Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 1

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STORIES OF
shire, and the lass was Miss I'Anson or Janson (spelt both ways), and the " Hill" was the house her family occupied. McNally's grand-daughter and Janson's descendants all testify to his authorship. Miss I'Anson was the daughter of William I'Anson, of Hill House, Richmond, Yorks, and McNally wooed and married her on January 16th, 1787, at St. George's, Hanover Square. Mr. I'Anson was a solicitor, and there-fore likely to meet with Leonard McNally, per-haps through his son, who was a barrister. McNally's daughter afterwards married a gen-tleman of the name of Simpson, at Richmond. Mr. I'Anson practised as a solicitor in Bedford Row, London. There can be no possible doubt about McNally's marriage with Miss I'Anson, nor of his being the author of the song, the music of which was written by James Hook, the father of Theodore Hook, though for a long time it was attributed to the Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV). It was also said to have been a great favourite with George III. The " Lass of Richmond Hill" was written and composed some time before it was publicly given, which occurred in 1789, when Incledon sang it at Vauxhall Gardens. The words ap-pear to have been first printed in the " Morning Herald," of August 1st, 1789, but it was circu-
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