The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-26
From the ". Haren Palladium Of 22d.
Opening of the Grave of DixyyelI.

Yesterday afternoon spot in the of the Cen
tire church, on the upper Green, was excavatcd to
the depth of about two feet, over space of ground
about twelve feet square, for the purpose of laying
determination ofthe monument whichis about being
erected to the memory of Col. John Dixwell, one
of the renowned judges who caused King Charles
the First to be condemned and executed. On the
restoration of Charles the Second, Dixwell fed to
this country did two of his associates, viz: COTE
and Whalley. They were all secreted and protected
for considerable period in and about New Haven.
Dixwcll is known to have been buried here; and
COTE and Whalley believed to lie very near
him. They lived upon the West Rock for some
time, in the crevice of the rock, which has ever
since been known as the Judges Cave"
Mr.. Dixwcll, wealthy gentleman in Boston,
and descendant of the regicide of that name
asked permission of the city authorities to put up
monument to the memory OF his ancestor, near the
place of the old grave Liberty being granted, the
space above described was dug out preparatory to
laying the granite foundation Of the iron fence. In
the northeast corner of the excavation was the grave
of Dixwel, as indicated by the stones on which
the letters "J d. Esq, !" with his age (S2) at
the time of his death, U65S.)
Mr.. Dixwell, in order to escape the vigilance of
his enemies, assumed the name of James Davids;
therefore the initials bis gravestone appro
pirate for his real fictitious name. AS there
large crowd about the place of interment last eve
ming, it was not deemed fit time to expose the
mains Of the dead if any should be found after so
long rest in the grave. Therefore, for the greater
decency and propriety of the exhumaton, il was
ordered that all further labor be suspended until
an early hour this morning. We were among the
few witnesses who happened to be present when
the work of excavation recommended. Soon after
five O'Clock, by the light of n lantern, the digging
was again begun. The color of the earth indicated
the exact form of the grave. At length the skele-
ton was reached, and found to be In tolerably
good state of prescrvation-far better than
ticipated. The space once occupied by the coffin
very distinctly visible, so that accurate
measurement was obtained The size of the bot
tom of the coffin was follows: Length, feet III
inches; breadth at the head and foot each 6inches:
breadth at the bend, % inches. These dimensions
would require the top to be inches wider and 6
inches longer than the bottom matchmaking the
length of the top feet inches, and the breadth
feet at the widest part, and showing the deceased
TO have been in his lifetime about feet in height,
which corresponds with tradition in regard TO his
appearance in that respect The bones of the arms
were lying parallel instead of being crossed the
breast, as Is often the case.
The remains of the head as examined by an emf
nent surgeon present exhibited the following mca-
surements the diameter was 20I inches-across
the arch 81 inches-over the arch from forehead
back, III lnches-dlameter in same direction
nches-diameter over the ear o. inches. The FORE
head was not a broad one, nor was the head large
one for the size Of the person. The diameter over
the cars large compared with the diameter the
other way, which indicates a large chronological
"destructivcness," and this organ, which was ac-
companied by large Caution" phrenologists
would say, gave the man the energy and decision
which he must have possessed, and was essential
element in his military character.
The bones Of this brave and prosecuted politician
military captain and sectarian, carefully
picked up and laid in small box, partly filled
with earth, and the lid was closed upon them pro-
badly forever. The box then deposited in the
centre Of the excavated lot, and the monument will
stand directly over them. The ceremony Of exhu
nation most interesting and calculated TO fill
the mind with varied and conflicting cmotions--al
of which, however, tended TO the idea of human
frailty-to the fact that such has been and such will
be the end Of man.