It is noteworthy that three generations of the same family were named Thomas Arne. The Bishop of London granted a marriage licence on February 4, 1680, to “Thomas Arne of St. Paul's Covent Garden, Bachelor, 27 and upwards, and Mary Thursfield of St. Martin's in Fields, Spinster 20, with her father's consent at St. Peter's Cornhill, or elsewhere in Diocese.” These were the grandparents of the composer. The register of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, records on December 30, 1682, the baptism of “Thomas, Son of Thomas Arne by Mary his wife.” This was the father of the composer. In April, 1707, he married Ann Wheeler at the Mercers' Chapel, Cheapside, and three years afterward the son was born who became the celebrated musician. The baptismal register of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, contains this entry, dated May 28, 1710, “Thomas, Son of Thomas Arne by Ann his wife.” I can find no contemporary evidence of the day of his birth; but March 12 is the traditionary date which has met with general acceptance. We may note that Arne received only one Christian name at his baptism, Thomas; when and why he adopted the second name Augustine we can only surmise. Probably it was done to distinguish him from his father and grandfather. It has been suggested that he may have assumed the name Augustine when he joined the Roman Catholic Church. I have made diligent inquiry, at the Sardinian Chapel and elsewhere, and have failed to find any evidence of this. An autograph letter of Dr. Bumey in my possession says that “old Mrs. Arne, the mother of Dr. Arne, was a bigotted Roman Catholic.” Doubtless she instructed her son in the tenets of her church; but it is noteworthy that the burial register of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, on the north side of which church the composer was interred, gives his name Thomas Arne.