``The names of composers in order of time were generally correctly done, but the particulars concerning the musicians were rather startling.  Thus Purcell was said to have written, among other things, an opera called Ebdon and Eneas; one stated that he was born 1543 and died 1595, probably confusing him with Tallis, that he wrote masses and reformed the church music; another that he was the organist of King’s College Chapel, and wrote madrigals.  One stated that he was born 1568 and died 1695; another, not knowing that he had so long passed the allotted period of man’s existence, gave his dates 1693, 1685, thus giving him no limit of existence at all.  One said he was a German, born somewhere in the nineteenth century, which statement another confirmed by giving his dates as 1817-1846; and, further, credited him with the composition of The Woman of Samaria, and as having transposed plain-song from tenor to bass.  Bach is said to have been the founder of the `Thames p 166School Lipsic,’ the composer of the Seasons, the celebrated writer of opera comique, born 16—­, and having gone through an operation for one of his fingers, turned his attention to composition, wrote operas, and, lastly, that he was born in 1756, and died 1880, and that his fame rests on his passions.

``The facts about Handel are pretty correct; but we find that Weber wrote Parsifal, The Flying Dutchman, Der Ring der Nibulengon.  His dates are 1813-1883.  Mendelssohn was born 1770, died 1827 (Beethoven’s dates), studied under Hadyn (sic), and that he composed many operas.  Gounod is said to be `a rather modern musician’; he wrote Othello, Three Holy Children, besides Faust and other works.  Among the names given as the composer of Nozze di Figaro are Donizetti, William Sterndale Bennett, Gunod, and Sir Mickall Costa.  The particulars concerning the real composer are equally interesting. (1) His name is spelt Mozzart, Mosarde, etc. (2) He was a well-known Italian, wrote Medea, and others. (3) His first opera was Idumea, or Idomeo. (4) He composed p 167_Lieder ohne worte, Don Pasquale, Don Govianna_, the Zauberfloat, Feuges, and his Requiem is the crowning glory of his `marvellious carere.’ (5) He was a German, `born 1756, at a very early age.’  If the dates given by another writer be true (born 1795, died 1659), it is certain that he must have died before he was born.’’

Mr. Barrett again reported in 1889 some of the strange opinions of those who came to him to be examined:—­

``The answers to the question `Who was Rossini?  What influence did he exercise over the art of music in his time?’ brought to light much curious and interesting intelligence.  His nationality was various.  He was `a German by birth, but was born at Pesaro in Italy’; `he was born in 1670 and died 1826’; he was a `Frenchman,’ `a noted writer of the French,’ the place of