Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-19

sree"biy 70 historical records, for ~,
OF the sternum. or breast bone, r Vs..
onnd. that had been separated t, f.o %% i
tate the rensyal Of the heart wt4 NJ IN
WAS further esnIirlner.: by the disco,% 5
near the grave of an oblons leadcn l,sG 5
which in all likelihood, csulaiucS.H
entraiIs. The lead that encIosog Sc
body was laid open, so as to eyno ac
full view the Whole skeleton. IF IF, :, 70
length, Of which, as we'll as the ea,. Vie
parts, exact measurements wcresAS.s%'
The body was FIVE feet, ten incHas
length, which. when in life. might Ia' ="
been upwards Of six. The head W.
tracted PARTICULAR notice.-!t was 1 a.
joined from the body. and held m =,
the almiring gaze of the spectators
daring which it was pleasing 70 obsarr'
solemn stiffness reign, betokepirg ,ho
feelings of reverentiaI awe, awaten"S
by the recollection of the noble sn;,:,
that once animated if, contrastcd riI
the present humiliation of its mnrot
tenement. The skull was quite enti,s
and perfectly firm. The teeth in Mo
under jaw were all remaining but
few Oh the upper jaw were wantire
1t was properly cleaned, and two 90
cellent casts taken from it, which viii
afford materials for the cranioIosic.i
enquirer, as we'll as crafty the cuIio,;,
ty of thousands who had not an onnon
tunity of seeing the lifeless ORIGINAL
The medical gentlemen were partru.
larly struck with finding the angles Of
the lower maAillary or chat bones re.
markably acute. They also noticed
with surprise the small and delicate
bone. hyoides, which supports thetongue,
in state of great preservation. The
cartilages, too, belonging to the Iarpnr,
on the top Of the wind pipe, as we'll az
some of those Of the sternum, still cx .
listed. Every necessary inspection be.
ing made and the head replaced, the
body was raised from the spot on which
it had reposed undistul bed, for near s
centuries. and, together with the box
before alluded to, and some of the
newspapers and coins of the day, en-.
closed in lead. put into a new lcadea
coffin, prepared for the purpose, which
was returned to its original position
The coffin was then filled with hot pitch,
10 exclude the air, and to more effectuaI.
ly promote the preservation of the boue;
This precaution, however, was Cons.
dercd by many unnecessary, while it
was abhorrent to the feelings of almost
all. On the lid of the coffin was this
simple inscription -
+" ROBERT BRUCE, 1929, 1919"
On the conclusion of the operations,
most of the principal gentlemen con-
ccrncd in them retired to the Town
house, when Major Wilson, Provost of
the Burgh, conferred, in the name OF
the Magistrates, the freedom Of the
;own OH the Right Hon. Sir Samuel
Shepherd, Lord Chief Baron of Scot.
land Hon. Raron Clerk Rattray al
so upon several Ministers of the Church.
and other official and eminent gentle
men.
The healtt:s Of the burgesses and the
prosperity of the town OF DuntermlIns
were then drank, and the company part
ed much gratifed with all that had hap
pened.
The Barons, il is understood, mean
to erect an elegant sarcophagus, with a
suitable inscription, over the sclte OF
the grave, which, together with the sur
mounts 6 of the t'wer erected over IT.
consisting of a railing. exhibiting, IN
conspicuous letters, F." King Robert the
Bruce" with other corresponding en-
signs of royalty, viii tend to perpetHate
the remembrance Of this illu,trlOus he
ro, statesman, and patriot, and render
this sacred edifce doubtless the most
interesting, as it is one OF the hand
soonest in Scotland.
n" They have him had TO Dumferllne,
And him soemnl y erded syne
In a fair tomb into the quire,
Bishops and Prelates that there were,
Assolized him, when the service
Was done, as they best could devise
And syne upon the other day,
Sorry and wo they went their way
And he debowelled was clearly,
And also balmed syne full richly,
And the worthy Lord of Douglas
His heart az If fore snnkln Wac