Christian Captives (No. 27. p. 441.).—As a very small contribution towards an answer to "R.W.B.'s" inquiry, I may inform you that Lady Russell mentions in her Letters (p. 338., ed. 1792) that Sir William Coventry left by his will 3000l. to redeem slaves.
C.H.
Christian Captives (No. 27. p. 441.).—"R.W.B." may be referred to the case of "Attorney-General v. the Ironmongers' Company," which was a suit for the administration of a fund bequeathed for the redemption of the captives. See 2 Mylne & Keen, 576.; 2 Beavan, 313., 10 Beavan, 194.; and 1 Craig & Philips, 208.: all of which I mention to be Reports in Chancery, in case he be not a lawyer.
A.J.H.
Ecclesiastical Year (No. 24. p. 381.).—"NATHAN" is informed, that, according to the legal supputation, until A.D. 1752, the year of Our Lord in that part of Great Britain called England, began on the 25th day of March, as he will find stated in the 24 Geo. II. c. 23., by which Act it was enacted, that the 1st day of January next following the last day of December, 1751, should be the first day of the year 1752; and that the 1st day of January in every year in time to come should be the first day of the year.
Philippe de Thaun, in his Livre des Créatures, which was written in the first half of the twelfth century, p. 48. of the edition published for the Historical Society of Science, has some remarks which may interest your correspondent, that are thus literally translated by Mr. Wright:—
"In March, the year ought always to begin,
According to that explanation which we find in the book,