Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-25
Remarkable Discovery in England.

Remarkable Discovery in England.
The Liverpool (England) Mercury, contains let
ter from Mr.. j. P Ashton agent of the contractors
for the iron work of the bridge crossing the MerSey
at Runcorn, Lancashire, giving an account of the
discovery OF a human body in most excellent state
OF preservation which must have lain in the rest OF
death for l, 400 years. We add the account given
by Mr.. Ashton:
The discovery was made in The following man.
ner: On the 9th of August while snking one OF
our cassons, an obstacle was met with which dehed
the pressure exercised by our sinking apparatus
Divers were sent down, who on removing quant-
ty of sand from about the base of the cassOns, re-
ported the obstacle to be large log of wood. By
help of strong crane, and after removing the pres
sure from the casson, We were enabled to draw 1t
up TO the staging and found it to be not a log OF
wood, the divers, msle6 by its general attrided
state, had reported, but large coffin shaped box OF
great strength measuring about eight feet by three
The wood had become impregnated with oxide CT
iron from the req sandstone, which had made 1t as
hard iron ITSELF so that it was with the greatest
difficulty that we were enabled to pry open the lid.
The inside, which was roughly hewn to the shape
of human body, with large additional space at
the head, was lined with greyish bituminous sub
stance, and contained the body of man in most
wonderful state of preservation. 1t is attired in
the dress of wealthy Roman citizen, the tunic and
toga both white, embroidered with purple and gold
threads, the toga fastened with handsome gold
hbula. The straps of the buskIns studded with
little golden bosses. Attached to the gIrdle
tablet and g"lden-hilted stylus. The tOut eaSen
ole, IN fact while not glarirg is rich and tasteful.
The body, though in civil dress, appears to be
that OF legiOnary officer large military cloak is
swathed round it and by its side short sword the
famous Roman - grandIum" with its belt a iaVein
and vinea, such as centurio3s used to discipline
among the mem a fine onyx sgnet ring, bearing
the letters s. P. Q r, and figure of a wolf is on
the finger. This | conjecture to be the symbol of
authority, delegated by the Roman Senate or the
then reignimg Emperor to the bearer. The sword
and belt also bears the initials S. P. O. K. TIE
head OF the vinea is shaped into rude resemblance
Of a Roman eagle.
The body has been em5amed in 50 sEillful man.
ner as to preserve, after this lapse OF time the
features totally distinct but is excessively fragile
crumblIug at touch in fact it has only been pre-
served from totsl destruction b. mantle and by
quantity OF a cryptyganc plant allied to common
equlsetum which is packed round 1t, keeping it
steady and immoVable in the coffin.
fOrbear giving more detailed account, and will
proceed to mention briefly the contents of the space
ABOVE the head of the corpse. quantity of the
equIsetuln like herb sustains unmjured an amphora
OF coarse earthenware, with yellow vItteouS glaze
The handles and neck are broken off, and inside it
is placed-alSo with packing-a beautifully execut-
ed cinerary urn of red Samian ware, containing
ashes, and a small roll of velum covered with char
to be Saxon. Sprn&cd through the scroll, I
however find the Roman name, 20 Sulp.cus
PIso," the initials rs. p. c. R." the words
"legatus," "crematio," NAMES" flares" and a
few others. This scroll therefore imagine to hold
the key to the enigma presented by the many
anomalous appearances l have described, and am
about 10 describe.
In the ampb0ra, beneath the urn, are number
of ornaments of gold aud silver, such as were worn
by Saxon females drank, and among them is kind
Of rude ocket containing long rass cf glossy yt low
hair The ornaments appear 70 be Set, as il they
had belonged to one person, and This fact coupled
with the presence oil the hair leads me to suppose
the ashes Contained in the Urn TO be those Of the
! owner, both of them aud the Lair.
The Amphora also contains small packet of
coins, nearly one hundred in number of which FORTY.
three are gold and of the reignS of the Roman EN-
Perors, llonorpS, dating A. D. 40, few OF Uadri
an, Antonius, ore ScveruS with earlier dates The
! remaining coins are silver, Ir0haLIY Saxon. but
owing to their mutilatcd and dcfqced condition am
| unable to cay positively. On one Only is Z date
| visible, viz 46j.
From these dates, as well es from the Saxcn orna-
ments, am inclined to refer TIE remains 10 ab,ut
the date of the first arrival of the Slxons IN Rrita
The corpse may be- that Of Of the last e,iSsaries
OF Rome to tins island, history speaks q no
! political Intercourse between RENE and our island
! at that time, he may nave been connected with n
religious, not civil mission. The ashes Surmise
| to be those Of a Saxon female. Bat Lcg shall W,
account for the presence of the remains c. Roman
and Saxon in Ccu.LIon tomb! More strange
still is the EN- halming o The Roman and the cremq
tIon OF the Saxon The position OF the cotton in the
ped OF the river Is also strange but an overturned
boat and the shifting ln,ls account for this Pos
sibly the oil found in the urn NAV give an expla
nation OF this and till this has been deciphered We
lnust he content to reInain in the dark