Play'd tunes in 'The Beggars Opera' 2 hours after dinner.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile Print: Book
Tuned harpsichord and play'd some of Beggars Opera songs after supper alone.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile Print: Book
Mrs Newton, Lady Palmerston, Lady Clavering and 2 daughters (great fortunes), and 3 Mrs Fox's here. While the last 2 were here, and Mrs D'Enly alone in Mother's room, I read 'The Beggar's Opera' to them in intervals before and after supper.
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile Print: Book
?This evening my father has been reading out Gay?s Trivia to our great entertainment. I wished very much, my dear aunt, that you and Sophy had been sitting round the fire with us. If you have Trivia, and if you have time, will you humour your niece so far as to look at it? I think there are many things in it which will please you, especially the ?Patten and the Shoeblack?, and the old woman hovering over her little fire in a hard winter. Pray tell me if you like it.?
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: R.L. Edgeworth Print: Book
'On turning to my book, I find I have journalised only one day, during this summer vis [sic] July 29, when I walked after tea with Mrs Cole a new walk down Penny-black Lane, across Chapman's Common, & into the Scalby Road - a short way into the Whitby Road, & returned over the fields by the bleach yard on the Whitby Road - a delightful rural walk. Read in Dibdin's Decameron - Delany's Life of King David, & Gay's Choir.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: John Cole Print: Book
'I completed the reading of Gay's "Fables", which I think contains a very good lesson of morality; and I think the language very healthy, being very natural.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Turner Print: Book
'I always hated Gay's Fables, and for long could not abide a red book.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau Print: Book
'It was at this time that I read the remaining seven volumes of the "Spectator"; to which I added the "Rambler", the "Tatler", and some others of the "British Essayists". I also read the poetical works of Milton, Addison, Goldsmith, Gray, Collins, Falconer, Pomfret, Akenside, Mrs. Rowe, with others which I cannot now clearly call to mind. I remember, however, to have read Gay's poems. These gave me more than usual satisfaction. I was much amused with his "Trivia, or the Art of Walking London Streets" but I was especially pleased with his admirably burlesque "pastorals". These just squared with my humour, for I had then, as I have ever had, an utter dislike to the sickening stuff that is called the pastoral poetry...I must not omit to mention the pleasure I derived from reading a poem called "The Village Curate", which, I think, has fallen into unmerited oblivion.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter Print: Book
'It was at this time that I read the remaining seven volumes of the "Spectator"; to which I added the "Rambler", the "Tatler", and some others of the "British Essayists". I also read the poetical works of Milton, Addison, Goldsmith, Gray, Collins, Falconer, Pomfret, Akenside, Mrs. Rowe, with others which I cannot now clearly call to mind. I remember, however, to have read Gay's poems. These gave me more than usual satisfaction. I was much amused with his "Trivia, or the Art of Walking London Streets" but I was especially pleased with his admirably burlesque "pastorals". These just squared with my humour, for I had then, as I have ever had, an utter dislike to the sickening stuff that is called the pastoral poetry...I must not omit to mention the pleasure I derived from reading a poem called "The Village Curate", which, I think, has fallen into unmerited oblivion.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter Print: Book
'It was at this time that I read the remaining seven volumes of the "Spectator"; to which I added the "Rambler", the "Tatler", and some others of the "British Essayists". I also read the poetical works of Milton, Addison, Goldsmith, Gray, Collins, Falconer, Pomfret, Akenside, Mrs. Rowe, with others which I cannot now clearly call to mind. I remember, however, to have read Gay's poems. These gave me more than usual satisfaction. I was much amused with his "Trivia, or the Art of Walking London Streets" but I was especially pleased with his admirably burlesque "pastorals". These just squared with my humour, for I had then, as I have ever had, an utter dislike to the sickening stuff that is called the pastoral poetry...I must not omit to mention the pleasure I derived from reading a poem called "The Village Curate", which, I think, has fallen into unmerited oblivion.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter Print: Book
'Looked over the "Beggar's Opera". The slang of low iniquity, is happily given in this strange drama...'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Green Print: Book
'The late "worthy'' Duke of Queensberry, as Thomson, in his "Seasons," justly characterises him, told me that when Gay showed him "The Beggar's Opera," his Grace's observation was, "This is a very odd thing, Gay; I am satisfied that it is either a very good thing, or a very bad thing." It proved the former, beyond the warmest expectations of the authour or his friends'.
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Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles Douglas, Third Duke of Queensberry
'I told him that from reading Gay's writings, I had taken an affection to his Grace's family from my earliest years.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell Print: Book
From the Commonplace book of Mrs Austen of Ensbury: '“Friendship like love is but a name, Unless to one you stint the flame” Gay.' This is followed by lines clearly inspired by this, beginning “The British fabulist misleads the mind, / Friendship and love are better thus defined…’
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Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Catherine Austen
