merit, both of the tender and the humorous kind; and indeed no modern poet seems to have possessed so happy a talent for songwriting, when his taste was not contami nated by his habits of vulgar excess.

From the different sources above enumerated, a number of these pleasing compositions may be selected, which will do honour to English genius, and are well entitled to preservation as a portion of the

mass

mass of national poetry, even independently of their association with some of the most agreeable strains of musical harmony. Such a selection has been the object of the present editor; and although he is well aware that an uniformity of judgement respecting the admission and rejection of particular pieces cannot be expected, he presumes to hope that he shall not be thought chargeable in general either with inserting mean, vulgar, and improper articles, or with omitting those of acknowledged and decided excellence, There exists, indeed, a numerous class of pieces of a middle rank, many of which, by musical or other associations, may have been rendered favourites to individual readers, who will be disappointed at not finding them in the list; but it has been much more a point with the editor to give a select than a comprehensive collection.

After much consideration respecting arrangement,