Totnes, Feb. 6. 1850.
* * * * *{252}
_Christmas Hymn._--Your correspondent "E.V." (No. 13. p. 201.) asks for
the author of the Christmas Hymn--
"Hark! the Herald Angels sing."
I believe it to be the composition of the Rev. Charles Wesley, the
younger brother of the celebrated John Wesley: he was born in 1708, and
died in 1788. He was the author of many of the hymns in his brother's
collection, which are distinguished for their elegance and simplicity. I
am not able to find out, for certain, whether he had another name; if he
had, it was probably the occasion of the initials (J.C.W.) your
correspondent mentions.