Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Scots musical museum > Volume 5

CCCCXCIII.— COULD AUGHT OF SONG, &C. 43S
verses which Allan Ramsay wrote as a song for Peggy in his
pastoral comedy of " The Gentle Shepherd," beginning
At setting day and rising morn.
With soul that still shall love thee,
I'll ask of Heaven thy safe return.
With aU that can improve thee.
&c. &c. &c.
Ramsay directed his verses to be sung to the fine tune of The
Bush aboon Traquair^ which is unquestionably far superior to
Dr Howard's air, although the latter, with Ramsay's words,
became a very popular song in England, and was frequently
sung by Mr Lowe, at Vauxhall, with great applause. This
Anglo- Scottish song was printed in Robart's " Caliope, or
English Harmony," vol. ii. London 1739, and again in ano-
ther work, entitled " The Muse's Delight," printed at Liver-
pool in 1754.
The anonymous editor of the work entitled " Musical Bio-
graphy," printed at London in 2 vols 8vo, 1814, informs us,
that Dr Howard, " who was educated at the Chapel Royal,
was not more esteemed for his musical talents than he was be-
loved for his private virtues, being ever ready to relieve dis-
tress, to anticipate the demands of friendship, and to prevent
the necessities of his acquaintance. He was organist of the
churches of St Clement Danes and St Bride. His ballads
were long the delight of natural and inexperienced lovers of
music, and had at least the merit of neatness and facility to
recommend them. He preferred so much the style of music
of his own country to that of any other, that nothing could
persuade him out of a belief that it had not then been excelled.
He died at his house in Norfolk-street, in the Strand (Lon-
don) on the 13th of July 1782, and was succeeded in his si-
tuation of organist of St Clement's by Mr Thomas Smart,
and that of St Bride's by Mr Thomas Potter, the son of the
flute-maker of that name." — Mus. Biog. vol. ii, p. 200.