66 poetry. July 18. 



To the Editor of the Bee. 



Mr Editor, 

 I happsned to have the good fortune to be present at the g;and concert: 

 which was performed at the opera house London, for the benefit of 

 Thomas Liniey, esq, it was at this concert that the much lamen.ej Mr^ 

 Sheridan sung for the last time in public. The eff.-ct Mrs Sheridan's 

 wonderfully pathetic powers had upon me, Mr Editor, I am unable ;o 

 describe, pen and paper, even in a ikillful hand, could give but 

 a very faint idea cf it. The house was so overflowed that foims were 

 obliged to be placed on the stag- ; and thesejbeing filk-d by Lidics, a 

 .•rowd 0} gentlemen were thankful to get standing room bttween the 

 side sceius, ©"t. ifc. I meDtion these circumstances to flicw the anxie- 

 ty of the public on thia occasion j and amo.'.g th.s numerous af;emblage 

 I don't think there was a dry eye to be found during the time that Mrs 

 Sheridan was ringing her pathetic so.igs; and tlie profefsors in the c- 

 cliestra were so deeply affected, that they almost forgot their functions. Mr 

 x.ditor I was one of the singing boys belonging to the chapel rova), a-d 

 received the first par: of my musical education under the late Dr 

 N'arcs, organist and composer to the king j and during my stay in the 

 chapel royal, I frequented the oratorios, ouera house, play houses, and 

 all the concerts of note, and conseciuently heard all the sii^gers of 

 the day ; and, en tiiy quitting the cliapel royal, 1 went to Italy, where I 

 remained several years j but neither there, nor any where eht, have t 

 yet heard a singer that equalled, or came anytljng near, in the pathetic 

 stile, the late Mrs Sheridan. I am. Sir, yodr cunstant reader and well 

 wifter, 

 BreugbtDK July 1 792. T.H.Butler. 



A DIRGE, OR PATHETIC VOCAL RONDO, DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY 

 OF THE LATE MRS SHERIDAN, BY T. H. BUTLER. 



The favourite Scots air of Lewie Gordon is the musical theme of th's- 

 composition i but those additions which form it into a rondo are 

 jnoscly new; the whole, will be humbly preiented to the uublic ia a 

 fcoit time. 



ROKDO. 



iSow the hervd thou lijy fair, 



Bow the head in mournful guise. 

 Sickly turn thy fiiinir.g white, 



Bend thy stalk ar-d never rise. 



She^ thy leaves thou lovely rose, 



Shed thy lenves so sweet and gay ; 

 Spread them wide on the cold earth. 



Quickly let them {^it away. 



Bjw thy heady G?.-. » r; 



