The origin of the quarrel between this old worthy and Renatus Harris arose, probably, through the famous contest, or "battle of the organs" as it was termed, at the Temple Church, in which, as is well-known, the former gained the day. That a bitter enmity afterwards existed between these two builders, we may infer from the documents I am now about to produce for the first time. But first, of the circumstances connected with the dispute concerning the Temple organ.
When engaged in collecting materials for my notice of Father Smith, I was very desirous of obtaining some authentic particulars concerning this memorable dispute from the books of the Societies of the Temple; but, after several interviews with the Treasurer and other authorities, I was told that nothing could be discovered among the records—the matter was evidently of too trivial a nature to induce the slightest research. This is now the less to be regretted, since a gentleman connected with the Temple, Edmund Macrory, Esq., M.A., has succeeded in bringing to light the documents that I was in search of, and has given them to the world in a charming little brochure, entitled, "A Few Notes on the Temple Organ."[1] From the new
- ↑ First printed (anonymously) "at the private press of Duncairn," 1859; and afterwards, with fresh documentary matter, by Bell & Daldy, 1861. Both editions are charming little quartos of true Roxburgh-like appearance.
