THE SEARCH FOR ANCESTORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18016, 29 November 1926, Page 3

THE SEARCH FOR ANCESTORS.

WHERE AMERICANS GO TO IN LONDON. (Special to the “ Star. ”) LONDON, October 4. Americans have found in London a treasure-house of history little known, and even less appreciated, by Britons. It is the museum of the Public Record Office, off Chancery Lane, . W.C., where are to be seen documents which have figured in English histor3’ from the time of the Norman Conquest. A new edition of the catalogue of the manuscripts and other objects in the museum has just been issued, and can be obtained, price Is, either from the Record Office or from the Stationery Office, of which a branch is at Adastral House, Kingswav, W.C. Doomsday Book is, of course, the exhibit for which every American makes —hoping, perhaps, that somewhere therein will be found the name of someone whom he may dub “ ancestor.” Letters of kings and queens abound, while coming to more recent times there is a letter from Admiral Viscount Howe to Philp Stephens at the Admiralty, informing him that the Royal George had “suddenly overset, filled and sunk,” the episode in the history of the British Navy which inspired Cowper's lines, “Toll for the brave! The brave that are no more!” Then there is a letter signed “ Horatio Nelson,” asking permission to go on shore and recover from his wounds. It was one of the first letters Nelson ■ wrote after the loss of his right arm in 1 the unsuccessful attack on Santa Cruz in July, 1,797. There is the warrant of James I. ordering the issue of letters patent authorising the King’s servants, William Shakespeare and his associates, to play “ comedies, tragedies, histories, enterludes, moralles, pastoralles, stage plaies ” and the like for the recreation of the King’s loving subjects.

Bogus Peer and “ Villa for the Prince.” Travelling under the name of “ Lord Ashton ” and declaring that he was acting for the Prince of Wales, a young man who spoke French and English fluently is being searched for by the French police. He first appeared at Perpignan, in the Pyrenees, and in the course of alleged negotiations for a villa for the Prince made the acquaintance of &everal notable people in the district, including Senator Pams. He travelled in a motor-car and was everywhere well received. One day a French officer. Colonel Blachere, was struck by the resemblance betwtthe supposed “ Lord Ashton ” and man he had formerly seen between t' gendarmes in the occupied region. T. colonel informed the prefect, but bogus lord had already disappeared, lie took train to Paris, stole 500 francs from a Spanish priest who occupied the same compartment, and has not since been heard of.