The British Musical Biography

[E] Carey, Henry, composer and minor poet,
reputed natural son of George Saville, Marquis
of Halifax, was born in 1692 [1685]. Received
some instruction in music from Roseiugrave
and Geminiani : otherwise self-taught. He
was for a time a teacher of music, but was
engaged chiefly in writing music for the
theatres. He hanged himself in Great War-
ner Street, Clerkenwell, London, October 4,
1743.

[W] Works. — Musical Dramas, etc. — The Con-
trivances, 1715; Honest Yorksliireman, 1736;
Amelia, 1732 ; Teraminta, 1732 ; Chrononho-
touihologos, 1734 ; Dragon of Wantley (words
only), 1737 ; Dragoness (otherwise known as
Marjery, or a worse Plague than the Dragon),
1738. Betty, 1739 ; Nancy, 1739. Poems,
1720 : Cantatas, 1732. The Musical Century,
in 100 English Ballads on various Subjects
aud Occasions, etc., Loud., 2 vols., 1737-1740 ;
Dramatic Works (Collected), 1743. Inter-
ludes — Thomas and Sally, etc. Melody of
"God Save the Queen." (?) Carey is now
known only as the composer of the fine ballad
" Sally in our Alley," and of a few hymn
tunes. The "Easter Hymn," usually attri-
buted to Carey, is not his composition. His
ballad " Sally in our Alley " appears to have
been first published about 1715 as " (Sally in
our Alley) the words and Tune by Mr. Henry
Carey." It is a folio broadsheet on one side
of a single leaf, and has a flute part added
at the end. Tlie melody differs considerably
from more modern versions. In the 1729
edition of his " Poems on several occasions "
it first nppears in permanent form with an
argument or note explaining the circum-
stances under which it was written, and
referring to it as a juvenile effusion. This
does not give the tune, nor is anything said
about it.

[+] His son George Saville Carey, born
1743, died 1807, was a poet and dramatist,
who wrote a number of farces and other
dramatic pieces.

entry id: 78-L-53