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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. x. SEPT. 27, 1902.

Colensey (a name quite unknown to me). On the other hand, this legend is attributed before the O'Neill to the Magennis, who are said to have possessed a part of Ulster before them. Where is the truth 1 GEORGE.

Lisbon.

[Colonsay House is the seat of the M'Neills of Colonsay, an island off the coast of Argyllshire.]

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, ORIENTAL SCHOLAR. In the 'Journal of a Tour in the Highlands and Western Islands of Scotland in 1800,' by Dr. John Leyden, the celebrated Orientalist and poet, which I am preparing for publica- tion, Leyden writes :

"On the 5th [September, 1800] I crossed the Beauly and went along the shore to Red Castle in quest of my Sanscrit friend Mr. Hamilton."

I am strongly of opinion that the gentleman referred to was Alexander Hamilton, F.R.S., a celebrated Oriental scholar and Professor of Sanscrit and Hindu Literature at the East India College, Haileybury, who died at Liverpool in 1824, but should like to verify this if possible. Could any of your numerous readers help me ? JAMES SINTON.

Eastfield, Musselburgh.

" NEVER ASSERT WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW." Who is the author of the following admoni- tion ; and where, in the works of that author, does it occur? "Never assert what you do not know. You must not say, ' My brother has drunk too much wine.' You may say, ' My brother has drunk much wine.' "

HUGO MOELLER.

44, Broadway, New York.

BLACK FAST. In the 'Act Book of the Ecclesiastical Court of Whalley, 1510-1538,' just published by the Chetham Society, the following occurs :

"Elizabetha, Relicta Johannis Robynson de Newhethe, palam publice et in patulo asserebat se velle perficere vnum Jeiunium vocatum the black- ftast ad invocandam vindictam contra Edmundum Parker."

Halliwell, Murray, and other authorities describe a black fast as simply a rigid or severe fast. But did it not mean more than this 1 The woman above referred to kept her fast to call down vengeance on her enemy, and is it not probable that she invoked the aid of evil (or black) spirits ? I shall be glad of an early reference to this form of fasting. I may add that the woman denied the charge and was ordered to purge herself by the oath of five neighbours besides her own.

HENRY FISH WICK.

SIR. PATRIC CLAUD EWINS, BART. This gentleman died apparently in February, 1807.

The Newcastle Chronicle contained the fol- lowing :

" Lately, near Wooler, in Northumberland, aged 87, Sir Patric Claud Ewins, Bart., who formerly married Signora Centucci, a Neapolitan lady, by whom he had issue an only son, born at Eagle Hall, Somerset. This son marrying without his father's consent, the latter formed the resolution, and did dispose of all his estates, and invested the whole produce thereof in the public funds, and withdrew into very humble retirement about 40 years since, leaving his son (since deceased) the scanty pittance of 40. a year only, and whom he never afterward could be prevailed upon to be reconciled to or see. The deceased, it appears, made many wills, and by the last, after giving in legacies about 40,000., bequeathed the residue of his immense property (exceeding, it is said, 300,OOOZ. sterling) to a distant relation at Newry, in Ireland, who dying but a short time before the testator, the title and the whole residue of this splendid fortune devolved by lapse to Mr. James Ewins (now Sir James Ewins, Bart.), the testator's grandson, of Newport, Mon- mouthshire, perfumer, a man of unblemished cha- racter, probity, and integrity, with a large family of children."

An obituary appears also in the Gentle- man's Magazine, June, 1807. I can find no trace of the title. Can any correspondent assist me 1 A. E. E.

JONESES OF BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY. Can any of your readers give me information re the following ?

1. The family pedigree or any account of Benjamin Jones, Mayor of Beaumaris in 1675.

2. The pedigree or any account of the ancestors of Hugh Jones, Trosyravon, Beau- maris, estate agent to Lord Bulkeley. He died in 1776, leaving most of his landed estate to his son, J. Jones, Bodednyfed, Amlwch.

3. The pedigree of Humphrey Jones, Henry Jones, and "Col." Hugh Jones, all of Beau- maris or Llangoed, living in the early part of the eighteenth century.

4. Did any of the Jones family marry any relation or heir to the Vaughans of Trosyr- avon ? CYMRO.

WADHAM FAMILY. Any proof that the Rev. Simon Ford, D.D., 1619-99, who mar- ried Anne Thackham, Martha Stamp, and two more wives, was any relation to Nicholas Wadham will oblige. I believe his daughters Mary, Anne, and Rebecca were all born at Reading, 1652, 1654, 1657 (1). I have a copy of his sermons, 1657. A. C. H.

EDWARD PIGOTT, ASTRONOMER. I am desirous of knowing the date of the death of this astronomer, which probably occurred at Bath in the first or second decade of the nineteenth century. His father, Nathaniel Pigott, was also distinguished in astronomy.