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QUITO 404 QTTO WAHBANTO after withdrew from political life, and joined the Texans in their struggle for independence. In 1846 he was ap- pointed Brigadier-General of the United States army in the war with Mexico, dis- tinguishing himself at Monterey, Vera Cruz, and Cerro Gordo, after which lat- ter engagement he was brevetted Major- General, and was voted a sword by Con- gress for gallantry. He participated in the attack on Chapultepec, and was fore- most in the assault on the City of Mexico, which city he governed till order was es- tablished. He was elected governor of Mississippi soon afterward, but resigned in consequence of accusations of complic- ity with the Lc^ez-Cuban expedition, of which charge, however, he was acquitted. In 1855 and 1857, he was elected to Con- gress by large majorities. He died in Natchez, Miss., July 17, 1858. QUITO, a city and capital of the re- public of Ecuador; on the E. slope of the W. branch of the equatorial Andes; 150 miles from Guayaquil. The volcanic mountain of Pichincha is the basis on which it rests. In the principal square stand the cathedral, the episcopal palace ; the town house, and the palace of the Audience. Manufactures include coarse eotton and woolen goods, hosiery, lace, jewelry, and confectionery. It has a trade in agricultural produce, and ex- ports iron, steel, and indigo. The great danger of Quito is from earthquakes, and from the vicinity of burning mountains, which often break out into the most tremendous -jruptions. On Feb. 4, 1797, 40,000 lives were lost. The height of Quito above the level of the sea is 9,534 feet. Pop. about 70,000. QUIT-RENT, r<int paid by the free- holders and copyholders of a manor in discharge or acquittance of other Berr- ices. QUOIN, a wedge-shaped block. Spe- cifically, in grunnery, a wedge-shaped block of wood, having a handle inserted in its thicker extremity; used in some cases for giving the proper elevation to guns. In printing, one of the wedges by which the pages or columns of type are locked in a chase, ready for printing. Nautically, a wedge used as a chock in stowing casks, to prevent rolling. In masonry, an external angle of a wall; particularly an ashlar or brick corner projecting beyond the general faces of the walls which meet at the angle. Rus- tic quoins are rusticated ashlars forming external projecting corners, the re- mainder of the wall being of ordinary masonry, rubble, or brick, with occasional piers of masonry. _ QUOITS, a game played with a flat- tish ring of iron, generally from 8^/4 to 9^/^ inches in external diameter, and be- tween one and two inches in breadth. It is convex on the upper side and slightly concave on the under side, so that the outer edge curves downward, and is sharp enough to cut into soft ground. QUORUM, in Old English law, those justices of the peace whose presence is necessary to constitute a bench. Also such a number of officers or members of a body as is competent by law or consti- tution to transact business. QUOT, in Scotch law, one-twentieth part of the movable estate of a person dying in Scotland, anciently due to the bishop of the diocese in which he resided. QUO "WARRANTO, in law, a writ issuing against any person or corpora tion that usurps any office or franchise, to inquire by what authority he or it supports his or its claim, in order to de- termine the right.