Matthew Concanen


Life
1701-1749; b. Ireland; friendly with Swift; published A Match at Foot-ball, or the Irish Champions (1720), a mock-heroic poem in three cantos , set in Lusk, co. Dublin [‘Sing the pleaures of the rural throng / And mimic wars as yet unknown in song / Whilst on weak wings uncommon flight I soar / And lead the Muse through tracts untried before’]; issued Poems upon Several Occasions (Dublin 1722); Concanen went to London with James Sterling [q.v.] in the very early 1720s and with him wrote pro-Government journalism with him; he wrote on British Journal and London Journal and fnd. the Speculist with Sterling; qualified in law (prob. in London); his play Wexford Wells (1721), with songs, was performed with Isaac Sparks in lead role;
 
he mocked Alexander Pope and received an invidious place in his Dunciad (1728) - appearing again in the fourth book (1742) - where there are two allusions to him as a hack writer;edited A Flower-piece: Miscellaneous Poems Original and Translated by Several Hands (1724) - the earliest printed anthology of Irish authors with contribs. by Delany, Parnell, Philips (“October ale”), Sheridan, Smedley, Sterling, Swift, and Ward - including his own; turned Richard Brome’s comedy Jovial Crew, [1641; publ.1652] into a ballad opera (1731), with songs by himself, by Yonge and Brome to music by William Bates; ed. Miscellany of Taste (1733), including Pope and Congreve;
 
he was appt. Attorney-Gen. of Jamaica through the influence of Lord Newcastle, 1732-48 - returning with considerable wealth, poss. through mariage, intending to settle in Ireland; identified with a clique of Irish lawyers in the Jamaica Assembly; died of consumption in London within a year of his return; Richard Ryan commences the second volume of Biographia Hibernica: Irish Worthies (1821) with him [as infra]. RR CAB ODNB PI GBI DIW OCIL FDA

[ top ]

Works
Poetry
  • A Match at Foot-ball, or the Irish Champions, 3 cantos (Dublin 1720) [var 1721].
  • Poems on Several Occasions (Dublin: Dobson 1722).
  • New Book of Songs (1731) [taken from A Jovial Crew in the same year].
  • The Flower-piece: A Collection of Miscellany Poems by Several Hands (London: for J. Walthoe & H. Walthoe 1731), xii, 251, [1], [12]pp., 12o.
Drama
  • The Jovial Crew: A Comic-opera ... With additional songs by E. Roome [R. Brome?], M. Concanen and Sir W. Yonge. With the airs prefix'd to each song [1731] (London: J. & R. Tonson 1760 [3rd Edn.]), 42pp., 8o., and Do. [another edn.] as it is performed at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (Dublin: Sarah Cotter 1766), 44pp.; Do. [var. rep. edns.] 1760 [2nd. imp.], 1761, 1766, 1767, 1774, 1780, 1781).
Miscellaneous
  • A Compleat Collection of All the Verses, Essays, Letters and Advertisements [...] occasioned by the publication of [...] Miscellanies by Pope (London: A. Moore 1728), xv, 52pp. [see details].
  • A Supplement to the Profound, containing several examples, very proper to illustrate the rules laid down in the late treatise, called The Art of Sinking in Poetry [by Pope] ... extracts from ingenious authors of that accurate piece ... 2 letters (1728), vi, 38pp.
  • The Advice by Mr Concanen: Set by Mr. Galliard (London [1740]) 1 leaf [n.p.].
  • ed. Miscellaneous Poems (1732) [viz. Swift, Parnell, Delaney, Brown, Ward, Sterling, Concanen et al.]
  • The Speculist, a Collection of Letters and Essays originally contributed to the “British Journal” and “London Journal” (1730), 203pp.
  • Rise and Fall of the Late Projected Excise (1733).
  • ed., A Miscellany in Taste, inc. critical pieces by Pope and Congreve (1733).

Bibliographical details
A Compleat Collection of All the Verses, Essays, Letters and Advertisements, which have been occasioned by the publication of three volumes of Miscellanies by Pope and Company [i.e., the “Miscellanies in Prose and Verse” ed. by Swift and Pope], dedicated by the author [Concanen] to the author of the “Dunciad”. To which is added an exact list of the lords, ladies, gentlemen, and others who have been abused in those volumes, with a large dedication [by Matthew Concanen, the Elder] to the author of “The Dunciad”, containing some animadversions upon that extraordinary performance (London: A. Moore 1728), xv, 52pp., 8o.

[ top ]

Commentary

Alexander Pope

Firm to the bottom, see Concanoen creep,
’A cold, long-winded native of the deep;
’If perserverance gain the diver"s prize.
’Not everylasting Blackmore this decribes.'

The Dunciad (1724)  

Jonathan Swift—

‘Concannen, more aspiring Bard,
Soars downwards, deeper, by a Yard
...’

 
“Poetry: A Rhapsody” [1733]; rep. in Robert Mahony, ed., Different Styles of Poetry, Verse by Lord Roscommon, Thomas Parnell, and Jonathan Swift [Irish Writings in the Age of Swift, No. 8] (Dublin: Cadenus Press 1978), p.118.

Richard Ryan, Biographia Hibernica, Vol. II (London 1821):

[...]
In 1725, Concanen published an octavo volume of poems consisting chiefly of compositions of his own, and some few of other gentlemen; they are addressed to the Lord Gage, whom he endeavours artfully to flatter without offending his modesty. .. The gentlemen who assisted our author in his collection, were Dean Swift, Parnell, Dr. Delany, Messrs. Brown, Ward, and Stirling. In this collection there is a poem by Concanen, called “A Match at Foot-ball,” in three cantos, written, it is said, in imitation of Pope’s “Rape of the Lock”. He was also concerned with Mr. Roome and another gentleman, in altering Browne’s “Jovial Crew,” into a ballad opera which was performed about the year 1730; and the profits given entirely to Mr. Concanen. His wit and literary abilities recommended him to the favour of the Duke of Newcastle, through whose interest in 1732, be obtained the lucrative post of attorney-general of the island of Jamaica, which office he filled with the utmost integrity and honour, and to the perfect satisfaction of the inhabitants for more than seventeen years, when, having acquired an ample fortune, (one of his biographers says by marrying a planter’s daughter,) he was desirous of passing the close of his life in his native country, with which intention he quitted Jamaica, and came to London, intending to pass some little time there before he went to settle entirely in Ireland. But the difference of climate between that metropolis and the island he had so long been accustomed to, had so violent an effect on his constitution, that he fell into a consumption, of which he died on the 22nd of January, 1749, a few weeks after his arrival in London. [...]

—Available online at Internet Archive - online and copied in Ricorso - as attached.
Note that Ryan enters considerable confusion about Brown, Brown, Roome and Brome.

[ top ]

Quotations

'A Match at Football' [1720] reprinted in Poems upon Several Occasions (Dublin, 1722)

Ye Champions of fair Lusk, and Ye of Soards,
’View well this Ball, the Present of your Lords.
’To outward View, Three Folds of Bullocks-hide,
’With Leathern Thongs fast bound on ev’ry Side:
’A Mass of finest Hay conceal’d from Sight,
’Conspire at once, to make it firm and light.
’At this you’ll all contend, this bravely strive,
’Alternate thro’ the adverse Goal to drive:
’Two Gates of Sally bound the spacious Green,
’Here one, and one on yonder Side is seen:
’Guard That Ye Men of Soards, ye others this;
’Fame waits the Careful, Scandal the Remiss,’
’He said, and high in Air he flung the Ball;
’The Champions crowd, and anxious wait its Fall.

First Felim caught, he pois’d and felt it soft,
’Then whirld it with a sudden Stroke aloft.
’With Motion smooth and swift, he saw it glide,
’’Till Dick, who stop’d it on the other Side,
’A dextrous Kick, with artful Fury drew;
’The light Machine, with Force unerring, flew
’To th’adverse Goal where, in the Sight of all,
’The watchful Daniel caught the flying Ball.
’He proudly joyful in his Arms embrac’d
’The welcome Prize, then ran with eager Haste.
’With lusty Strides he measur’d half the Plain,
’When all his Foes surround and stop the Swain;
’They tug, they pull; to his Assistance run,
’The strong-limb’d Darby and the nimble John.
’Paddy with more than common ardour fir’d,

Out-singl’d Daniel, while the rest retir’d:
At Grappling now their mutual Skill they try;
Now Arm in Arm they lock, and Thigh in Thigh.
Now turn, now twine, now with a furious Bound,
Each lifts his fierce Opposer from the Ground

[...]

And now both Bands in close Embraces met,
Now Foot to Foot, and Breast to Breast was set;
Now all impatient grapple round the Ball,
And heaps on heaps in wild Confusion fall…

Thy Trip, O Terence, fell'd the lusty Neal,
’Kit dropt by Felim, Hugh by Paddy fell;
’Toss’d down by Darby, Dick forbore to Play,
’John tugg’d at Cabe; while thus confus’d they lay,
’Sly Le’nard struck th’unheeded Ball, and stole,
’With easy Paces, tow’rds th’unguarded Goal.
’This Daniel saw, who rising from the Ground,
’(Where, like Antaeus, he new Strength had found),
’Flew to his Post, and halloo’d to his Crew.
’They start, and swift the flying Foe pursue:
’Le’nard observing, stood upon his Guard,
’And now to kick the rolling Ball prepar’d,
’When careful Terence, fleeter than the Winds,
’Ran to the Swain, and caught his Arm behind;
’A Dextrous Crook about his Leg he wound,
’And laid the Champion grov’ling on the Ground …

In Poems upon Several Occasions (Dublin 1722); rep. in ’Verse in English from Eighteenth-century Ireland, ed. Andrew Carpenter, (Cork, 1998) - posted on British Library Untold Lives [blog] - 15 June 2018 - online [accessed 08.01.2024].

References

British Library holds [1] A Supplement to the Profund. Containing several examples, very proper to illustrate the rules laid down in a late treatise, called The Art of Sinking in Poetry [i.e. “Peri Bathous: or, Martin Scriblerus his Treatise of the Art of Sinking in Poetry,” written by Pope, and published in the “last volume” of the “Miscellanies in Prose and Verse” edited jointly by Swift and Pope]. Extracted from the poetical works of the ingenious authors of that accurate piece In two letters to a friend. [by Matthew Concanen, the elder.] [Another copy.] A Supplement to the Profund, etc. ms. notes [by A. Pope]. vi, 34pp. J. Roberts: London, 1728. 8o. 1728. 8o. [2] Title The Jovial Crew. A comic-opera ... [Altered from R. Brome’s comedy. With additional songs, by E. Roome, M. Concanen, and Sir W. Yonge.] With the music prefix’d to each song. Title [Another copy.] Title [Another edition.]. 68pp. J. Watts: London, 1731. 8o., 17pp. Harrison & Co.: London, 1780. 8o. [3] A Match at Foot-Ball: a poem, in three cantos. [The dedication signed: M. C., i.e. Matthew Concanen.]. 42pp. The Author: Dublin, 1720. 8o. [4] Miscellaneous Poems, original and translated, by several hands. Viz. Dean Swift, Mr. Parnel, Dr. Delany, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ward, Mr. Sterling, Mr. Concannen, and others. Published by Mr. Concannen.. vii, 416pp. J. Peele: London, 1724. 8o. [5] Poems upon Several Occasions. By the author of, the Match at Football (Mat. Concanen).. xx, 99pp. E. Dobson: Dublin, 1722. 8o. [6] Aix La Chapelle; or, the Tinker and his dog, a poetic sketch.. 21pp. Printed for the Author; sold by A. Redford, &c. London, 1818. 8o [7] The History and Antiquities of the Parish of St. Saviour’s, Southwark. Illustrated with plates. Title [Another copy.] Title [Another copy.]. viii, 280 pp.. Printed by J. Delahoy [Deptford;] sold by J. Parsons [London,] 1795. 8o. [8] A New Book of Songs, sung in a new opera, call’d the Jovial Crew. 8pp. J. Dillow: London, 1731. 8o. [9] The Jovial Crew. A comic-opera ... [Altered from Richard Brome’s comedy. With additional songs by E. Roome, M. Concanen and Sir W. Yonge.] With the airs prefix’d to each song. Title The second edition. Title The third edition. Title [Another edition.] Title [Another edition.] Title A new edition, with additional songs, and alterations. Title A new edition, etc. Title [Another edition.]. 34pp. James Hoey: Dublin, 1732. 8o. 42pp. J. & R. Tonson: London, 1760. 8o. 42pp. J. & R. Tonson: London, 1760. 8o. 42pp. J. & R. Tonson: London, 1761. 8o. 44pp. Sarah Cotter: Dublin, 1766. 12o. 46pp. J. & R. Tonson: London, 1767. 8o. 46pp. T. Lowndes; T. Caslon; W. Nicoll; S. Bladon: London, 1774. 8o. 50pp. John Bell: London, 1781. 12o. [10] The Flower-Piece: a collection of miscellany poems. By several hands. [edited by Matthew Concanen, the Elder?] xii, 251pp. J. Walthoe; H. Walthoe: London, 1731. 12o. [11] Essays, etc.. London, 1827. 8o. [12] A Match at Foot-Ball; or the Irish Champions; a mock-heroic poem, in three cantos. [by M. Concanen.] Title [Another copy.] A Match at Foot-ball; or the Irish champions, etc. [by Matthew Concanen the Elder.] [Another copy.]. London, 1721. 8o. London, 1721. 8o. [13] Lines on the death of-[i.e. R. B. Sheridan] from the Morning Chronicle of ... August 5, 1816. [by T. Moore] ... Republished, without note or comment. Title [Another edition.] Lines sopposed to be written on the Death of the late R. B. Sheridan Esqr as an anonymous tribute to departed genius. Lithographied by the possessor ... with additional lines [by M. Concanen], addressed to Friendship.. London, 1816. 8o. [1816.] s. sh. fol. [14] A Compleat Collection of all the Verses, Essays, Letters and Advertisements, which have been occasioned by the publication of three volumes of Miscellanies by Pope and Company [i.e. the “Miscellanies in Prose and Verse” edited jointly by Swift and Pope]. To which is added an exact list of the lords, ladies, gentlemen, and others who have been abused in those volumes. With a large dedication [by Matthew Concanen, the Elder] to the author of the Dunciad, containing some animadversions upon that extraordinary performance. [Another copy.] Title [Another copy.] A Compleat Collection of all the Verses, Essays, Letters and Advertisements, which have been occasioned by the publication of three volumes of Miscellanies, by Pope and Company, etc.. xv, 52pp. A. Moore: London, 1728. 8o. London, 1728. 8o. [15] A Miscellany on Taste. By Mr. Pope, &c. Viz. I. Of Taste in Architecture. An epistle to the Earl of Burlington. With notes variorum, and a compleat key. II. Of Mr. Pope’s Taste in Divinity, viz. The Fall of Man, and the First Psalm. Translated for the use of a young lady. III. Of Mr. Pope’s Taste of Shakespeare. [A letter, addressed “To the Author” and signed: Lew Theobald, reprinted from the “Daily Journal” of 17 April 1729.] IV. His Satire on Mrs. P-y. v. Mr. Congreve’s fine Epistle on retirement and taste. Address’d to Lord Cobham. [The whole edited by Matthew Concanen, the Elder?] [Another copy.]. 45pp. G. Lawton; T. Osborn; J. Hughes: London, 1732. 8o. [16] A Review of the Excise-Scheme [by William Pulteney, Earl of Bath?]; in answer to a pamphlet [by Matthew Concanen, the Elder?], intitled, The Rise and Fall of the late projected Excise, impartially considered. With some proper hints to the electors of Great Britain. Title [Another copy.] The second edition.. 71pp. Printed by H. Haines, at Mr. Francklin’s: London, 1733. 8o. 71pp. Printed by H. Haines, at Mr. Francklin’s: London, 1733,8o [17] A Second Review of the late Excise Scheme: being a full answer to a scurrilous pamphlet [by Matthew Concanen, the Elder?], entitled, The Rise and Fall of the late projected Excise. To which is added, a word to the freeholders of Great Britain, on the approaching elections. 50pp. Printed for T. Hanes, at R. Franklane’s: London, 1734. 8o. [18] The Rise and Fall of the late projected Excise, impartially consider’d. By a friend to the English constitution. [by Matthew Concanen, the Elder?] Title [Another copy.] MS. Note. [Another copy.] [Another copy.] [Another copy.] Title [Another edition.] The Rise and Fall of the late projected Excise, etc.. 61pp. J. Peele: London, 1733. 8o. George Ewing: Dublin, 1733. 8o. [19] The Speculatist. A collection of letters and essays ... upon various subjects. [by Matthew Concanen, the Elder. Originally contributed to “The London Journal” and “The British Journal.”] Title The second edition. 283pp. Printed by J. Watts, for the Author: London, 1730. 8o. 283pp. J. Walthoe: London, 1732. 8o.

Peter Kavanagh, Irish Theatre (Tralee 1946), Concanen occurs in The Dunciad (1729), ii, 299-304, as a result of a slighting reference. (See also under James Sterling.)

Seamus Deane, gen. ed., The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing (Derry: Field Day 1991), Vol. 1 indicates that he attacked Pope’s Dunciad in 1728.

G. C. Duggan, The Stage Irishman (1937) is unable to trace Concanon’s [sic] The Wexford Walls [sic].

[ top ]

Notes
Brian McGinn writes of Governor Hunter’s complaints, c.1732, of the intrigues of a clique of Irish lawyers in the Jamaican Assembly [Email to Ed., 13 March 1997].

Richard Brome: author of The Beggars Chorus, or the Jovial Crew [1641] - a comedy about four noble lovers who join the beggar community for a life of dance and song, edited by Tiffany Stern (Bloomsbury 2014).

Bloomsbury notice: A Jovial Crew, or the Merry Beggars, is a comedy about four noble lovers who join the beggar community for a pastoral life of dance and song. Or is it? Whilst maintaining its unremitting good humour, A Jovial Crew shows that the literary depiction of beggar life, and real beggar life, are profoundly different. Daily aspects of life in the beggar world – poverty, dirt, licentiousness – come as a surprise to the well-born, who are ultimately led to question their own values. (Accessible online; accessed 08.01.2024.)

A copy of The Beggars Chorus or, the Jovial Crew i held by the Huntingdon Museum (UC) being one sheet with woodcut and songs by Brome (d.1652?) - online

[ See British Museum Collection - online [Object P_1868-0808-5563 - missing at 08.01.2024. ]

[ top ]