original English hymns. Perhaps the method pursued by the moderately large committee who prepared this hymnal may be employed on a more extensive scale in the preparation of a successor. For, while scarcely a week passes by without contributing some fresh material available for future compilers, no hymn-book can long be considered complete. Translations of Latin hymns into easy, flowing English are still too few. Those are perhaps the best in this respect, which do not attempt an adherence to the original metres.

The work of annotating and re-editing this hymn-book has grown considerably under my hands. My first and chief thanks must be given to the Rev. Sir H. W. Baker, Bart., and his co-compilers, for their permission to reprint the text of the book, and for much assistance freely given. My original plan formed but a very small portion of what, through the kindness of contributors and subscribers, I am now publishing. My acknowledgments are especially due to those who have so kindly sent me translations of the modern hymns, viz., to Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Beresford-Hope, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Calverley, Mr. W. Whiting, Miss C. Winkworth, Revs. R. Thornton, C. I. Black, and Theodore Kübler. I must express my gratitude to the Rev. C. B. Pearson, not only for his own liberal contributions, but also for much valuable criticism. I owe to Mr. D. Sedgwick, of 81, Sun Street, much of the information here given relative to the authorship of hymns. Other friends who have assisted me in the correction of the German hymns, with additional references, and with Indexes of Authors, etc., will understand that it is from no want of appreciation of their kind help that I do not thank them individually.

Perhaps I may be permitted to say a word in conclusion on what seems to me the best mode of giving out these hymns. After announcing

the number of the hymn, the text prefixed to it should be read, before the tune is played through.* This will always make a complete sense; and whereas the first line of the hymn, given out by itself, may often suggest incongruous associations, this will teach the people to study their hymn-book by the Light of their Bible. Thus may they learn to "know of the Doctrine, whether it be of GOD," and more and more to "sing praises with understanding.”

LOUIS COUTIER BIGGS.

Bilgrove Cottage, Knight's Enham, Andover,
Eve of the Epiphany, 1867.

* An Alphabetical Index of Texts (published by Novello & Co.) may be had bound with editions A, B, & C of the Hymn-Book, at an addition of 10s. per 100 to the price.

CORRIGENDA.

P. 16, line 15, for "At," read "Ast,"

P. 16, at end of lines 19 and 25 in Latin, insert a comma.

P. 22, after lines 4 and 8 of the Latin, insert a colon instead of a full stop.

P. 22, in line 21 of Latin, for "sanctorum," read "sacrorum."

P. 35, end of Hymn 31, insert (Saturdays in Advent, at Vespers.)

P. 45. For author's name at end of Hymn 39, read

"CHARLES WESLEY, 1758, in 'Hymns of Intercession for all Mankind.' "(Martin Madan [1760] composed a cento from the above and another Fudgment Hymn by John Cennick, 1752.)"

Hymn 66. The alterations in the last lines of verses 2 and 4 were suggested by Rev. F. Keble.

Hymn 84, insert at the end of line 1 of Latin.

Hymn 93, end of verse 5, insert a note of "One verse omitted."

P. 125, insert a comma at the end of line 7 of the Latin.

Hymn 105. The alterations are from the "Hymnal for the use of the English Church," pub. by Mozley.

P. 130. The translation of Hymn 106 is from the authorized Scotch Hymnal.

P. 138, at end of Hymn 111, for "Hymn of 7th Century," read "S. AMBROSE."

P. 178. The last verse of the original of Hymn 143 is taken from Mone, vol. i., p. 67, and should run thus:

DEO PATRI sit gloria

Per infinita saecula,

Cujus Amore nimio
Salvi sumus in FILIO.

P. 194. The recast version given in Hymn 155 of John Mason's hymn is taken from the "Salisbury Hymn-book."

P. 196, note †, add at the end, "but is taken from the Breviaries."

Hymn 196, ver. 3, for "lose" read "loose." (The former is Dr. Watts's original, and given in most of the earlier editions of "Hymns Ancient and Modern," but has been intentionally altered in later copies.)