- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The National Anthem
SIR—As Janus has shown such keen interest in the possible improve- ment of the words of the National Anthem, he may like to know that criticism of the textus receptus goes back a long way. The present words and tune were first printed in Thesaurus Musicus (1744), and were reprinted in the Gentleman's Magazine for October, 1745. It was, of course, the activities of the Young Pretender that established the popularity of the tune, but as early as December, 1745, a contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine submitted "an attempt to improve the song God Save the King, the former words having no merit but their loyalty." The first stanza of the improved version runs: "Fame let thy trumpet sound, Tell all the world around, Great GEORGE is King: Tell Rome, and France, and Spain.
BRITANNIA scorns their chain; All their vile arts are vain: Great GEORGE is King."
And the Chorus: "God save our noble King; Long live our gracious King: God save the King.
Hark how the valhes ring, Long live our gracious King, From whom such blessings spring: God save the King."
That such a version should remain buried in the files of the Gentleman's Magazine is not surprising. But it may also be noted that when the Poetry Society offered a prize for an improved version in 1935, over 1,000 entries were redeived but nothing was found sufficiently happy to put forward as alternative or supplementary verses."—Your obedient servant, S. C. ROBERTS. The Lodge, Pembroke College, Cambridge.
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