ving subjects that your Majesty will, with your
accustomed clemency, vouchsafe to pardon the best endeavours of your
Majestie's

"Most humble and obedient subject and servant,
"H. PURCELL."

Charles II. is said to have understood his notes, and to sing in (in
the words of one who had sung with him) a plump bass, but that he only
looked upon music as an incentive to mirth, not caring for any that he
could not "stamp the time to." The endeavour of his accomplished and
gifted young organist to lead the King and his people to admire what
he terms "the seriousness and gravity" of Italian music, and "to
loathe the levity and balladry of our neighbours," was indeed worthy
of England's greatest musician.

In the year 1678, Thomas Britton, known as the "musical small-coal
man," gave concerts in this country, and a long series it was,
extending over a period of forty-six years. The shape the movement
took was that of a musical club, which was maintained at Britton's
expense.

The concert-room of Tom Britton was over his coal-shop in Aylesbury
Street, leading from Clerkenwell Green to St. John Street. From the
year 1678 to the time of his death, in 1714, the concerts of Britton
were attended by persons of all ranks.

"Tho' mean thy rank, yet in thy humble cell,
Did gentle peace and arts unpurchased dwell.
Well pleased, Apollo thither led his train,
And Music warbled in her sweetest strain.
Cyllenius too, so fables tell, and Jove
Came willing guests to poor Philemon's grove.
Let useless pomp behold, and blush to find
So low a station, such a liberal mind."[3]

[Footnote 3: These verses were written by Mr. John Hughes, who was a
frequent performer on the Violin at Britton's concerts. (Hawkins.)]

Thus the first germ of the great musical societies gave a marked
impulse to the culture of stringed music in England. Attention was
turned to the subject; its humanising effects were recognised, and
parties met in several places for the practice of chamber music. Our
progress in Violin-playing at this date was clearly satisfactory. We
had a Violinist named John Henry Eccles, belonging to a clever family
of musicians. He became a member of the band of Louis XIV., and was
regarded as an excellent player and musician. He published in Paris
some solos for the Violin in 1720. His brother Thomas was also a good
Violinist. Fortune, however, did not smile upon hi