The Sun.
London, England, 1823-11-24 00:00:00

MUSICAL SCRAP BOOK.

(From the Somerset House Waif Miscellany, le. 4-e.)
JOJIN HINGSTON, it scholar of Orlando Gib-
bons, wag organist to Oliver Cromerell, rho, as it is said, had
some affection for music and musicians. Ilingston was first in
the service of Charles 1., but for a pension of one hundred
pounds a year, he went over to Cromwell, and instructed his
daughters in music. He bred up under him two boys, whom
he taught to sing with him, Deering'; Latin songs, which
Cromwell greatly delighted to hear, and had often performed
before him at the Cock-pit, at Whitehall. ale had concerts at
his own house, at which Cromwell would often be present.--
In one of these musical entertainments, Sir Roger L'Estrange
happens to be a performer, and Sir Roger, not leaving the room
upon Cromwell's coming into it, the Cavalier's gave him the
name of Oliver's fiddler; but in a pamphlet entitled " Truth
and Loyalty, vindicated, London, 1662," he clears himself
from the imputation which this reproachful appellation was in-
tended to fix on him, and relates the stogy in the words fol-
lowing
Concerning the story of the fiddle, this I suppose might
be therise of it. Being in St. James's Park, I heard en organ
touched in a little low room of one Mr. Hingston ; I went in,
and found a private company of five or six persons, they de-
sired me to take up a viols and bear a part, I did so, and that
a part too, not much to advance the reputation of my cunning.
By and by, without the least colour of a design or expectation,
in comes Cromwell. He found us playing, and as I remember, '
so he left us."
Hingston, was Dr. Blow's first master, tho Ugh the inscription-
on Blow's monument takes no notice of it, but says, that he
was brought up under Dr. Christopher Gibbons. He had a
nephew named Peter, educated under Purcell, and who was
organist of Ipswich, and an eminent teacher ofmusic there and
in chat neighbourhood. A picture of John Hingston is in the
music school, Oxon.
There are many particulars related of Cromwell, which shew
that he was a lover of music; indeed, Anthony Wood expressly
asserts it in his Life of Himaelf, Page 139, and as a proof of it,
relates the following story ; " .4. W. had some acquaintance
with James Quin, M.A. one of the senior students of Christ
Church, and had several times heard him sing with great
admiration. His voice was a bass, end he had a great
command of it ; 'twas very strong, and exceeding trouling,
but be wanted skill, and could scarcely sing in consort--
He had been turned out of his student's place by the vial.
tots, but being well acquainted with Mane great men of those
times that loved music, they introduced hen into the coin.
pang of Oliver Cromwell, the Protector, who loved a good voice
and instrumental music well. He heard him sing with very
great delight, liquor'd hirn with seek, and in conclusion
said, 111 r. Quin, you have done very well, what shall Ido foe
you ?' To which Quin made answer, with great conaplitnernit,
of which he had command, with a great grace, ' That Your
Hialinevs would be pleased to restore use to my student's place,
which he did accordingly, and so kept it to his dying day.'"
Cromwell was also fond of the music of the organ, as appears
from the following remarkable anecdote. "In the grand rat
hellion, when the organ at Magdalen College, in Oxford,
among others was taken down, Cromwell ordered it to be came
fully conveyed to flaroptoneCourt, where it was placed in the
great gallery; and one of Cromwell's favourite amusements
was to be entertained with this instrument at leisure hours. it
continued there till the Restoration, when it was returned to its
original owners, and was the same that remained in the choir of
that College, till within these last thirty years."
It is known that the order far pulling down the organs from
the cathedrals and churches was put in force with so much zeal
by the puritans, and that musical meetings were so entirely dis-
couraged, that szaaccly an organ remained entire at the time of
the Restoration. The author of Mercurius RUltiCUl. in his
account of the spoliations of the cathedrale and parish churches,
relates that the cathedral of St. Paul' and Westminster Abbey
were converted into barracks for the Parliamentary trocps, and
that the table of the htily altar in the choir of the Abbey, was
surrounded by soldieri drinking and smoking tobacco.. More.:
over, that these mock saints, wrapping one of their comrades
in the surplice of a chorister, chased Mtn round the chapels anti
cloisters at the game of hunting the hare. They pulled down
the great organ, and went about Weatmineter, some fellows
bearing the large pipes on their shoulders, whilst others blew
into them, making a uumpetting, and afterwards sold them to
the publicans for pots of ale.
On the re-establishment of church government, the king,
being an amateur of cathedral music, peat exertions were made
to procure an organ ; but such was the difficulty attending the '
agents employed in the search, that detached parts of that noble
instrument, such as had accidentelly been preserved. were '
sought, and purchased at great prices, and of these, with the
addition of such parts as were wanting, the organ-builder
MIS obliged to patch, up this grand accompaniment to the
choir.

—ingland then afforded a field for the ingenious skillyi in the
art of orgari.buildiug, anti agents were dispatched abroad to
invite foreigners to come over, who were pr2rnised due encou-
ragement by the government, and the. heads of • the church.
Indeed, the principal inhabitants of Coro in parishes were equally
emulous to have a gond instrument eel op_iri their respective
churches. One of the moat famed, who 'became a canditinte
for Engliah patronage, was the celehtutcti mechanic, known by
the designation of Father Smith, of whom, we shell weak in a
future Number. One Other cireinnstahC4, however, relating to
this subject, we think deserving of notice.
' The church of St. Bennet was destreved by the memorable
lire of 1616, and re=built in the year. 16.7!1. A. great benefactor
to this piousondertaking. was a 111.• Aninlan, who, being a
parishioner, although Roman Catholic, gave 10004 towards
the new church. On which occasion, says Inv authority, "he
gave alto the deal, and would have presented, the perish with
an organ, but the Goths refused 'theAtenie as appears, because
they dreaded the charge of keeping it in 'repair, and maintain.
ing.an orgauist.--But others say, that the refusal was owing to
their want of esteem for the melodious harmony which that in•
striatum promotes in congregation."

HATToN-
G.ti,DENTe—Saturday, Mr. Stanton
being so far convalescent as to be able to attend and give' his
ffi evidence tit this oc.e, his wife, Margaret Stanton, was brought
up for re.examination. It will by in 1141)lic. mollection
that she stands charged . with having shockingly mutilated
Whitmore the t.treott,
her husband.. The examination commenced about two o'clock,
and lasted till past tine, fluting 'which the only W4essea
who was called up on the occasion, and to whom the prisoner
then confessed her guilt,
examined Were Stanton hinisdf and Mi.
and stated, that no sooner wits the
deed committed, than thejealonsy which, prompted it gave way
to remorse. Other witnesses were in attendance, who were given
to understand that the Wlll 0311 was remanded, and that they
must attend again next Tursitay:—The examiaation was quite
private.
-
By late information from a Gentletnan in Lord
Coctrit ME'S squadron, it appears that his Mid
shlpmen have received each 1091. prize-money.