DEAR JAMES,
I received yours of the 1st current, and am obliged to you for your attention, but the sea term you mention was used in the song when first written. I suppose you recollected it from having heard the song sung by Mr. Stuart. With regard to the phrase o'erhauling instead of “recounting,” on second thought, I reckon the latter in the present instance preferable to the first—although often used by our tars, is a very open, softly accented word, and I think the the other better suited to the abrupt, bold strain of the music; besides, I am not fond of altering one word of my own or that of any other person without being convinced that the alteration would be an amendment. Have you ever seen Mollison's essay of “Melody the Soul of Music.” [1] I think it a very fine piece. The justice of one of his observations struck me. He says he never heard “The Cameronian Rant” played without it reminding him, of two women scolding. I have just now strung up verses on his plan to it. Whatever may be their faults; I am certain you must approve of them, for their extreme delicacy. Don't show it save to a friend or two. With regard to those airs we were speaking of, but. .
I remain,
Yours, &c.,
R. TANNAHILL.
N.B.—The original of this was given to David Anderson, [2] damask manufacturer, Glasgow, who made the woven linen, shirt by loom, complete, with the National Arms on the bosom front, and presented it to George IV. of. Britain, &c. It is deposited in the British Museum. [3]
JAS. BARR.
This letter, with song, is in the possession of James Caldwell, Esq.—Ed.
[1] David Anderson,—a damask draper and plain linen weaver, 11 Tarbet Street, Deanside, Glasgow,—in 1921 wove a shirt without a seam, and received a reward of £50 for his, ingenuity. from, King George IV. James Barr,—“blythe Jamie,”—then teacher of music, 59 Glassford Street, Glasgow, who was acquainted with Anderson, presented him with, the original letter of Tannahill, containing the manuscript of “Caller, Herrin’.” We exerted every nerve to discover Anderson or his descendants, to obtain the original letter and MSS., to supply the first and second lines of the last stanza in “Caller Herrin’,” which a mouse had eaten in the copy. We were informed by a person who had known him well that he died about 1845, and his family had left Glasgow, but where they were now he could not tell. David Anderson also wrought a chemise without seam for her present Majesty Queen Victoria, of Chinese tram silk and net warp yarn. In 1702 a shirt without seam was wrought by a weaver named Inglis, and in 1808 a better specimen of the same kind was executed by a Henry Meldrum.—Ed.
[2] The song of “Caller Herrin’,” No. 169, is here copied.—Ed.