to be replaced, and the tomb to be reopened on the following Thursday at four o'clock, requesting Mr. Doyne Bell to communicate with Mr. C. Knight Watson

COFFIN.

6 FEET: IN: LONG:

-·7 Fr: 61⁄2 IN:-

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF TOMB SHOWING THE POSITION OF THE COFFIN, AND THE
IRON STRAPS AND LOOPS FOR CHAINS.

-2 FT:6 IN:

PLAN OF THE TOMB.

and Mr. Scharf, and directing Mr. Poole to inform Mr. Douglas Galton, of the Board of Works, so as to secure their attendance on the occasion.

On the 16th November there assembled the Dean, the Right Hon. A. S. Ayrton, First Commissioner of Works, Mr. Douglas Galton, Mr. C. Knight Watson, Mr. George Scharf, Mr. Doyne C. Bell, Mr. C. S. Perceval, Mr. Buckler, and Mr. Robertson. The two marble slabs covering the south side were again removed and accurate observations made of the structure, the cloth of gold, and the coffin; the dimensions of the various parts were recorded, and several notes and sketches were taken by Mr. G. Scharf. The separation of the cloth of gold at the head of the coffin-lid, caused, perhaps, partly by the warping there, enabled the cloth to be turned over at that point so that the surface of the wood beneath could be examined. It was then seen to be a beautiful slab of hard oak, smoothly wrought to almost a polish, thus showing that the apparent decay under the rectangular hole in the slab of marble was of but very limited extent. After a most minute inspection of every part that could be thus seen, it was

determined to reassemble on Monday the 28th inst., that the coffin-lid might be removed and the contents seen and carefully investigated; preparation was made for new copper cramps to be substituted for those of iron, and it was arranged that the final closing should take place immediately after the examination. The two slabs were then again replaced and the company dispersed.

The meeting took place on the 28th as arranged, and the slabs were again removed, when a feeling was found to prevail that there did not seem, upon historical grounds, to be sufficient motive to warrant the opening of the coffin. The project was therefore abandoned, the whole of the tomb finally closed in, and the effigy and bed replaced in their position over it."

No fragment or insertion of any kind was found among any of the parts of the tomb that were removed or exposed, but during the cleansing of the bronze bed of the effigy an engraved outline was discovered in the metal; it is an unfinished group of three figures, composed of a robed and crowned female," standing in an attitude of devotion, and turned towards a figure of greater stature, also standing, but incomplete, showing only the robe and the right hand, while behind is a smaller female figure, also erect and devotional. The whole group is evidently the work of an accomplished artist. It may be some royal personage with an attendant in presence of a saint. It may be (although, perhaps, the crown is against the supposition) that the stately female figure represents the Abbess of Fontevraux receiving the heart of Henry III. on the occasion of his final re-interment, as described in the document discovered by Mr. Burtt in the archives of the abbey. A cast was made from the engraving, and placed in the Chapter House. (See Plate XXIII.)

a The only question which could arise was as to whether the King was buried in the sarcophagus of Edward the Confessor. It was evident that the wooden coffin in which he lies was made for him: the polish, the perfect state of the work, the ample folds of the pall, all proved this: and the Confessor's coffin was probably of stone.

b This figure is about 10 inches high.

APPENDIX (A).

MR. SANGSTER'S REPORT UPON THE HUMAN BONES FOUND WITHIN THE TOMB OF RICHARD II. IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

The examination of the bones led to the conclusion that one skeleton belonged to a male and the other to a female.

Judging from the length and size altogether of the male bones, there can be no doubt that they belonged to a man nearly six feet in height.

The male skeleton was nearly perfect, the bones being all separate, very dry, and in a good state of preservation; the only ones which presented any decay were the right femur and the upper part of the sacrum.

Only the upper part of one scapula (right) was present, consisting of the head, two-thirds of the spine, together with the acromion and coracoid processes.

There were two upper pieces of the sternum.

was much broken and decayed.

There was only one bone of the sacrum, which

The following is a complete list of the male bones.

the lower jaw, some few vertebræ, ribs, small bones of the hands and feet and os coccygis.

The skull was large. The superciliary ridges were very small. The sutures were all perfect, and the only one which was gaping was the coronal (connecting the frontal and parietal bones), the edges being sharp and well defined, showing that the bones had separated quite naturally.

VOL. XLV.

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