Author: [WILSON Charles)]:
Title: St. Cecilia; Or, the Lady's and Gentleman's Harmonious Companion: Being a Select Collection of Scots and English Songs; many of which are originals. Together with a set of Favourite Catches and Glees: Also a Variety of the most Celebrated Toasts and Sentiments.
Description: Edinburgh: Printed by W. Darling for C. Wilson; and sold by J. Dickson and C. Elliot. 1779. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 12mo, 150 x 89 mms., pp. vii [8 - 9] 10 - 384, with additional engraved title-page and engraved frontispiece by Cowan, contemporary sheepskin, red morocco label, additional paper label, top and base of spine chipped, some other slight general wear to binding but generally a very good copy, with autograph "W. M. Adey" and a note in his hand asserting the collection to be and "immitation [sic] of Alan Ramsay's 'The tea-table Miscellany'." Wilson dedicates the work to the Earl of Haddington, probably Thomas Hamilton, seventh earl of Haddington (1720/21–1795), a member of The Poker Club and Governor of the Edinburgh Musical Society. Wilson complains in his preface that collections of this sort "abounded too much with obscene Songs, that tend to suppress Virtue, which plainly denotes that the Editors thereof have but a mean Taste.... Particular Care hat been taken in the Selection of this Edition, and nothing is inserted that can possibly give the least offence to that delicacy of taste for which the present Age is so remarkable." Spot the double entendre.

Keywords: songs poetry literature Scottish Enlightenment anthology


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