"_There was a Maid of Westmoreland._"--"Some fifty summers past," I was in
the habit of hearing sung a simple ballad, which commenced--
"There was a maid of Westmoreland,
Who built her house upon the sand:"
and the conclusion of which was, that, however desolate and exposed a
situation that might be for her dwelling, it was better than in "the haunts
of men." This was said to have been written by the late Mr. Thomas
Sheridan. I never heard by whom the music to it, which was very pretty, was
composed; nor whether or not it was published.
Can any of your correspondents supply the words of this old ballad, and
state the name of the composer of the music to it? Also whether it was
published, and, if so, by whom?