. 'Twas then
commonly said that the college held some lands by the custom of
salting; but having never since examined it, I know not how to
account for it. One would think, at first view, considering the
foundation was designed for a nursery of the Christian religion,
and has not been in being much above 250 years, that it is not
likely any remains of the Gentiles, relating to their
sacrifices, should in so public a manner be suffered in it;
however, I cannot but own with those that understand anything of
antiquity, that the Christians very early assumed some rites of
the heathens; and probably it might be done with this
design,--that the nations, seeing a religion which in its
outward shape was something like their own, might be the sooner
pursuaded to embrace it. To be free, sir, with you, I am apt to
believe, for the honour of that society of which I was once an
unworthy member, that the annual custom of salting alludes to
that saying of our Saviour to His disciples, '_Ye are the salt
of the earth_;' for as salt draws up all that matter that tends
to putrefaction, so it is a symbol of our doing the like in a
spiritual state, by taking away all natural corruption.... If
this will not please, why may it not denote that wit and
knowledge by which boys dedicated to learning ought to
distinguish themselves. You know what _sal_ sometimes signifies
among the best Roman authors: _Publius Scipio omnes sale
facetiisque superabat_, Cic.; and Terent, _Qui habet salem qui
in te est_."

The Editor has a note on this letter:--

"There have been various conjectures relative to the origin of
this custom. Some have supposed that it arose from an ancient
practice among the friars of selling consecrated salt and
others, with more probability, from the ceremony of the _bairn_
or _boy_-bishop, as it is said to have been formerly a part of
the Montem-celebration for prayers to be read by a boy dressed
in the clerical habit."

A letter from Dr. Tanner to Mr. Hearne on _Barne_ or _Boy-bishops_, is
in vol. i., p. 302.

2. _The Turkish Spy_ (Vol. i., p. 324.; vol. ii., p. 12.).--The letter
or the authorship of this work quoted by DR. RIMBAULT from the Bodleian
MSS., is printed in vol. i. p. 233.; and I observe that DR. R. has
incorporated in his communication the Editor's note on the passage.

3. _Dr. Dee_ (Vo