quiry. One is a Chartulary of the Abbey of Fountains, in 4to; another
is an Act Book of the Consistory Court of York, in the fifteenth
century, in folio; the third is the Chapter Book of the Collegiate
Church of Ripon, from 1452 to 1506; the fourth contains Extracts and
Manuscripts from Records relating to the Church of Ripon; and the last
is apparently a Book of the Acts of the Benefactors to that foundation.
In a letter to Humphrey Lawley, dated in 1713, Dr. Todd says he was
engaged in a work relating to the province of York, and the greater part
of the MSS. in the catalogue above mentioned appear to have been
collected as the materials.

JOHN RICHARD WALBRAN.

Falcroft, Ripon, Jan 31. 1850.

_French Leave_--In No. 5. I perceive several answers to the query
respecting _Flemish Account_, which I presume to be the same as _Dutch
Account_. Can you inform me how the very common expression _French
Leave_ originated?

W.G.B.

_Portugal_.--Can any of your geographical readers inform me if a
Gazetteer of Portugal has been published within these twenty years? If
there has been one, in what language, and where published? Information
of the title of any good modern works on Portugal, giving an account of
the minor places, would be acceptable.

NORTHMAN.

_Tureen_--How and whence is the term "tureen" derived?--and when was it
introduced?

"At the top there was tripe in a swinging tureen."

Goldsmith's _Haunch of Venison_.

G.W.

_Military Execution_.--I am very anxious to be referred to the authority
for the following anecdote, and remark made on it:--

"Some officer, or state prisoner, on being led out to be shot,
refused either to listen to a confessor, or to cover his eyes with
a handkerchief."

The remark was, that "he refused a bandage for either mind or body." It
smacks somewhat of Voltaire.

MELANION.

_Change of Name_.--If, as it appears by a recent decision, based,
perhaps, on a former one by Lord Tenterden, that a man may alter his
name {247} as he pleases _without the royal license_, I wish to know
what then, is the use of the royal license?

B.

_The Symbolism of the Fir-Cone_. What does the "fir-cone" in the
Ninevite sculptures mean? Layard does not explain it. Is it there as the
emblem of fecundity, as the pomegranate of Persia and Syria? Has it
altogether the same character as the latter fruit? Then--was it carried
into Hindostan _via_ Cashmir? When? By the fi