| Citation |
MS-B.774.019
17 Mar 1774:13 (4/163)
Extract of a letter from a bookseller in London to a
gentleman of musical turn here, dated Bagpipe-Alley Scotland
Yard, November 5, 1773.
We hear your chief governor is of late become passionately
fond of dancing ! and to tunes of your composing,
particularly well suited to our Scotch instrument: Will you
be so good as to send him one or two of my music books,
published for the current year ! Paxton's Almande and
Hallowell's Cotillions that you write for, are quite old-
fashioned and out of print; but new editions of them with
alterations, it is expected will appear the approaching
winter. The Hutchinson Opera lately come out, called The
Foxes Unkenneled, or Rascals Discovered; is in high vogue
with the great at the west end of town! and in truth all
over the Kingdom. Oliver's Gigg is also thought much of, as
being very uncommon, airy and gay, and well adapted to the
name on both sides the water; shall send one of each of
these to his Honor and to his Excellency without waiting for
orders, requesting them at the same time, to pay you the
value they may estimate the work at, and in whatever
currency they please; though upon second thought, I may not
do this without an instruction.
We hear much talk about a very great dancing master some
where in your country, a Mr. Duncan Moffatt Mac-Denbigh! who
teaches grown folks to move the Jemmy forestep in the true
Rome-an Harrisonian stile, and that he has in a very short
time taught Admiral MacMoody to move in the superlative
degree, to that famous old tune, the Lamentations of
Ireland. Will you be so good as to recommend me to this
great Doctor of music, that I may have his custom in my way;
I publish 24 country dances every year, besides minuets and
reels, horn-pipes and other tunes, and all perfectly well
suited to the Wind Instrument that's getting so much in
fashion among you.
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