Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 8.djvu/47

 9*s. vm. JULY is, i9oi.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

39

A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF THE WORKS OF CHARLES DIBDIN.

As part of the necessary preparation for an account (now near completion) of the life of my great-grandfather, Charles Dibdin, I have constructed a bibliography relating to his productions and those of other members of the family. It is by no means exhaustive, but yet is, I believe, very much better than could be easily produced by any one else. The publication in these columns of so much of it as relates to Charles Dibdin will there- fore have a twofold usefulness. For those who are interested in such, matters it will be a helpful contribution to the study of a voluminous author and composer hitherto all but ignored by the bibliographer; for myself it will probably be the means of attracting from the well-informed readers of and perhaps some corrections. All such benefactions will be thankfully accepted, and in due season acknowledged. I may perhaps be permitted to add here that, although near the end of my labours, I am still able to incorporate any new matter of value that may come to me, either direct or through these columns; and I shall be most grateful for assistance in the effort to produce a life of Charles Dibdin which shall be a satis- factory and final account of that remarkable man. I am especially anxious to hear of letters and other MS. matter by or concerning him; doubtless there are many things of this kind unknown to me, and they are almost invariably of great value. If our Editor will permit, I shall append to the bibliography a number of queries : they will relate to matters that have, as yet, baffled my attempts at investigation, and will therefore be peculiarly suitable for the columns of * N. & Q.' Trans- atlantic readers may be able to tell me of American editions about which I know nothing.
 * N. <fe Q. J some valuable additional matter,

All entries which I have not been able to authenticate by personal scrutiny will be marked with an asterisk. Most of the items described are in my own collection or that of Mr. Julian Marshall, who has for years been a most zealous and friendly helper. But for him, I think I should scarcely have persevered in a task whose great difficulty has often dis- concerted me; certainly without his help and counsel it would not have been half so well done. I have used the British Museum largely, but inability to spend much time in London, and the great counter-attractions (when I have been there) of Mr. Marshall's valuable library, have prevented me from

exhausting the endless, but in such matters rather unwieldy, resources of our great national treasure-house.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1760. *Six ballads mentioned by Charles Dibdin in his ' Professional Life,' 1803 (vol. i. p. 18), pub- lished by Thompson, of St. Paul's Churchyard, after Dibdin had "procured them to be performed by the notorious Mr. Kear, of stentorian memory, at Finch's Grotto."

These were retailed at three-halfpence apiece. I have not identified them.

1763 [British Museum date]. A Collection of English Songs and Cantatas. Compos'd by Mr. Chas. Dibdin. Opera Primo [sic]. Printed for the Author, & sold at his lodgings, the Shoe and Saddle Warehouse, Catherine Street, in the Strand. Upright folio, n.d. List of 96 subscribers for 136 copies. 10 leaves, of which 14 pp. contain music.

1765. The Shepherd's Artifice, a dramatic pas- toral. Written and composed by Mr. Dibdin. London : T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt. Two acts. Libretto, 32 pp. small 8vo.

Except two songs in collections, I do not find that the music was published. First performed 1764.

1767. Love in the City (written by Isaac Bicker- staff), afterwards revived (in 1778) as ' The Romp.'

Dibdin wrote some of the music, which, however, on the title-page of the libretto is said to be " compiled by the author." I have not seen a score.

1768. Lionel and Clarissa; or, a School for Fathers, comic opera, three acts (written by I. Bickerstaff), "the music composed by eminent masters." Lon- don : Printed for the Author, and sold by J. John- ston, the corner of York Street, Covent Garden. Ornate engraved title, oblong folio, 77 pp., n.d. Another issue, probably printed from the same plates, was published London, Broderip & Wilkinson. A later issue (by J. Johnston), with type-printed title, has only 'A School for Fathers' as title. This piece was first given at Covent Garden, and after at Rich- mond and Drury Lane, in 1768, as * Lionel and Clarissa'; subsequently there was added 'A School for Fathers' in 1770. At the fifth representation the earlier title was dropped, but it was eventually reverted to. The piece was acted for many years. Dibdin composed the greater part of the music.

1768. Lionel & Clarissa, a comic opera, adapted for the German flute, violin, hautboy, and guittar. London : John Johnston. Oblong 8vo, 32 pp., n.d.

Songs in ' Lionel and Clarissa ' issued as sepa- rate sheets :

Hope and Fear, Immortal Pow'rs, When a man of Fashion. Dublin : Rhames, n.d.

1768. The Padlock, comic opera, two acts (written by Isaac Bickerstaff), "the music by Mr. Dibdin." London : J. Johnston, at the music shop near Northumberland House. Oblong folio, 41 pp., ornate engraved title. Ded. to Mrs. Garrick, n.d.