spilt:--That it shall not hereafter be in our royal power, or that of our successors, to pardon the said offences, or restore the offenders to their estates, honor, or blood, for ever. Given at our court, at Blois, the eighth of February, 420, in the second year of our reign.” DUELLING was authorised before the Normans came into England, but the practice was not so frequent as after the conquest. DULEDGE, a peg of wood which joins the ends of the felloes, forming the circle of the wheel of a gun carriage; and the joint is strengthened on the outside of the wheel by a strong plate of iron, called the _duledge plate_. DUMB-BELLS, weights which were used in drilling the soldier, who held one in each hand, which he swung backwards and forwards, to open his chest, increase muscular strength, throw back his shoulders, and accustom him to that freedom of action in the arms, and to that erect position of body which are so essentially necessary to a soldier. The following method of exercising recruits with the dumb-bells, is extracted from a work entitled Military Instruction. The dumb-bells being placed one on each side of the recruit, and himself in an erect, steady posture--on the word, _Raise bells_--he will take one in each hand, and by a gentle motion, raise them as high as his arm will suffer him above his head; then gradually sinking them with stretched arm, as much behind him as possible, he will form a circle with them, making the circle complete, by causing the backs of his hands to meet behind his body; this will be repeated according to his strength, 5 or 6 times. _Extend bells._--The bells being raised to the shoulder, they will be forced forwards, keeping the same height, then brought back in the same manner; this will throw the chest forward, and force back the neck and shoulders, this must be frequently repeated. _Swing bells._--The top part of the bells to be made meet together in front, the height of the breast; then forced backwards with an extended arm, and be made to touch behind: in doing this, the palm of the hands must be uppermost, and the elbows well down: this circle must be repeated 14 or 15 times: Time, the circle performed, in 2 seconds. _Ground bells._--The recruit will let fall the bells by his sides, and remain steady and firm. DUNES, _Fr._ sand hills, commonly called downs. As _les dunes sur la cote de Flandres_; the downs, or sand hills along the coast of Flanders. DUNGEON, DONJON, _Fr._ in _fortification_, is commonly a large tower or redoubt of a fortress, whither the garrison may retreat, in case or necessity, and capitulate with greater advantage. Also a dark and secluded place in which prisoners were kept.