Brooke’s Club, St. James’s Street, Feb. 18. 1850.

“The Female Captive:  a Narrative of Facts which happened in Barbary in the Year 1756.  Written by herself." 2 vols. 12 mo.  Lond. 1769.—­Sir William Musgrave has written this note in the copy which is now in the library of the British Museum:—­

“This is a true story.  The lady’s maiden name was Marsh.  She married Mr. Crisp, as related in the narrative; but he, having failed in business, went to India, when she remained with her father, then Agent Victualler, at Chatham, during which she wrote and published these little volumes.  On her husband’s success in India, she went thither to him.

    “The book, having, as it is said, been bought up by the lady’s
    friends, is become very scarce.”

Can any of your readers furnish a further account of this lady?

Parliamentary Writs.—­It is stated in Duncumb’s History of Herefordshire, 1. 154. that “the writs, indentures, and returns, from 17 Edw.  IV. to 1 Edw.  VI., are all lost throughout England, except one imperfect bundle, 33rd Hen.  VIII.”  This book was published in 1803.  Have the researches since that time in the Record Offices supplied this hiatus; and if so, in which department of it are these documents to be found?

W.H.C. 
Temple.

Portraits in the British Museum.—­I have often wished to inquire, but knew not where till your publication met my notice, as to the portraits in the British Museum, which are at present hung so high above beasts and birds, and everything else, that it requires better eyes than most people possess to discern their features.  I should suppose {306} that if they were not originals and of value, they would not have been lodged in the Museum, and if they are, why not appropriate a room to them, where they might be seen to advantage, by those who take pleasure in such representations of the celebrated persons of former days?  Any information on this subject will be gratefully received.

L.O.

* * * * *

REPLIES.

COLLEGE SALTING.

In reply to the query of the Rev. Dr. Maitland (No. 17. p. 261.), I would remark, that Salting was the ceremony of initiating a freshman into the company of senior students or sophisters.  This appears very clearly from a passage in the Life of Anthony a Wood (ed. 1771, pp. 45-50.).  Anthony a Wood was matriculated in the University of Oxford, 26th May, 1647, and on the 18th of October “he was entered into the Buttery-Book of Merton College.”  At various periods, from All Saints till Candlemas, “there were Fires of Charcole made in the Common hall.”