Among the mis-statements of Hawkins and Burney may be mentioned the one which has been oft repeated, and caused endless trouble to biographers. They agree in saying Purcell was elected organist of Westminster Abbey at the age of eighteen. An examination of the Abbey records, which Hawkins had access to, would have prevented the promulgation of this error. Other mis-statements will be dealt with in their proper place. Enough has been said to show that the recognised musical historians are not to be implicitly relied on when dealing with facts and dates. My endeavour has been to follow an accurate chronological arrangement; but I am fully sensible that perfection is impossible, and therefore I shall be grateful for corrections of errors, or additional information for future use. My hope is that this little work may be the fore-runner of other Purcell studies, in which it will be possible to give further details respecting Purcell's ancestry, descendants, and family, and also to say something more of his noteworthy contemporaries and pupils. WILLIAM H. CUMMINGS. PURCELL. Music and poetry attained to a high state of cultivation in the reign of Elizabeth; the Queen herself was an admirable performer on the virginals, and by her example and authority did all that was possible to elevate the art of music, and to encourage learned musicians throughout her dominions. This happy condition of things was continued by her successors, James I. and Charles I., but with the establishment of the Commonwealth all music, both of church and theatre, was rigidly suppressed. We read with horror and indignation of the wanton destruction of church organs and other musical instruments, and of the tearing and burning of the various Service-books which had been in use in the cathedrals and collegiate establishments. At Canterbury cathedral "the soldiers violated the monuments of the dead, spoyled the organs, broke down the ancient rails and seats with the brazen eagle which did support the Bible, forced open the cupboards of the singing-men, rent some of their surplices, gowns, and Bibles, and carryed away others, mangled all our Service-books and books of Common Prayer, bestrewing the whole pavement with the leaves thereof." At Rochester cathedral, Colonel Sands, hearing the organs, cryed, "_A devil on those bag-pipes_," and "one of the rebels" discharged a pistol at the head of Prebend Larken, who interposed and endeavoured to prevent the spoliation of the cathedral. At Chichester cathedral, the officers having sacked the plate and vestments, left the "destructive and spoyling part to be finished by the common soldiers, who brake down the organs, and dashing the pipes with their pole-axes, scoffingly said, '_Hark how the organs go!_' They force open all the locks, either of doors or desks wherein the singing-men laid up their Common Prayer books, their singing-books, their gowns and surplesses; they rent the