412 
1770, or at all events during the early part of the 
reion of George III., may I pause for a reply as to 
when it was discontinued ? 
“Jn the case of such as at their trial refuse to plead 
guilty or not guilty, the prisoner is laid upon his back, 
and his arms and legs being extended with cords, and a 
considerable weight laid upon his breast, he is allowed 
only three morsels of barley--bread, which is given him 
the next day without drink, after which he is allowed 
nothing but foul water until he expires, ‘This punish- 
ment is, however, seldom inflicted; but some offenders 
have chose it in order to preserve their estates for their 
children. Those guilty of this crime are not now suffered 
to undergo such a length of torture, but have so great a 
weight placed on them that they soon expire.” 
_ BR. W. Hackwoon. 
Personage referred to by Pascal. — 
“ Would any have thought that a man who aujeyed 
the friendship of the kings of England and Poland, and 
the queen of Sweden, should at length have wanted a 
safe retreat, a shelter, and asylum in the world?” — 
Pascal’s Thoughts, Edinburgh, 1751, p. 155. 
Who is the individual referred to in the 
above ?* G.N. 
Submarine Duel: —Some years ago, when Mr. 
Deane and his corps of divers were employed in 
clearing the wreck of the “ Royal George” from 
the anchorage at Spithead, two privates in the 
Sappers and Miners at work under water, squab- 
bled and had a set-to in the briny deep: one of 
them succeeded in breaking a window in his an- 
tagonist’s helmet, and the unfortunate diver was 
dragged up to the surface half drowned. I shall 
be much obliged to any engineer or marine officer 
who is well acquainted with the circumstance, to 
give particulars as to the date, depth of water, 
name of the men, the occasion of the quarrel, and 
moreover, if they were brought to a court-martial. 
Formerly terrestrial duels were of frequent oc- 
currence, but if this “affair of honour” really 
happened, such a submarine duel ought to be 
chronicled in “N. & Q.,” and might be added to 
the list of theseven wonders of the world ! 
CrnTuRION. 
Atheneum Club, 
“ Elucidarium.” —I have a MS. volume in 
small 4to., which is, according to the note of a 
former owner, of the twelfth century; and from 
the consistency of the vellum, and the character 
(abounding in contractions), probably may be so. 
It is entitled Hlucidarium, and is in three books, 
in the form of a dialogue between Magister et 
Discipulus, commencing thus : 
“Tncipit Prologus in libros elucidarii. Szpius rogatus 
a condiscipulis quasdam questiunculas enodare: impor- 
tunitati illorum non fuit facultas negando obviare. Pre- 
(* It may help to the solution of this Query to state 
that the reference of Pascal is to the contemporary sove~ 
reigns Charles I. of England, John Casimir of Poland, and 
Christina, Queen of Sweden. | 
* 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
[2nd §, NOt, May 24, °56, 
sertim metuens illo eulogio multari: si creditum talentum 
mallem intra silendo occultari.” 
This rhyming, however, from which Dean Swift 
might have borrowed the idea of his own ludicrous 
long measure, does not extend beyond the pro- 
logue, the dialogue being carried on in sober 
prose. 
I shall be much obliged to any reader of “N. 
& Q.” for accurate information respecting the 
medieval abridgments of theology called Eluci- 
daria, or Libri Elucidarii, of which there are, I 
believe, several extant, one being attributed to’ 
St. Anselm. PHiLoBrs.os. 
Prebends of Stow Longa, §&c.—I shall be 
obliged by information, which may be briefly 
given, when and by whom the Prebend of Stow 
Longa in the cathedral church of Lincoln was 
founded, of what the endowment consisted, and 
where the deed of foundation, or a copy, may be 
seen 
Also for similar particulars with respect to the 
prebends of Leighton Bromswold Ecclesia, and 
Spaldwick alias Sancte Crucis, in the same ca- 
thedral. SToKE. 
Glycerine for Naturalists. —In a newspaper 
article on glycerine, which I read a few weeks 
ago, it was stated, among other important pro- 
perties, that glycerine was the best means known 
for preserving specimens in natural history, ena- 
bling the objects to retain even their natural 
colour. I have lately been experimenting with 
this substance on Actinias, Molluscs, &c., but very 
unsuccessfully: the objects have decayed very 
rapidly in the glycerine. 
Can any readers of “ N. & Q.” explain this, or 
instruct me in the mode of using the above? Or 
can they furnish me with any other method of 
attaining the same end ? 
Goadley’s recipes I am acquainted with. 
I. M. 4. 
Churches under Sequestration. — In the time of 
the Commonwealth I find certain churches, or 
chancels of churches, repaired at the expense of 
the sequestrators. Can any of your readers refer 
me to the act which gave power to the Committee 
of Sequestrations to expend money for this pur- 
pose ? J. A. 
Medals of the British Army. — Everything con- 
nected with the army of England is now an object 
of interest to all, and the fact of her soldiers 
having acquired a new decoration for the Crimea 
does not supersede the value of respect for pre- 
vious honours. Some time has now elapsed since 
the Peninsular war and naval medals were 
granted, and perhaps there are no instances of the 
possessors of either wearing similar clasps or bars. 
I hope that through your valuable pages we may 
