166 Intelligence and Miscellanies. 
I also knew that, towards the close of the last century, the 
Antiquarian Society of England had been permitted to open 
and examine the stone coffin deposited in one of the vaults of 
Westminster Abbey, and said to contain the body of King Ed- 
ward I, who died in July, 1307. On removing the stone lid of 
the coffin, its contents were found to be closely enveloped ina 
strong linen cloth, waxed. Within this envelope were found 
splendid robes of silk, enriched with various ornaments cover- 
ing the body, which was found to be entire, and to have been 
wrapped carefully in all its parts, even to each separate fin- 
ger, in bandages of fine linen, which has been dipped in mel- 
ted wax ; sud not only was the body not decomposed, but 
the various parts of the dress, such asa scarlet satin mantle, 
and a scarlet piece of sarsnet which was placed over the face, 
were in perfect preservation even to their colors. The knowl- 
edge of these facts persuaded me that wax, applied to the 
back of the paintings, would form the best defence, hither- 
to known to exist, against the destructive effects of damp 
and stagnant air; and therefore, 
2dly. Common beeswax was melted over the fire with an 
equal quantity (in bulk) of oil of turpentine; and this mix- 
ture, by the help of large brushes, was applied hot to the 
ack of each cloth, and was afterwards rubbed in with hot 
irons, until the cloths were perfectly saturated. 
. Inthe mean time, the niches in the solid wall, in which 
the paintings are placed, were carefully plastered with hydrau- 
lic cement, to prevent any possible exudation of moisture from 
the wall; and as there isa space from two to eight inches 
deep between the surface of the wall and the back of the 
pannels on which the cloths are strained, I caused small open- 
ings to be cut in the wall, above and under the edge of the 
frames, and communicating with those vacant spaces, for 
the purpose of admitting the air of the room behind the pain- 
tings and thus keeping up a constant ventilation, by means 
of which the same temperature of air willbe maintained at 
the back of the paintings as on their face. 
thly. The cloths were finally strained upon pannels, for 
the purpose of guarding against injury from careless or inten- 
tional blows of sticks, canes, &c. or children’s missiles. These 
pannels are perforated with many holes, to admit the air 
freely to the back of the cloths; and being perfectly dried, 
were carefully painted, to prevent the wood from absorbin 
or transmitting any humidity. The whole were then restored 
