Qnd S, No 22., May 31. ’56.] 
and 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. 
Kemble has mentioned in his introduction the 
omission of several which should have appeared in 
his collection, and their present owners or lo- 
cation. Who that has read The Saxons in Eng- 
lund 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 
student requires in reference to documents of this 
class ; but without some such medium (and which 
I heartily hope circulates amongst every literary 
antiquary) how shall we get hold of our_ma- 
terials ? J. P..0. 
Queries. 
EDWARD COLSTON, THE PHILANTHROPIST. 
In the Convocation books of the corporation of 
Wells are the following notices of Colston th 
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 
some definite information on the subject of his 
“‘oreat charity and benevolence” to the city of | 
Wells, the particulars of which are altogether 
unknown here. 
Colston was elected a burgess of Wells; and, as 
will be seen below, was soon after admitted into 
one of the seven trading companies of the city, 
which, by ancient custom, entitled him to vote in 
elections of Members of Parliament for the city. 
I have transcribed the following entries as they 
stand in the books: 
“22 April, 1707.—At this Conyocacdn Edward Col- 
ston, Esq., pursuant to a late power given him by this 
Ifouse, made choice to be a Member of the Woolcombers’ 
Company. ‘ 
“The same day the said Edward Colston, Esq., was 
admitted a Burgess of this City or Borough, having first 
taken the oaths and subscribed the underwritten De- 
claration ; — 
“JT 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 
Nealme against the known laws and liberties of this 
kingdome. 
“ Epwarp CotstTon. 
“At the same time the said Mr. Colston gave one 
dozen paire of gloves, according to the Custome of this 
Citty; which were distributed so far as they would goe 
amongst the Burgesses then present; and which, being 
not sufficient for each Burgess that then appeared to have 
a paire, the said deficiency was voluntarily made up by 
the said Mr. Colston, but not the fees of this House.” 
“20 June, 1709. — At this Convocation it was put to 
the vote of this House (Mr. Colston, Sen., being now at 
Bristoll), whether the thanks of this House for his late 
t Charity and Benefaction to this City should be sent 
im thither, and at the same time to give him an invita- 
I find that on Dec. 2, 1706, Mr. | 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
431 
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 reimburs2 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 us 
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 Sth 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 8.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 ? N.H.L. RB. 
Brighton, May 12, 
