And 3rd. How is it to be done?

Now the first two of these questions are so well answered at a glance by the tabulated form prepared by Mr. Troyte, in his work on change ringing, and by other books, and are so easily computed by the method of calculation as is shown a few lines back, and reckoning either 20, 24, or 28 changes per minute, as may be deemed most convenient to the performer; so that all that is left for such a work as this is to answer in a very simple way, the third question—How to do it?

Change ringing on bells, then, is to be accomplished just as all other arts or studies, not by seeking to take the monitor’s place at first, but by taking the lowest place on the lowest form, and by giving attention to every lesson or hint that can be gathered from others, commencing as with the alphabet, and then proceeding to spell or to compose. And for this there can be no better plan than to note upon paper the changes which may be made with from 2 to 4 bells, assuming that one, which may be represented by a cross, star, or other mark, is the bell which the student takes to move, vary, or change. Whether he takes the position of 1, 2, or any other number, No. 1, in a ring of church bells, is always that with the highest note, and in this way it will be plain, first, to presume that there are 2 bells, and the reader takes the second, upon which there are, as he knows already as shown, but two changes; he will write thus—

Hand stroke1.×—H. S.×.1
Back stroke×.1—B. S.1.×

and then, when in the tower, try it on the actual bells. On no account, however, run out of time, and jangle or clatter them, as some are endeavouring purposely to do, à la Rome, in the present day. Then sit down, write out and commit to memory the changes on 3 bells, still assuming that No. 2 bell is in hand, thus:—

Exercise 2.
H. S.1.×.3H. S.3.×.1
B. S.1.×.3B. S.3.1.×
H. S.×.1.3H. S.1.3.×
B. S.×.3.1B. S.1.×.3

This will be seen is easy to write and easy to remember, as Mr. Troyte shows the method or order to be to always change places at every move, variation, or round after starting with the one who struck after you in the previous move. Thus No. 1 was first followed by X, then 1 takes X’s place, 1 is then followed by 3, consequently 1 immediately changes place with 3 and goes to the bottom or behind, X being at that time in the original place of 1, or at the lead, she changes in with 3, and is followed by 1; X now being the changing bell, takes the place of 1, and comes to the bottom or behind, 3 being at the lead; 3 then begins to change as the others did, and so the peal comes round. The moving bells are said in this to be hunting, which holds good in whichever order the moves are made, either up or down. Then the six changes might be written, learnt, and tried in the other form, thus:—

Exercise 3.
H. S.1.×.3H. S.3.×.1
B. S.1.×.3B. S.×.3.1
H. S.1.3.×H. S.×.1.3
B. S.3.1.×B. S.1.×.3

This will be seen to be what is referred to, and known as hunting down and up; the last bell here takes the position of the one before it, until it comes to the top or lead, and then returns to its original position, striking in after the one who struck next following in the preceding move. Now, this hunting up and down is the basis of all change ringing, and should be practised in just the same way upon 4, 5, 6, or 8 bells before any other method be tried; in fact it would be well for any young ringers to thoroughly master the method of hunting, upon either musical hand bells or church bells, beginning with the 6 changes on 3 bells, and become proficient in these before 4 be attempted, and when hunting on 4 be mastered, try 5, and so on, progressing to 8 in hunting alone. Of course, when the musical hand bells are used, it will be well to take but one in the right hand and strike either at hand or back stroke, as would be done upon the larger bells in the belfry in ringing; the hand stroke on the musical hand bells being up and the back stroke being down. It would be also well to change places from time to time, not always taking No. 1 or No. 2 position, but changing positions and bells with your friends, at times taking No. 4, 6, 8, or otherwise, but in the tower take the one or other most suited to the strength of the student. This method of changing or hunting is supposed to be that which was first discovered, and, without doubt, is the easiest for any beginner, as also it is the safe and sure road to the other methods of changing. Our advice is, go slowly but surely, and so progress and succeed.

Such being the case, and such advice being followed, in order to introduce another bell for practice, the easiest plan to adopt is to work out the same changes as has been previously given for three bells, and to place the fourth bell to strike last in each move, thus:—