The attempt to write a Life of Henry Purcell has been beset with many difficulties. So much information which might have been preserved for the instruction of after times has been lost, either through the indifference or culpable neglect of those who had it in their power to have placed on record details which would have been interesting. Sir John Hawkins and Dr. Burney are particularly open to censure on this head. They possessed many opportunities for gaining authentic knowledge of facts and circumstances now lost for ever. In reading their histories of music we cannot but feel regret that they neglected to gather and garner the stores of Purcellian lore which were so accessible to them, and which they could so easily have rescued from oblivion.

Both Hawkins and Burney had a personal acquaintance with Leveridge, the celebrated bass vocalist and actor, who had been on friendly terms with Purcell, and could have solved many doubts which now perplex the musical student. Leveridge could have supplied very interesting details, which would have enriched the meagre narrations handed down to us respecting the great English musician.

Hawkins was on most intimate terms with the Rev. William Gostling, a minor canon of Canterbury Cathedral, and son of the "wondrous" bass of Purcell's day. The Rev. William Gostling possessed a very extensive library, rich in musical manuscripts, particularly those of Purcell. Miss Hawkins says of him: "Adding his father's recollections to his own, his knowledge of facts in the musical world reached back to the time of King William and Queen Mary, and he talked of Purcell as we do of Arne."

Hawkins not only corresponded with Gostling, but also frequently visited him at Canterbury; and at his decease prepared the catalogue for the sale by auction, in 1777, of his library. There can be little doubt that Dr. Burney had also a personal acquaintance with the Rev. W. Gostling. I possess a copy of the catalogue before mentioned, which belonged to Burney, and in it he has noted the prices the various lots fetched, himself being the purchaser of several.

Both Hawkins and Burney were well acquainted with Mr. Henry Needler, an eminent musician and violinist, who had been a pupil of Purcell, and resided near St. Clement's Church, in the Strand, where he died in 1760.

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.