Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/439

 2"' 1 S. N 22., MAY 31. '56.]

NOTES AND QUEKIES.

431

jmd collegiate libraries, which a hasty search has overlooked, or indolence passed by, as also in the archives of our cities and boroughs. In fact, Mr. Kernble has mentioned in his introduction the "mission of several which should have appeared in his collection, and their present owners or lo- rution. Who that has read The Saxons in Eng- land can for a moment doubt their great historical value ?

It need scarcely be added that the publication in " N. & Q." will not do all that the historical ftudent requires in reference to documents of this rlass ; but without some such medium (and which 1 heartily hope circulates amongst every literary untiquary) how shall we get hold of our ma- terials ? J. P. O.

EDWARD COLSTON, THE PHILANTHROPIST.

In the Convocation books of the corporation of Wells are the following notices of Colston the philanthropist, to which I shall be glad to give early publicity in the pages of "N. & Q.," in the earnest hope that I may be enabled to obtain pome definite information on the subject of his "great charity and benevolence" to the city of WeUs, the particulars of which are altogether unknown here. I find that on Dec. 2, 1706, Mr. Colston was elected a burgess of Wells ; and, as will be seen below, was soon after admitted into me of the seven trading companies of the city, vhich, by ancient custom, entitled him to vote in i lections of Members of Parliament for the city. J have transcribed the following entries as they ttand in the books :

" 22 April, 1707. At this Convocacon Edward Col- f-ton, Esq., pursuant to a late power given him by this 3 louse, made choice to be a Member of the Woolcoinbers' Company.

' The same day the said Edward Colston, Esq., was ailmitted a Burgess of this City or Borough, having first taken the oaths and subscribed the underwritten De- claration :

" I doe declare that there lies no obligation on me, or on any other person, from the oath commonly called The .Solemn League and Covenant ; ' and that the same is in itselfe an unlawfull oath, imposed on the subjects of this Jtealme against the known laws and liberties of this fcingdome.

" EDWARD COLSTON.

" At the same time the said Mr. Colston gave one dozen paire of gloves, according to the Custome of this (Jitty; which were distributed so far as they would goe
 * imongst the Burgesses then present ; and which, being

not sufficient for each Burgess that then appeared to have 1he said Mr. Colston, but not the fees of this House."
 * i paire, the said deficiency was voluntarily made up bv

" 20 June, 1709. At this Convocation it was put to the vote- of this House (Mr. Colston, Sen., being now at Jiristoll), whether the thanks of this House for his late jfreat Charity and Benefaction to this City should be sent him thither, and at the same time to give him an invita-

tion to this City; and also to give him the offer of being made a Freeman and Burgess hereof or not; And it passed in the affirmative, and at the same time this House made their request to Mr. Recorder to make a Journey to Bristol for the purpose aforesaid, and promised to reimburse him the charges and expenses thereof."

That this " great charity and benevolence" was of considerable value, is evidenced by the fact that the Recorder was deputed by the corpora- tion to make a special journey to Bristol to invite Mr. Colston to Wells, and to offer him the free- dom of the city. INA.

THE WEATHER.

Among" the numerous contributors to " N. & Q." I hope there is one, if not many, who, by long experience and recorded observations, can tell tis something about the late extraordinary weather. Has any parallel case occurred, say during the last thirty years, to that of last week ? During six days in succession there was a strong gale from the N.E., varying occasionally for an hour or two in force and direction, and then returning with still greater violence. The gale commenced on the 5th instant, with a falling barometer, which reached its minimum depression (28'93) on the evening of Wednesday the 7th. On that day the wind and rain and the heavy clouds were more like those of November than May, and the tem- perature was 42. On Thursday the 8th the mer- cury rose rapidly, but the wind continued to blow as fiercely as ever. On Friday the mercury had risen very nearly one inch (29'92), and then began to recede. From that time the gale gradually abated. On Saturday the temperature rose to 56. In the evening there were some thunder clouds upon the horizon, but they passed away ; it then fell calm, and the wind changed to S. and S.W. On Sunday the wind was again at N.E., but blew very gently. There were fine hours of bright sunshine, the temperature was 70, and the wind again changed to S.W. ; in the night it re- turned to the old quarter (N.E.), but has now changed again to S.W., with a maximum tempe- rature of 63. For the first time for more than ten days we have a moist atmosphere.

From my own observations, extending over a period of more than thirty years, I am impressed with the wonderful changes during the last five years as respects the duration of E. and N. E. winds, and compared with anterior periods. For- merly we used to reckon upon the prevalence of S.W. winds during more than nine months in every year. Latterly the prevailing winds have been from the opposite quarter. Can any more careful observers supply accurate information on what appears to be an important question in sea- sonal meteorology ? $". H. L. 11.

Brighton, May 12.