President and Secretary, Baron Fernand de Schickler and Pasteur Weiss, we have been continually indebted for ready help in many ways. The Commission pour l'Histoire des Églises Wallonnes in Holland is another of our oldest allies on the Continent, while across the Atlantic we feel that we have a very firm friend in the Huguenot Society of America, and also in the Huguenot Society of South Carolina. Then we are in correspondence with the Huguenot Society of Germany, one rather younger than ourselves, which has already by the labours of it learned President, Dr. Henri Tollin, and others, thrown a flood of light on the history of the refugees in various parts of the German Empire. For everything connected with the kindred subject, the history of that ancient people the Vaudois, we turn to the Society so ably presided over by Professor Vinay. In short, we may congratulate ourselves on having fully attained one of our founder's chief objects-the promotion of a friendly intercourse not only with the Huguenots of our own country, but also with those of other lands.

Allusion has been made to the unavoidable abandonment of the Dublin Conference last summer, and I may mention that it is not proposed to make any excursion to the country during the present year. We shall instead venture on a new departure, namely a Conversazione here in London. Notice of this has already been sent to all of you, so I will only express a hope that the experiment may prove as successful as we anticipate, and may result in a very pleasant evening for all who are able to come. We have arranged for a performance of some old French music under the direction of M. Dolmetsch who is, as you know, facile princeps in that matter, and there will also be a little exhibition of books, medals, and other objects of Huguenot interest, and the very attractive collection of pictures on view at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours. In my own name and in that of the Council, I can assure you of a very hearty welcome, and that the more of you who can attend, and the more friends you can bring with you,

the better.

In the course of these remarks I have referred in sincere terms to our late President and to Mr. Browning's unique services, but should indeed fail in my duty were I to let pass the opportunity of, in your name and my own, publicly thanking our Honorary Secretary for his constant attention to everything which concerns the Huguenot Society. He has, as you know, been associated from the commencement with

the good work already accomplished and we all hope that Mr. Faber may long enjoy the satisfaction of helping forward our increasing prosperity.

One word in conclusion; we have been enabled to make a good beginning and the ten years now ended have been on the whole, ten years of unclouded prosperity and unchecked progress. May our future be as bright as our past and may we each and all do our best to make the Huguenot Society of London as successful as its most sanguine well-wishers can desire.

On the conclusion of the Address the ballot was taken for Officers and Council for the ensuing year with the following result :

Officers and Council for the year May 1895 to May 1896.

President, Sir Henry William Peek, Bart.

Vice-Presidents,-Major-General Sir Edmund F. Du Cane, K.C.B.; Arthur Giraud Browning, F.S.A.; William John Charles Moens, F.S.A; Robert Hovenden, F.S.A.

Treasurer,-Reginald St. Aubyn Roumieu.

Honorary Secretary,-Reginald Stanley Faber.

Members of Council,-Adrian C. Chamier, F.S.A., Alexandre Louis Foucar, T. Noel Hugo, Perceval Landon, Edward H. Lefroy, J. Miller Maguire, LL.D., Victor Maslin, Henry Merceron, William Minet, F.S.A., William Page, F.S.A., W. Harry Rylands, F.S.A., William Chapman Waller, F.S.A.

ABSTRACT OF TREASURER'S ACCOUNT WITH THE HUGUENOT SOCIETY OF LONDON.
From 1st day of January to 31st day of December, 1894.

Sale of Publications

One year's interest on Investment of Composition
Fees less Tax

Proceedings

Mr. Bower's Contribution towards illustrating

From an Anonymous Donor (per Jas. Nisbet & Co.)

500
200

Cost of printing and illustrating Pro-
ceedings and Lists of Fellows and
reproduction of plates

Notices and Circulars

Bookbinding

Rent of Rooms Hanover Square

Tea and Coffee, &c., after Meetings, Official
Guests, and Use of Rooms, "Hotel Windsor"
Stationery

Petty Cash Disbursements, Postages, &c.
Bank Charges

Diplomas

Assistant Secretary's Salary

Archæological Congress

50 0 0

CONVERSAZIONE.

By invitation of the President, Sir Henry W. Peek, Bart., a Conversazione was held on Wednesday evening, May 22, in the galleries of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours. A great many Fellows and their friends and other visitors, English and foreign, were present, the number altogether being nearly five hundred. There was a reception by the President and Council from 8.30 to 9.30, after which a selection. of French music, vocal and instrumental, was very ably rendered by M. Arnold Dolmetsch, assisted by Mde. Élodie Dolmetsch, Mlle. Hélène Dolmetsch, Mr. W. A. Boxall, Mr. Treffry, the children of the French Protestant School of Westminster, and several friends. The instruments used were the lute, viol d'amore, tenor viol, viol da gamba, and harpsichord, and the music was chiefly of the 16th and 17th centuries, music and instruments being thus specially adapted to each other. The programme was as follows:

Psalm XLII. (Comme un cerf altéré brame). Accompanied by the viols and harpsichord. Translated by Bèze; melody by Bourgeois, 1551.

Psalın LXVIII. (Que Dieu se montre seulement). Accompanied by the viols and harpsichord. Translated by Bèze; melody by Greiter, 1539 or earlier.

Two Pieces for the Lute. 1. A little fantasie for the tunyng of the lute, by Adrien Le Roy, (pub. 1570). 2. A prelude from Le Secret des Muses, by Nicolas Valet, (pub. 1618).

Three Songs. 1. Charmante Gabrielle, (accompanied by the lute), by Henri IV. 2. Plus ne suis ce que j'ai été (accompanied by the harpsichord), by Clément Marot. 3. Vive Henri IV, (accompanied by the harpsichord), a popular air of the 16th century.

Suite of Lessons for the Harpsichord, by Lulli, circa 1660. 1. Allemande. 2. Courante. 3. Sarabande. 4. Gavotte. Cantique by Bost. Ils ne sont plus O Dieu, ces sombres jours d'orage.

VOL. V.-NO. II.

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Suite of pieces for the Viol da Gamba, accompanied by the Harpsichord, by Marin Marais (pub. 1695.) 1. Prelude. 2. Allemande. 3. Sarabande. 4. Gigue.

Song; Tu crois, O beau Soleil, (accompanied by the harpsichord), by Louis XIII.

Suite d'Airs à Danser, composed for Louis XIV, by Mouret, circa 1710, for violins, violoncello, and harpsichord. 1. Entrée. 2. Air en chacone. 3. Air de Paysan. 4. Menuet. 5. Carillon. 6. Rondeau. 7. Passepied 8. Gigue. 9. Cotillon.

March of the Old French Guard, (viols and harpsichord), composed about 1670.

The Psalms in this programme are examples of those most frequently used by the Huguenots. The 42nd. was, and remains to this day, their favourite devotional Psalm. The 68th. was invariably sung on the eve of a battle or immediately before going into action. The measured and stately rhythm of the old-time tunes is in sharp contrast with the rapid singing usual in modern English churches, while the long pause at the end of each line of the Huguenot Psalms recalls the persecutions which beset the Church in the Desert' when the car had ever to be on the alert for approaching danger, even when the lips were praising God, or imploring His protection. It is interesting to remember that in this same month of May, in the year 1558, in the Prè aux Clercs at Paris, a few of the promenaders began to sing to Goudimel's music one of Marot's metrical Psalms. Both music and words were fresh from the composer and could hardly have been learnt. except orally, yet we are told that the tune was quickly caught up, and soon the vast concourse, either through sympathy or love of novelty, joined in the singing. The King and Queen of Navarre, and many of the chief personages in the Kingdom were among those who took part in it. The singing was repeated for many nights, until complaint was made by the Doctors of the Sorbonne to the King that to sing the Psalms in the French tongue rather than in Latin was irreverent, and to sing them out of doors tended to sedition, so the King immediately ordered the singing to be stopped.

A loan exhibition of objects illustrative of Huguenot history was arranged in the central gallery: Amongst the articles which chiefly attracted the attention of visitors were the plate lent by the Directors of the French Hospital ( La Providence), the fine series of medals exhibited by Mr. A. G. Browning, V.P.;