3 NOVEMBER 1944, Page 4

The B.B.C. (through no fault of its own) sent an

odd mis-statement over the air on Sunday evening. The community singing of hymns, at to o'clock in the Forces' programme, is something that I, at any rate, enjoy listening to. But last Sunday that fine hymn " City of God, how broad and far " was introduced with the explanation that it was by the great Dr. Samuel Johnson, known best to some through his dictionary, by others as a great talker. The hymn unfortunately is (as the undergraduate wrote of the so-called second Isaiah) by another gentleman of the same name. The other gentleman was, I believe, an 'American, and his date was 1822-I882. Johnson the Great wrote some impressive prayers,' but not, I think, any hymns.