Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/516

 540 NOTES AND QUERIES. in other words, whether the Governor could legally order torture with a view to obtain a confession and information as to the robbery. The argument on the special verdict was heard in 1810. The Court took time to consider its judgment, and the defendant's recognizances were respited from time to time, and finally, in 1812, they were respited "until the Court should further order." No judgment was ever given. The trial is fully reported in Howell's 'State Trials,1 vol. xxx. p. 220. In its course reference was made to the fact that the piquet was an ordinary military punishment, but Louisa was kept on the piquet on one day for fifty minutes, and on the next day for twenty-one minutes, and she fainted on both occasions. The special verdict will be found at p. 870. The mode of applying the torture was left to the alcalde or judge, and all Picton did was, as before stated, to sanction " a slight torment." Howell, in a note, says :— "It was thought by the Bar that had the opinion of the Court been delivered, judgment would have been given against the defendant." The prosecutors never pressed for judgment, and I believe all their costs were paid Dy the Government, and Picton's costs, amounting to about 7,0001., were paid by his uncle. In ' The Chronicles of Crime,' by Camden Pelham, vol. i. p. 426, there is an account of Pictou's trial and a drawing by Phiz of the torture of Louisa Calderon on the piquet, but the torture was not left to the man holding the rope. I may remark that Col. R. H. Vetch, who wrote the life of Picton in the 'Diction- ary of National Biography,' does not, in the list of authorities consulted, refer to the report of the trial in the 'State Trials.' H. B. P. Temple. Your correspondent in this interesting article correctly observes that "many old military punishments were abandoned much more because of their consequences in render- ing the sufferers unfit for further military service than because of any humane feelings." This was the case with the " wooden horse, used in the seventeenth and the early part of the eighteenth century, as it brought on rupture. In ' Old Mortality' the trooper Halliday observes:— "We'll have him to the guard-house, and teach him to ride the colt foaled of an acorn with a brace of carbines at each foot to keep him steady."— Chap, lit The probable date of this LJ 1679. W. S. explains the meaning of the punish- ment of the picket, which I did not under- stand, though I remembered the anecdote of 3eorge II. when he saw Hogarth's celebrated picture of the march to Finchley. He is -eported to have said, " What! a bainter [sic] Durlesque a soldier; he deserves to bo picketed lor his insolence." JOHN PICKFOBD, M.A, Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge. For something about this, see the proceed- .ugs against General Picton—whose name, ay the way. may be useful for some future inder of "historic doubts." How pegging- out is managed is familiar to Mr. Kipling a readers in his 'Big Drunk Draf"('Soldiers Three]). EDWARD H. MARSHALL, M.A. Hastings. THE 'TELEGRAPH' (9th S. iv. 348, 427).— The following advertisement appeared in the Man in the Moon for March, 1848, edited by Angus B. Beach. A note inside says :— "It will be perceived by the wrapper that Mr. Albert Smith has ceased to have any Editorial connexion with the Man in the Moon. He will, however, continue to contribute .to its page* as usual." The advertisement runs :— "Complete success of the London Telegraph, Daily Newspaper—Price Threepence. The Pro- prietors of this new London Daily Paper beg to return thanks for the support already given by the Public to this new organ of intelligence, and they beg to state that every means are taken to perfect this newspajter. The London Telegraph is Published every day at twelve o'clock noon—a Second Edition is also Published for the Country. Post Free, containing News, Corn, Money, and Share Markets to the Close of the Day. Persons desirous of having a specimen number are requested to send three postage stamps, stating the edition required, to Mr. Samuel Collins, Publisher of the London Telegraph, 185, Fleet Street, London. Agents wanted in the Country." In this number of the Man in the Moon there is a scathing review of G. V. Brooke as an actor, with praises for a Mr. Lysander Thompson. " We are not fond of vatici- nations," says the critic, "but we are not afraid of risking the prophecy that Mr. Thompson's name will soon oe more famous than Mr. Brooke's." 8. J. A. F. WIGMORE FAMILY (9"1 S. iv. 380).—There can hardly be a doubt that they descend from the Mortemers, several branches of whom settled at an early period in Norfolk. WALTER M. GRAHAM EASTON. MACDOWELL FAMILY (9th S. iv. 457).— DR. MACDOWELL sends a large order. This surname may be found by the score in many of our large cities. If he will say what