Humbug—Ambages (Vol. viii., p. 64.).—May I be permitted to inform your correspondent that Mr. May was certainly correct when using the word "ambages" as an English word in his translation of Lucan.
In Howell's Dictionary, published in London in May 1660, I find it thus recorded
"Ambages, or circumstances."
"Full of ambages."
W. W.
Malta.
"Going to Old Weston" (Vol. iii., p. 449.).—In turning over the pages of the third volume of "N. & Q." recently, I stumbled on Arun's notice of the above proverb. It immediately struck me that I had heard it used myself a few days before, without being conscious at the time of the similarity of the expression. I was asking an old man, who had been absent from home, where he had been to? His reply was, "To Old Weston, Sir. You know I must go there before I die." Knowing that he had relatives living there, I did not, at the time, notice anything extraordinary in the answer; but, since reading Arun's note, I have made some inquires, and find the saying is a common one on this (the Northamptonshire) side of Old Weston, as well as in Huntingdonshire. I have been unable to obtain any explanation of it, but think the one suggested by your correspondent must be right. One of my informants (an old woman upwards of seventy) told me she had often heard it used, and wondered what could be its meaning, when she was a child.
W. W.
B—— Rectory, Northamptonshire.
Reynolds's Nephew (Vol. viii., p. 102.).—I think I can certify A. Z. that two distinct branches of the Palmer family, the Deans, and another claiming like kindred to Sir Joshua Reynolds, still exist; from which I conclude that Sir Joshua had at least two nephews of that name. I regret that I cannot inform your correspondent as to the authorship of the piece about which he inquires; but, in the event of A. Z. not receiving a satisfactory answer to his Query through the medium of our publication, if he will furnish me with any farther particulars he may possess on the subject, I shall be happy to try what I can do towards possessing him with the desired information.