I well remember Single-speech Hamilton, who was a fried of the family, dining with my father when I was a little boy; and I still retain the impression of his having been a tall and thin old gentleman, very much out of health. He left a treatise called _Parliamentary Logick_, published in 1808. The brief memoir of the author prefixed to the work, makes no mention of him as a member of the House of Hamilton; but it is said that he derived his name of Gerard from his god-mother Elizabeth, daughter of Digby, Lord Gerard of Bromley, widow of James, fourth Duke of Hamilton, who fell in the duel with Lord Mohun, which looks as if some affinity was recognised. {334} The same authority tells us that William Gerard Hamilton was the only child of a Scotch advocate, William Hamilton, by Hannah Hay, one of the sisters of David Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller; and that he removed to London, and practised with some reputation at the English bar. Mr. W. G. Hamilton died, unmarried, in July, 1796, æt. sixty-eight. BRAYBROOKE. TEE BEE has, by his Queries about Sir W. Hamilton, recalled some most painful reminiscences connected with our great naval hero. According to the statement in the _New General Biographical Dictionary_, Sir William Hamilton was married to _his first wife_ in the year 1755; but although it is asserted that she brought her husband 5000l. a-year, her name is not given. She died in 1782, and in 1791 "he married Emma Harte, the fascinating, mischievous, and worthless Lady Hamilton." Pettigrew, in his _Memoirs of Nelson_, says, that this marriage took place at St. George's, Hanover Square, _on the 6th of September_, 1791. TEE BEE will find a full account of Lady H. in the above-mentioned work of Pettigrew. F. S. B. * * * * * THE WOOD OF THE CROSS. (Vol. vii., p. 177.) I never heard of our Lord's cross having been made of _elder_ wood. The common idea, legend, or tradition, that prevailed formerly was, that the upright beam of the cross was made of _cedar_, the cross-beam of _cypress_, the piece on which the inscription was written of _olive_, and the piece for the feet of palm.