ASA WILLCOX'S BOOK OF FIGURES 1793 MULTIGRAPHED FROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE POSSESSION OF THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO 150 Copies Multigraphed October 1918 FOREWORD The "Book of Figures" is a little manuscript that has recently been presented to The Newberry Library by the Librarian. The book appears to be a guide such as would be used by a fiddler or other musician in calling off the successive movements of dances. It was found some years ago in the attic of an old house in one of the smaller towns in Hartford County, Connecticut. The manuscript, measuring 16 1/2 x 7 centimeters, consists of two sections enclosed in a cover, the first section being in nine sheets and the second in two sheets, each hand-stitched through the fold and the cover. The forty-four pages are unnumbered, the last four being blank except on the verso of the last page. The dances are numbered, sometimes with one number for two dances. The paper is firm but occasionally stained; the cover is made of three thicknesses of wrapping-paper, now dark brown with age. The title given on the verso of the last page, reads: "Asa willcxs book of Figures". The spelling, capitalization, punctuation and underlining of the original have been scrupulously followed, occasionally at the expense of clearness. One instance of this sort is the word "hays" in no. 27, meaningless as it stands, which may have been meant for "pays" i. e. pace, the tail of the "p" having been untraced by the pen. The period, which occurs with some consistency throughout the earlier portion of the book, seems to indicate the pause that occurs between the different movements of the dances. THE PROPERTY OF ASA WILLCOX 1793 [LIST OF THE DANCES] Sweet Richird 1 The accadian Nuptuals 2 Soldiers Joy 3 Successful Compaign 4 Miss Moors Rant 5 Shady Grove 6 Frog & Mouse 7 The Oak Stick 8 Banks of Dee 9 Alemand Swiss 10 Fits James 11 Gorge Washingtos favouite 12 Young Widow 13 Eight of Clubs 14 Love forever 15 Alemand Swiss 16 Flowers of Edingburgh 17 colledge hornpipe 18 Poor Soldier 19 Germain Spars 20 Green Sleevs 21 the King of Demarks favouite 22 Faithful Shepherd & Fishers hornpipe 23 Bonny lass of Aberdeen 24 Stony Point 25 The Merry Wakefield 26 No luck about the house 27 New Constitution 28 Rakes of Rodney 29 Moll Brocks & Love in the Village 30 Dutches of Brumswick 31 Baron Suben 32 Hay Maker 33 Pleasure of the town 34 Irish wash woman 35 Ork Fuslers 36 Militoery Asembly 37 1 Sweet Richard Ladies foot it & change places with the Gentm. Gentm foot it the Same time cross over lead to the top cast off one Couple. hands round four with 3rd Couple right & left at top - 2 The Accadian Nuptials Turn partners with right hands cast of one Couple turn with left hands the Gentm cast of one. the Ladies cast up one Couple & Set 3 & 3 at top & bottom set 3 & 3 at Sides six hands round & turn partners - 3 Soldiers Joy Cast down two Couple back again first & third Couple Draw. first second & third Couple alamand one round crss over one Couple. right & left at top - 4 Successful Campaign Cast Down two Couple lead up two Couple cast Down one 2nd Couple do the Same turn contrary partners half round four hands round cross over one Couple. right & left at top - 5 Miss Moors Rant Cast Down two Couple. lead up again. hands round. back again. cross over one Couple. right & left at top - 6 Shady Grove Cast Down two Couple. up again. lead Down two Couple. up again cast Down one. hands round with the third Couple right & left at top - 7 Frog & Mouse Hands four across round back again cross over two Couple lead to the top cast off one Couple 1st 2nd & 3rd Gentm to partners holding hands right & left at top - 8 The Oak Stick Two first Gentm set to partners holding hands Gentm together Ladies together cross over two Couple lead to the top cast Down one Couple right & left at top - 9 Banks of the Dee Cast off two Couple. back again. lead Down two Couple. up again. cast off one Couple. six hands round, right & left at top - 10 Alemand Swiss Cotillon Top Couple balance with side Couple & Shift places Alemand with side Couple & then with partners the side Couple Do the Same - The Changes - 11 Fits James Cotillon Top Couples the Gentm Change places with partners & balance. back again balane right & left. the Side Couples Do the Same - The Changes - 12 G: Washingtons Favourite Cotillon Stand as in eight reel shasa at sides then cross hands at top & bottom & move half round shasa at sides cross hands at top & bottom then half round then as before exept four hands instead of cross hands The Changes - 13 Young Widow First & second Gentm set together passing first & second Ladies set back again lead Down one Couple back again cross over one Couple six hand half round. top Couple & third Couple set half right & left - 14 Eight of Clubs. First & Second Gentm set together passing first & second Ladies set back again lead Down one Couple. back again cast off one Couple right & left at top - 15 Love Forever. First Gentm turns 2nd Lady his partners 2nd Gentm four hands round back again lead Down two Couple Cast back 2nd & 3rd Couples following Cast Down one Couple right & left at top - 16 Alemand Swiss. First Gentm alemand with second Lady his partner with second Gentm lead Down two Couple up again cast Down one Couple six hands half round back again right & left at top - 17 Flowers of Edingburgh First Couple Do the figure of eight round the second Couple cast Down two Couple back again lead Down two Couple back again lead Down two Couple cast up one lead up one Cast Down one. hands round with the third Couple right & left at top - 18 Colledge Hornpipe Four hand cross roud back again first & third Couple Draw cross over one Couple - Right & left at top - 19 Poor Soldier. Country Dance Cast off two Couple lead up two Couple four hands half round back again lead Down one Couple up again cast off one right & left at top - 20 German Spaw Cast Down two Couple back four hands across half round back again lead Down one Couple back again Cast off one Couple - then Assembies - 21 Green Sleeves. First Gentm turns second Lady ballances to partners second Gentm turns first Lady & Ballances to partner hand across half round first Couple cross over the Second & turn then lead up one Couple cast off one & turn partners - 22 The King of Demark's Favourite Hands four round the Same back again the first Gentm takes his Partner with his left hand behind & turns quite round the second Do the Same lead Down & up again clap hands & cast off one Couple clap hands & right & left - 23 Faithful Shephard. Hands across round back again cross over one Couple right & left at top - Firsher's Hornpipe Cast Down 2nd Couple up again lead Down 2 back again cast Down 1 right & left at top - 24 Boney Lass of Aberdeen Cast off two Couple cross over cast up one Couple set 3 & 3 at sides turn partners half round set 3 & 3 at top & bottom Gentm turns third Lady his partner second Gentm cross then the Gentm turns second Lady his partner third Gentm then turns your partner into her place - 25 Stony Point First Couple three hands round with 2d Lady alamand reversed with partners three hands round with 2d Gentm alamand reversed with partners back again lead Down two Couple up again cast off one Couple four hands half round with 3rd Couple back again right & left at top - 26 The Merry Wakefield Lead Down through the Second Couple & cast up to the top then back to back & cast off one four hands round with 3rd Couple right & left - 27 No Luck about the House Four hands across back again lead Down two Couple cast up one lead up one cast Down one alemand reversed with 3rd Lady partners at the same time with 2nd Gentm alamand reversed with 2nd Lady partner with 3rd Gentm hays sides & turn partners - 28 New Constitution. Cast off 2 Couple back again lead Down 2 Couple back again cast off 1 Couple four hands round with 3rd Couple Right at top - 29 Rakes of Rodney Country Dance Cast off 2 Couple back again 1st 2nd & 3rd Couple alemand 1 round cross over Cast off 1 Couple Gentm turns 3rd Lady his partner turns 2nd Gentm cross then the Gentm 2nd Lady his partner 3rd Gentm then to you places - 30 Moll Brooks Cast off 2 Couple back again 1st & 2nd Gentm Allemands the Gentm with partners lead Down 2 Couple back again cast off 1 Couple right & left at top - Love in the Village Four hands across round back again Down with 3rd Couple lead Down 2 Couple cast up 1 Couple right & left at top - 31 Dutches of Brumswick Cast Down 2 Couple back again lead Down 2 Couple back again cast off 1 Couple set contrary corners holding partners hands lead Down 1 Couple cast up 1 Couple lead up 1 cast off one allemand reversed back again - 32 Baron Stuben Lead Down through the 2nd Couple & set the 3rd four hands half round with 3rd Couple & back again & set 1st Gentm turns & goes to his place the 2nd & 3rd following. Ladies Do the same shasa then across - 33 Hay Maker. First Couple set to the 2nd Lady the 2nd Gentm lead Down 2 Couple up again cast off Right & left - White Cockaid Cast off 2 Couple back again lead Down 2 Couple back again Cast off 1 Couple six hands round back again right & left at top - 34 Pleasure of the Town The 1st 2nd & 3rd Gentm pass round their Partners they turn to them Ladies Do the same lead Down 2 Couple up again cast Down one Couple Right & left at top - 35 Irish Wash Women. Shasa across first & 2nd Couple alemand with right hands then with left hand lead Down 2 Couple back again cast off 1 six hand round - 36 Ork Fusileers Turn your partner with your right hand then with your left lead Down 2 Couple up again cast off 1 Couple four hands round with 3rd Couple right & left at top - 37 Militery Assembly. Turn right hands & turn off 1 Couple turn left hands & turn off another Couple lead to the top & cast off 1 Couple right & left at top - Asa willcx Asa willcxs book of Figures.