In 1770 his first compositions appeared in a work of one hundred and eight pages entitled "The New England Psalm Singer; or American Chorister. Containing a number of Psalm Tunes, Anthems, and Canons. In four and five parts. (Never before published.) Composed by William Billings, a native of Boston, in New England. Matt. xii. 16, 'Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou perfected Praise;' James v. 13, 'Is any merry, let him sing Psalms.' 'O, praise the Lord with one consent, And in this grand design Let Britain and the Colonies Unanimously join.' Boston: New England. Printed by Edes and Gill." In the preface to this work he quaintly says:-- "_To all Musical Practitioners._ "Perhaps it may be expected by some, that I could say something concerning rules for composition; to these I answer that _Nature is the best Dictator_, for all the hard dry studied rules that ever were prescribed will not enable any person to form an Air any more than the four and twenty letters, and strict Grammatical rules will qualify a scholar for composing a piece of Poetry, or properly adjusting a Tragedy without a Genius. It must be Nature; Nature must lay the Foundation, Nature must give the Thought. But perhaps some may think I mean and intend to throw Art entirely out of Question. I answer by no Means, for the more Art is displayed, the more Art is decorated. And in some sorts of composition there is dry Study requir'd, and Art very requisite. For instance, in a Fuge. But even there Art is subservient to Genius, for Fancy goes first, and strikes out the Work roughly, and Art comes after and polishes it over. But to return to my Text: I have read several Authors' Rules on Composition, and find the strictest of them make some Exceptions, as thus, they say that two 8vos or two 5ths may not be taken together rising or falling, unless one be Major and the other Minor; but rather than spoil the Air, they will allow that Breach to be made, and this Allowance gives great Latitude to young Composers, for they may always make that Plea, and say, if I am not allowed to transgress the Rules of composition I shall certainly spoil the Air, and cross the Strain that Fancy dictated. And indeed this is without dispute, a very just Plea, for I am sure I have often and sensibly felt the disagreeable and slavish Effect of such Restraint as is here pointed out, and so I believe every Composer of Poetry as well as Musick, for I presume there are strict Rules for Poetry, as for Musick. But as I have often heard of a Poetical License I don't see why with the same propriety there may not be a musical License, for Poetry and Musick are in close Connection, and nearly allied besides they are often assistants to each other, and like a true friend often hide each other's feelings. For I have known a Piece of Poetry that hath neither