The Mortal Remains of Savedenboeg 85 



no objection existed on the part of tlie Catliedral Chapter to the opening of Swe- 

 denborgV coffin for the purpose of undertaking the examination, raised by 

 the document from the Academy of Sciences, of that cranium which niio-ht 

 be found' there, decided that such an examination should be undertaken, 

 and that its execution should be placed in charge of the undersigned. Hammar, 

 Hultkrantz and Ramström, with the right for us to summon whatever experts 

 we considered expedient for the purpose. After we, the said undersigned, accord- 

 ing to the desire then expressed by the Society had offerred the Society's mem- 

 ber, Professor Retzius, the opportunity of partaking in the examination, but he 

 had declared himself impeded, we have summoned Professor Edw. Clason, Professor 

 U. Quensel, A. H. Stroh, M. A., and the appointed instructor of forensic medicine, 

 Laborator A. Yestberg. 



For the execution of the commission thus entrusted to us, the opening of 

 the coffin is now undertaken. 



1) The outer coffin is found to be an in appearance new polished coffin 

 of oak, with a name-plate upon which is engraved: »Emanuel Swedenborg 

 1688 — 1772. > The lid of the coffin is screwed fast with 8 iron screws. 



2) After the removal of the lid there was found in the outer coffin a 

 second wooden coffin, the surface of whose lid was worn and somewhat affected 

 by mould. This coffin is bound around with white tapes, sealed in such a man- 

 ner that it cannot be opened without the cutting of the tapes or the breaking 

 of the seals. The seals upon the lid, in black setiling wax, are 4 in number, 

 two being in the neighbourhood of each end [of the coffin], and all are unbroken. 

 Upon one of each pair of seals may be read, »The Swedish Legation», around 

 a crowned shield with three crowns. The other seal shows a noble weapon with a 

 crown. ['] 



On the flat lid of the coffin is fastened a metal plate, chased and engraved, 

 blackened by age and somewhat corroded, 41x31 cm., with the inscription: »The 



ble ! Hi li 



Hon: Eman: Swedenljorg Died 29 Mar: 1772. Ä(/ed S4.» 

 The coffin is closed with 6 iron screws. 



3) The bands are severed, the seals being spared, the screws are removed, 

 after which the lid is lifted off. 



4) A third coffin of metal, apparently of lead, then becomes visible. It 

 nearly fills the inner wooden coffin, and measures 184 cm. in length, and 47.5 

 cm. in breadth at the widest place towards the head-end. The lid of the metal 

 coffin is separated along its edges from the side-walls, except the part next to 

 the foot-end of the coffin. The separated portion of the lid is sunk down into 

 the coffin and in some places bent in transversely running folds. In the opening 

 between the edges of the lid and the walls of the coffin is seen a bedding of 

 grayish- white, apparently new wadding. This is also seen through a V-formed 

 incision in the centre of the lid, on the broadest portion of the coffin. The jjoint 

 of the V is directed to the foot-end and is situated 55.5 cm. from the head-end 

 of the coffin. Its legs [of the V] measure, the one 14, the other 17.5 cm.: the 



' [This was tlie private seal of the Eoyal Minister in London, Count H. "Wrangel. 



