Author: [HOOD (Thomas)]:
Title: The Loves of Sally Brown and Ben the Carpenter. Sung with the most enthusiastic Applause by Mr. J. Reeve, at the Theatre Royal Brighton.
Description: Brighton, Printed for and Sold by R. Hook, Wholesale Toy and Hawker's Paper Warehouse, 8, Market Street, Brighton, [no date] [c. 1830]. A single broadsheet folio, 245 x 183 mms., printed on one side only; extremities worn and slightly affected by folding, but a good copy. Hood (1799 - 1845) published this in 1820 in The London Magazine. When he reprinted in in Whims and Oddities in 1826, he said of it, "I have never been vainer of any verses than of my part in the following Ballad. Dr. Watts, amongst evangelical nurses, has an enviable renown; and Campbell's Ballads enjoy a snug, genteel popularity. Sally Brown has been favored perhaps with as wide a patronage as the Moral Songs, though its circle may not have been of so select a class as the friends of 'Hohenlinden.' But I do not desire to see it amongst what are called Elegant Extracts. The lamented Emery, dressed as Tom Tug, sang it at his last mortal benefit at Covent Garden; and ever since it has been a great favorite with the watermen of Thames, who time their oars to it...." The Emery to whom Hood refers is John Emery (1777 - 1822); a benefit performance was given after his death at Covent Garden, and it may be this performance to which Hood alludes. The performer in Brighton was almost certainly the actor and singer John Reeve (1799 - 1838), often known for his drinking and for never remembering his lines perfectly. However, he had a fine voice: ODNB records, "His singing voice was a baritone with a sweet falsetto." Copac records a copy printed in London, viz "[London : Pitss [sic], 1840?]." No copy of this Brighton imprint traced.

Keywords: song poetry literature


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