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igh rank amongst English tenors. Another song which he wrote with the title 'The Victory and Death of Lord Viscount Nelson' met with no success. The one quoted by Micawber was naturally one of Captain Cuttle's favourites, and it is also made use of by Silas Wegg. The musical gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Micawber descended to their son Wilkins, who had 'a remarkable head voice,' but having failed to get into the cathedral choir at Canterbury, he had to take to singing in public-houses instead of in sacred edifices. His great song appears to have been 'The Woodpecker Tapping.' When the family emigrated Mr. M. expressed the hope that 'the melody of my son will be acceptable at the galley fire' on board ship. The final glimpse we get of him is at Port Middlebay, where he delights a large assembly by his rendering of 'Non Nobis' (see p. 149), and by his dancing with the fourth daughter of Mr. Mell. The 'Woodpecker' song is referred to in an illustrative way by Mrs. Finching (_L.D._), who says that her papa is sitting prosily breaking his new-laid egg in the back parlour like the woodpecker tapping. _Captain Cuttle_ Captain Cuttle is almost as full of melody as Micawber, though his repertoire is chiefly confined to naval ditties. His great song is 'Lovely Peg,' and his admiration for Florence Dombey induces him to substitute her name in the song, though the best he can accomplish is 'Lovely Fleg.' There are at least three eighteenth-century ballads with Peg, or Lovely Peg, for the subject, and it is not certain which of these the Captain favoured. This is one of them: Once more I'll tune the vocal shell, To Hills and Dales my passion tell, A flame which time can never quell, That burns for lovely Peggy. Then comes this tuneful refrain: [Figure 6] Lovely Peggy, lovely Peggy, Lovely, lovely, lovely Peggy; The heav'ns should sound with echoes rung In praise of lovely Peggy. The two others of this period that I have seen are called 'Peggy' and 'Lovely Peggy, an imitation.' However, it is most probable that the one that the Captain favoured--in spite of the mixture of names--was C. Dibdin's 'Lovely Polly.' LOVELY POLLY [Figure 7] A seaman's love is void of art, Plain sailing to his port the heart; He knows no jealous folly, He knows no jealous folly. 'Tis hard enough at sea to war With boist'rous elements that jar-
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