HAVE collected from my "a dear father's papers the following songs and poems, hoping they might prove interesting to his numerous friends, not alone for their poetic genius, but as illustrative of his gentle loving nature, which enabled him to live to the great age of eighty-four, beloved by all who knew him, without, as has been frequently said of him, " single enemy." I have included amongst them some which have been published in magazines and in his "Recollections." I have also added some songs from a drama called "The Follies of a Night," which he turned into an Operetta, the music of which was composed by poor Miss Gabriel. Many difficulties occurred to prevent its being produced, and as the words of the songs are charming, I venture to add them to the collection. The whole Operetta is published by Messrs. Wood & Co., 201 Regent Street. The numerous operas for which he wrote the libretto are all in print, I believe. In 1823 he wrote a poem called Shere af Khun, and in 1873 one called vi PREFACE. "William with the Ring;" this he did from an opera he had written for Mendelssohn-which he never, after all, composed. He tells in his "Recollections" the history of this, to him, bitter disappointment. The lyrical portion of "Babil and Bijou," a fairy spectacle by Dion Boucicault, he wrote the year before. One song, which was not sung, I have added to this collection. If the book is only bought by those who loved the author and appreciated his talents, both mine and the publishers' aim will be fully realised. M. A. MACKARNESS. |