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, 1 307. On removing the stone lid of 

 the coffin, its contents were found to be closely enveloped in a 

 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 finehnen, which has been dipped m mel- 

 ted wax ; and not only was the body not deconiposed, but 

 the various parts of the dress, such as a 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 

 back of each cloth, and was afterwards rubbed in with hot 

 irons, until the cloths were perfectly saturated. 



3dly. In the 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 is a 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 will be maintained at 

 the back of the paintings as on their face. 



4thly, 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 absorbing 

 or transmitting any humidity. The whole were then restored 



