¶Vol.III contains printed music for the songs. Ritson, in his introduction, states his case for creating what was one of many song compilations published at the time. His was not 'of the lowest and most despicable nature' with a few good songs hidden away or, as Ritson puts it: 'everyone who wishes to possess a pearl, is not content to seek it in an ocean of mud'. The object of this publication was 'to exhibit all the most admired, and intrinsically excellent specimens of lyric poetry in the English language...; to promote real instructive entertainment; to satisfy the critical taste of the judicious; to indulge the nobler feelings of the pensive; and to afford innocent mirth to the gay'.