Patriotic songs were very popular at Vauxhall as they exploited topical events and highlighted the connection between the dutiful ‘virtus’ of victorious military action and the pleasurable ‘voluptas’ enjoyed by Vauxhall’s visitors, fully complementing the visionary ideals behind Tyer’s management. The speed with which it was published suggests that even at this early date, the Vauxhall musical machine was able to react promptly to produce a song to reflect on important events. This song must have been performed during the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Dettingen in Germany, fought on 27 June 1743 which pre-dates Burney’s date for the introduction of song at Vauxhall, as do the songs in the Musical Entertainer. The final verse epitomizes Tyer’s presentation of Vauxhall as the ideal combination of manliness with sensuality:

Lo! here, the Tents that proudly rise,
The brazen Drum and Trumpet joyn’d,
Shall image Camps to your pleas’d Eyes,
Whilst your fam’d Victory fills our Mind.
Here, soon, you’l softer Conquests view;
For beauty must to Valour yield,
Late you, with MARS, did Palms pursue;
Win Myrtle, next, in CUPID’s Field.

from notes by Bridget Cunningham © 2017