Arne had a son, born in 1740 or 1741 (Dr. Burney says, he was a “natural son”), who inherited some of his father’s gifts for music. These were encouraged and developed, and we find, amongst Arne’s compositions, songs composed for the youth, who was introduced to the public by his father at Marylebone Gardens. Two excellent printed examples are “Ianthe and Iphis, sung by Master Arne, at Marybon Gardens”—and “An thou wert mine own Thing, sung by Master Arne at Marybon Gardens.” The youth became well known as a composer and performer in London and Dublin. One of his songs, popular to-day, “The lass with a delicate air,” is sometimes ascribed in error to his father.
In 1752 Arne composed music for “Harlequin Sorcerer,” an old pantomime in which Rich had many years before made a great success. The performance took place at Covent Garden Theatre on the 11th of February, and there was an overwhelming demand for seats; the doors were therefore opened at three o’clock in the afternoon. The performers included Mrs. Arne, Mrs. Lampe, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Legge, and a Chorus. The music was published by Walsh, who appears to have had a business contract with the composer. The following letter, by Arne, addressed to William Shenstone, the poet, throws light on the subject: “Nov. ye 30, 1754. Sir—By the hands of Mr. Dodsley, I receiv’d your very obliging letter, and wou’d for my own Pleasure comply with your Request; but Mr. Dodsley’s interest in this Particular interferes with mine; for if he prints my Music in his Publication, I shall lose the sale of it to Mr. Walsh [the King’s Music-Printer] who gives me 20 guineas for every Collection I compose—consisting of eight or nine Songs, and who wou’d not give a shilling for any Thing that another had first publish’d. Of this I acquainted Mr. Dodsley, who did not seem inclin’d to make any Gratuity for the Loss. Any Song, Cantata, or Dramatic Piece from so delicate a Pen, whereby I should not considerably lose to promote another’s Gain, wou’d be the most welcome present I cou’d receive, stamp an additional Reputation on my Music, and highly oblige. Sr. your most obedt. servt. Thos. Augne. Arne, Charles Street, Covent Garden.”
That Arne’s music had obtained repute in Edinburgh, is shown by an advertisement in the Caledonian Mercury of the 6th of March, 1752: “New Musick. Now in the press and will be ready by the beginning of April next, and delivered to subscribers. All the Songs, Duettos, and Trios in the Masque of Comus composed by Thomas Augustine Arne, as adapted to the Harpsichord and Voice, and all the Songs, Duettos and Trios in the Burlesque Opera, called the Dragon of Wantley composed by the great John Frederick Lampe, likewise adapted to the Harpsichord and Voice. The above words may occasionally be accompanied with Violin or German Flute and Violoncello. This manner of reducting them to avoid the Perplexity of the different parts in a score which confound young practitioners was finished by Mr. Lampe in his lifetime,[13] and the proofs of the Plates have been revised and corrected by Mr. Arne.”
In May, 1754, Arne went to Edinburgh, possibly on business in connection with the publications announced in the above advertisement. Be that as it may, the Caledonian Mercury of the 23rd of May contained the following notice:—“For the benefit of Mr. Arne. At the Assembly Hall on Monday, 27th May, A Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick. The Vocal part to be performed by Miss Rodburn, and the Instrumental by Mr. Pasquali, Mr. Arne and others. To begin Precisely at 6. Tickets, 2/6. To be had at Mr. Arne’s Lodgings, at Mr. Johnston’s, Wigmaker, head of Chalmer’s Close, and at the Old and John’s Coffee houses.”
In the autumn of 1755, Arne and his wife again visited Dublin. They were accompanied by a number of capable vocalists, Miss Young, Mrs. Arne’s sister, her six-year-old niece Miss Polly Young,[14] and Miss Charlotte Brent; they resided together in Fishamble Street, at the Passage Door next the Golden Scales. Arne advertised in Faulkner’s Journal, Oct. 4-7: “To the Public. Mr. Arne, who is arrived in this Kingdom, with several Vocal Performers, having agreed with Managers of the Theatre Royal, Proposes, by Subscription, to entertain the Town Ten Nights, with Three Operas in the English Language, (viz.): A new Opera call’d Eliza, An Opera call’d Alfred, and, an Opera call’d the Fairies. The Subscription is, this Day, opened at the Office of the Theatre in Smock Alley, where Attendance will be given every Day from Twelve to Three. Ten Box Tickets for the ten Performances will be delivered to each Subscriber for two Guineas.—The first Performance will be in the Beginning of November. N.B. The Orchestra will be considerably enlarged, an Additional Number of the best Instrumental Performers engag’d, and Mr. Arne will accompany the Operas on the Harpsichord.”
This advertisement was repeated several times, with the additional information that there would be “A fine Organ put up” and that “Places for the Boxes for the said Nights of Performance, to be taken at the Office of the Theatre from 12 to 3, or of Mr. Neil, at his House in Abbey-street.” In consequence of the illness of Mrs. Arne, the Journal of 8-11 Nov. stated:—“The Opera of Eliza is obliged to be deferred to the 27th, on Account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer.” The opera was again postponed to the 29th, when it was given “By Command of his Excellency the Marquis of Hartington,” and the “whole House was illuminated with Wax Lights.” Printed books of the opera were “published and sold by Mr. Hoey, at the Mercury in Skinner-Row, and at the Theatre, at a British Sixpence each.” The Journal gave a report of the performance: “On Saturday last, at the Theatre-Royal in Smock-Alley, was perform’d Mr. Arne’s new Opera call’d Eliza: The noble and splendid Appearance, and the great and just Applause throughout the whole Performance, were strong Indications of the good Taste reigning in this Kingdom, and a generous, though proper Compliment to that great Master of his Science, Mr. Arne,—Mrs. Arne, whose Excellence is well known, had the Misfortune of a violent Hoarseness, and rose from her Bed in a Fever to perform; Mr. Sadler and Miss Brent, were greatly approv’d; but Miss Polly Young, a Child of six Years of Age, pleased and astonished the whole Company, having a sweet melodious voice, accenting her Words with great Propriety, and Singing perfectly in Time and Tune. The Poem is, by all judges of good Writing, thought excellent; the Orchestra was full, and perform’d without a Fault; but the Judgement, Taste, Expression, and Variety of the Music would be injur’d in an Attempt to commend it.” The performance was repeated on Thursday the 4th, and Saturday the 20th of December. Arne’s opera “Rosamond” was played on the 31st, with Mrs. Arne as Queen Eleanor; Miss Brent, Rosamond; Grideline, Miss Young; Page, Miss Polly Young; King Henry, Mr. Sadler. Mr. Arne conducted. The opera was repeated with the same cast on the 9th of January, 1756; and on the 21st and 26th of the same month “Comus” was performed under the composer’s conductorship by Mrs. Arne, Miss Brent, Miss Spencer, Mr. Sadler and Mr. Corry. Faulkner’s Journal, 20-24 Jan., 1756, contained an “Ode to Apollo,” without author’s name. The following verses, if written by one of the public, show that Arne and his wife were held in the highest estimation by music-lovers:
Hark! hark! what notes enchant my Ears,
Sweet as the musick of the Spheres?
’Tis ARNE—the Gods’ Vicegerent comes,
Now vanish Rackets, Routs, and Drums;
And with him come the Muses Hand in Hand,
To see fulfilled Apollo’s great command.
See Taste with Joy its Head uprears,
Rais’d by Arne’s heav’nly Airs;
Skill’d with equal Pow’r t’inspire
Irene’s youth with martial Fire,
And lull to Rest, with Soul-delighting Sounds,
The Pains of Grief, and heal Love’s bleeding Wounds.
Not he that charm’d the Thracians’ Plains,
E’er tun’d his Lyre to softer strains;
Nor does the warbling Bird of Night
More than his sweet-song’d Spouse delight.
O say! what Price or Gifts can both engage
Here to remain, to save a sinking age?
In the following February (24-28) the Journal announced: “The Play called the Tempest, or the Inchanted Island (with all the original Musick) is now in Rehearsal at the Theatre Royal, and will be performed next Week. The Part of Ariel by Miss Brent, being her first Appearance in that Character, Neptune by Mr. Sadler, Amphitrite by Miss Spencer, and Mr. Arne will accompany the Musick on the Harpischord.” Mrs. Arne, Miss Brent and Miss Spencer sang at a concert given on the 17th March, in aid of the Meath Hospital, and three days later, the 20th, were engaged in a performance of “Comus” for the benefit of Mr. Arne; the “Masque of Comus” was followed by “a Farce (never acted before) called, The Pincushion: Being a Manuscript of the celebrated Mr. Gay’s, Author of the Beggar’s Opera. The Songs adapted to favourite Ballad Airs of Mr. Arne’s. The Characters by Mr. Sadler, Mrs. Pye, Miss E. Young, and Miss Brent.” The Journal informed the public “that the Masque of Comus will be performed in a most elegant Manner on Mr. Arne’s Benefit night next Saturday, that two Rows of the Pit will be taken in to inlarge the Orchestra, and Mr. Arne will accompany the musical Part. We are further assured that the new pastoral ballad Farce called The Pincushion, which will likewise then be performed, is a real Manuscript of that celebrated Poet Mr. Gay, Author of the Beggar’s Opera, and that Songs are adapted by Mr. Arne. several of which are New.”