"Should your old idea of preserving public records in a concentrated form on microscopic negatives ever be adopted, the immediate positive reproduction on an enlarged readable scale, without the possibility of injury to the plate, will be of service.
"I am, &c. "John Stewart."
Replies to Minor Queries.
The Ring Finger (Vol. vii., p. 601.).—The Greek Church directs that the ring be put on the right hand (Schmid, Liturgik, iii. 352.: Nassau, 1842); and although the direction of the Sarum Manual is by no means clear (see Palmer's Origines Liturgicæ, ii. 213., ed. 2.), such may have formerly been the practice in England, since Rastell, in his counter-challenge to Bishop Jewel, notes it as novelty of the Reformation,—
"That the man should put the wedding-ring on the fourth finger in the left hand of the woman, and not on the right hand, as hath been many hundreds of years continued."—Heylyn, Hist. Ref., ii. 430. 8vo. ed.
But the practice of the Roman communion in general agrees with that of the Anglican. (Schmid, iii. 350-2.) Martene quotes from an ancient pontifical an order that the bridegroom should place the ring successively on three fingers of the right hand, and then shall leave it on the fourth finger of the left, in order to mark the difference between the marriage ring, the symbol of a love which is mixed with carnal affection, and the episcopal ring, the symbol of entire chastity. (Mart. de Antiquis Eccl. Ritibus, ii. 128., ed. Venet. 1783; Schmid, p. 352.)
J. C. R.
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Vol. vii., pp. 407. 628.).—As my old neighbour R. L. P. dates from the banks of the Lake of Constance, and may possibly not see W. W.'s communication for some time, I in the meanwhile take the liberty of informing W. W. that the order of St. John was restored in England by Queen Mary, and, with other orders revived by her, was again suppressed by the act 1 Eliz. c. 24.
J. C. R.