ty. Taking as he does a deep and enthusiastic
interest in the past history of Cremonese art, he spared no effort to
obtain for me all the information possible. To him I am also indebted
for the contents of the correspondence relative to the purchase, by
Count Cozio di Salabue, of the tools used by Antonio Stradivari, and
for the same having been placed at my disposal by the Marquis dalla
Valle. In making these acknowledgments, I desire to tender Signor
Sacchi my warmest thanks for the interest he has taken in my
undertaking.[2]

[Footnote 1: Signor Sacchi is the author of--

1. "Cenni sulla vita e le opere di Agostino Aglio pittor Cremonese."
Cremona, 1868. 8vo.

2. "Notizie pittoriche Cremonesi." Cremona, 1872. 4to.

3. "I Tipografi Ebrei di Soncino." Cremona, 1877. 4to.

4. "Annali Tipografici della Cittae provincia di Cremona,"

and many other memoirs on Cremonese printers and painters.]

[Footnote 2: Signor Sacchi died in 1902.--ED.]

The Section containing the Anecdotes has been recruited by additional
Miscellanea, including "Hudibras and the Champion Crowdero." In
placing this piece of wit and humour before my readers, I have
endeavoured to do so in a form as connected as possible, by the
selection of passages likely to conduce to that end, without
trespassing too much on space, and on the reader's patience.

I am indebted to Mr. G. D. Bishopp for the table containing the amount
of tension of Violin strings, and their downward pressure. The
information therein contained will doubtless be acceptable to many of
my readers.

I owe to M. le Chevalier Kraus, of Florence, the pleasure of including
among the engravings those of the instruments made by Antonio
Stradivari for the Grand Duke of Florence, he having obtained for me
the necessary photographs.

In conclusion, I have to thank my young friend Mr. Allan Fea for the
two illustrations forming the head and tail pieces to "Hudibras and
the Champion Crowdero."

28, _Wardour Street, London_, 1884.

PREFATORY NOTE BY THE EDITORS

Pending the completion of a more costly revised version of the late
Mr. Hart's work, the editors, in compliance with what seems to be a
widespread public desire, have decided to reprint the volume, as
issued in popular form and finally corrected by the author in 1887,
but with additions and certain emendations desirable in order to bring
it into accord with the present state of knowledge, and to enhance its
value as a