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FAMOUS SONGS
Quebec, the " wonderful year" of the lyric, a year in which the British arms were covered with glory by the Marquis of Granby, Lord Hawke, and General Wolfe :
" Come cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer, To add something more to this wonderful year; To honour we call you, not press you like slaves, For who are so free as the sons of the waves?"
It is a truly grand patriotic production.
" Roast Beef" was adapted to a tune composed by Richard Leveridge, about 1728, who also wrote part of the words at the time. The song, with Fielding's improved lyric, was published in Walsh's " British Miscellany," about 1740. The authorship of " Rule Britannia" has been dis-puted, some authorities at one time inclining to the belief that as David Mallet was concerned with Thomson in writing the masque "Alfred," in which the Ode was originally sung, he was the writer. I will first give a quotation from W. Chappell's " National English Airs :" " ' Rule Britannia,' from the masque of ' Alfred/ com-posed by Dr. Arne. This masque was written by James Thomson and David Mallet, and was performed in the gardens of Cliefden House in commemoration of the accession of George I., and in honour of the birthday of the Princess
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