Nov 09 1819 Carlisle Castle #3 - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Nov 09 1819 Carlisle Castle #3

The Times, Tuesday, Nov 09, 1819; pg. 2; Issue 10772; col E

                    SKELETONS IN CARLISLE-CASTLE.
                                    ---------------------
                                (From the Carlisle Patriot.)

           TO THE EDITOR OF THE CARLISLE PATRIOT.
Sir, - On account of a report being circulated, that two human skeletons have
bee lately discovered in Carlisle-castle, one the skeleton of a lady, and the
other of a child, I was induced to visit the Castle, together with Mr. ANDERSON,
the surgeon, to examine the bones of these skeletons. I can assure you, we were
not a little disappointed on finding that none of the bones were human, but
belonged to some of the lower animals. The spine and rib mentioned in the
Patriot of last week, I have also examined, but cannot believe they are the
bones of a child. When, and for what purpose, these bones were placed in the
Castle, I do not pretend to know; neither have I yet been able to determine to
which of the lower animals they belong. Had it not been for the regard I bear
for truth, and there being an account of the lady and child, with many
conjectures respecting them, in the Carlisle papers of last week, I should not
have troubled you with this; by the insertion of which, or by acknowledging the
mistake in your next paper, you will much oblige your obedient servant,
                                                 THOMAS BARNES, M.D.
Carlisle, Castle-street, Nov. 4.

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To-day, we insert a letter from Dr. BARNES, on the subject of the bones found in
Carlisle-castle last week, which that gentleman thinks are not human, but the
remains of some of the lower animals. On what were conjectured to be the bones
of a woman we laid little stress, for they were too much decayed to admit of
satisfactory scrutiny: of the supposed spine and rib of a child we spoke with
greater confidence, because an eminent medical gentleman had pronounced them
human. The tooth of some large animal, and other bones, have since been
discovered in or near the same place. Having no object but truth, and no
favourite theory to maintain, we are willing to belive that Dr. BARNES is
correct, though, we confess, the presence of costly silks and silver with brute
bones is not a little puzzling.

(From the Carlisle Journal.) - As to the elegant female dress, the silk to which
this high sounding name is given was found apart from the bones; and there is no
appearance of its ever having been made up into any kind of vestment, being more
like an old silk handkerchief than any thing else.