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the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Listings for Author:  

Laetititia Pilkington

 

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Laetititia Pilkington : [verses on 'Stella']

[Pilkington tells of how she wrote poems for a Mr Worsdale to pass off as his own and reproduces the Song 'Stella, Darling of the Muses'] 'Mr Worsdale shewed this Ballad to Mr Pilkington, who thought proper to alter the last verse, giving it this prophane and nonsensical turn; Cou'd the Gods, in blest Condition, Aught on Earth with Envy view, Lovely Stella, their Ambition Wou'd be to resemble you. As for the Gods envying Mortals, and wishing to be like them, it has neither Sense, [italics] English [end italics], nor even Novelty to recommend it; nor is it agreeable to the Dictates of Reason or Religion; for even a Heathen Author stands condemned for setting [italics] Cato [end italics] in a Light superior to the Gods; but a Christian Divine may say any thing, and so much for an old song'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Laetititia Pilkington : [verses on 'Stella']

[Pilkington tells of how she wrote poems for a Mr Worsdale to pass off as his own and reproduces the Song 'Stella, Darling of the Muses'] 'Mr Worsdale shewed this Ballad to Mr Pilkington, who thought proper to alter the last verse, giving it this prophane and nonsensical turn; Cou'd the Gods, in blest Condition, Aught on Earth with Envy view, Lovely Stella, their Ambition Wou'd be to resemble you. As for the Gods envying Mortals, and wishing to be like them, it has neither Sense, [italics] English [end italics], nor even Novelty to recommend it; nor is it agreeable to the Dictates of Reason or Religion; for even a Heathen Author stands condemned for setting [italics] Cato [end italics] in a Light superior to the Gods; but a Christian Divine may say any thing, and so much for an old song'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: James Worsdale      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Laetititia Pilkington : Verses on Counsellor Callaghan

'I wrote the following Ballad [abusing Mr Callaghan], and pacquetted Mr [italics]Taafe [end italics] with it [...] and threatened Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics], if he did not read it out, for the Amusement of the Company, he should be my next Subject for Satyr; but no body so earnestly insisted on seeing the Song as [italics] Callaghan [end italics] himself. To oblige him and entertain the Company, Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics] sung it to the Tune of [italics] Chevy Chace [end italics. The ballad is then reproduced] I have been credibly informed that this song made [italics] Callaghan [end italics] blush, which was more than any thing had ever done before. However he took a Copy of it, which he promised to publish; but finding he has not been as good as his Word, I must even be at the Expence of doing it my self'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group:      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Laetititia Pilkington : Verses on Counsellor Callaghan

'I wrote the following Ballad [abusing Mr Callaghan], and pacquetted Mr [italics]Taafe [end italics] with it [...] and threatened Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics], if he did not read it out, for the Amusement of the Company, he should be my next Subject for Satyr; but no body so earnestly insisted on seeing the Song as [italics] Callaghan [end italics] himself. To oblige him and entertain the Company, Mr [italics] Taafe [end italics] sung it to the Tune of [italics] Chevy Chace [end italics. The ballad is then reproduced] I have been credibly informed that this song made [italics] Callaghan [end italics] blush, which was more than any thing had ever done before. However he took a Copy of it, which he promised to publish; but finding he has not been as good as his Word, I must even be at the Expence of doing it my self'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group:      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Laetititia Pilkington : [poems claimed by James Worsdale as his own]

'as he [Mr Worsdale] was not willing that either of us shou'd believe him incapable of Writing, he used to shew Mr [italics] Pilkington[end italics]'s Work to me, and swear it was his own, and in return, he, with the same modest Assurance, presented mine to him, but we were too well acquainted with each other's Stile to be deceiv'd'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Matthew Pilkington      Manuscript: Unknown

 

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