Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-10-14
aailg Siroiaiaa.
From the N. Y. Observer.
The Head OF Oliver Cromwell.

The Head OF Oliver Cromwell.
Nearly two centuries have elapsed since the
death Of this renowned champion of ecclesiastical
right and religious liberty in Great Britain. In
reference to this fact the English journals have
recently contained some elaborate articles in his
deence, exhibiting an enlightened spirit and str-
wing to rid the nation Of an unjust and undeserved
prejudice against the memory Of Cromwell. This
shows the growth of tolerant spirit. and. not
likely, when it becomes fully known in England
that the "Pretcnders" head is actually preserved
it will bccomea relic almost uf alteration.
That tho veritablo head of Oliver Cromwell now
exists, and is in good state of preservation near
London in the custody of lady there is no doubt
Having been seen, and actually hnndlcd. and it's
written and printed history carefully noted down.
there can hardly Q tho possibility of u mistake.
Rumors of the existence Of the head were in eircu
lation in London. half century since, aud pcri.
odcals now in the British Museum suggested such
fact Various correspondents alluded to its con
eealment, and AS having been seen privately but
1t Is only recently that mn American gentleman
was permitted 10 See the relic aud dhanile it in per.
son.
"'omwell's body was cmbalmed ana buried ih
great pomp in Westminster Abbey After the
p restoration Of tho Suarts, the bod, was disncr-
red, the head cut ofund pike-satf thrust through
the mock. 1t was then rltcel in Westminster
Hall. 1t remained there u considerable number
ul wears. Nntli tltIleV uipWn uOWn 10y III" WlHu OT
carried of by stealth. II was sccrctcd for long
series Of Years, and handed down from generation
to generation among tho descendants OF Cromw oil
until il now rests in the custody oi tho accom-
plished daughter Of Hon. Mr.. Wilkinson, mn ex.
member ol lhrliamcnt, residing mt Bromley, Kent
near London.
While ON recent Visit to England, tho writer
passed the Sabbath with Rev Mr.. Vcrrell, pastor
OF tho Dissenting Chapel at Bromley, Kent. Dur
ing tho evening oi that day, mn alluslon was made
to his having seen Cromwal's head in that yicn-
iy. 1t was agreed that the next morning an Of
fort shouli be- mnde to procure II sight oi it, the
pessessors # it not being dcslous thnt it should
he too often exhibited Nnar noon, wo called ut
tho residence IT lion. Mr.. Wilkinson. ut Beckcn-
ham, not long distance from the home of the es-
tinablc Miss Marsh. Rev. Mr.. Nerrcll sent in
his cnrd to Miss W.. and wc were soon shown in
to tho drawinc-room. Like most Of the residences
ofihe English gentry. the windows looked out
upon andscnf Of taultless lyclincss and beau
w. Lawns vel,c-liko in appearance. with tho
sw ee,est beds of flowers. lay hcfnrc the eye. In
the distance, clusters OF nristncrntic oaks threw
their deep shadows over the lawns, shielding from
the rnys oi n summers sun, groups of beautiful
English cattle.
Very soon lady OF mature years and Of hand
sume person, entered tho room, with mir that
indicated position aud the manners of tho true
lady. An introduction Ellowcd, aud the purpose
Of our visit being made known, it was cheeriully
grantcd, especially when 1t was stated the stran-
ger was m American. Very soon, II wooden box
was brought into tho room and openel. Enclosed
in it wus n smaller one of oak with dark brass
hinges. Two or thrcc coverings oi cloth mud silk
we're successfully rem"yed.and then was lifod out
the veritnbIe head II Otrcr CrOmwsN!
The thoughts were strange when that renowned
face was frs, seen! Stranger still the ono
tions when the head Of Cromwell, so mighty in in
tellcct nm stnp>ndous in power, was gra ped b
the hand. Yet whnt n commentary on greatness!
The head having been c ubam !, retains the flesh
in shrivcllcd, dried sinrc, but the features are
distact. and the hair almost ny perfect at its
burial. The iiu@e wart over one ot the eyes, 80
historically true, is clearly distinct anl tho rescm-
blancc To Il bust opled from real life. which il
near by, carries conviction of the identity of tho
head beyond n misgiying. The iron pike which
was thrust through the throat and came out at the
top of the head, is rusted in. Its age and expos
urc have consumed the upper part, and only cou-
pie of nchcs of the iron remain above the head -
The wooden part Of the pike broken off Just
below the throat, aud the fracture shows that it
was severed hy violence and not cut asundcr by an
instrument
Altogether, this singular memorial Of another
aye is in better state Of preservation, than any
of the cnbalmed Egyptians, an 20 well preserved
are all the features and the sirvcllcd skin 50 ci-
tire, that it has little that is hidcous repusive
Flaxman, the eminent scul ptor who has examin.
Cal IL Win care, IN cunHeA1bn WIFI cDtenlnDrNncOuS
husts and portraits, unhesitatingly Expresses en-
tire confidence that it is lie head Of Oliver Crom-
well. la addition, the family who possess this
strange relic of an illusrious man. have both pru
ted documents and written details of its history
minute and ci.cumstantal, that they knon be
yond doubt, its authen lefty. Yet in London,
little or nothing is known of the existence of this
head even among men Of position and influence
Until recently it has been kept secrctc1. and now
it is not easily accessible. The following letter
from Rev. Mr.. Verral. who is an intimate friend Of
ii o family of Hon. Mr.. Wilkinson, prepared nt
the request Of the writer OF this paragraph. is of
h 'orica interest and confirms the above state
mcnt. W. A.
BROMLEY KENT, July 6, 1853.
Dear r.-The head we Mt W. A. viii
kinsons, Of Shortands, Beckenham, believe to
be that Of Oliver Cromwell. The history Of his
death, interment after being embalmed aud the
sentence passed for his cxhnmatlpm, hanging at
Tyburn aud placing the heads Of lreon Bradshaw
and Cromwell on Westminster Hall are oil patent.
The head having rolled into the parapet of the Hall
hy the breaking Of the spear, Or habert, on whi:h
it was fixed, after 20 years. the sentinel taking il
under his cloak and hiding it ill his den,h his
widow conveying it to the Cambridgeshire Russell
family: its being possessed by them until it was
sold for El00 hy rne of the family who fr m his
dissipated habits Ind squanderei his property the
purchase Of it by the grandfather Of the present
proprietor for the sum IN ntionel it. present APP
pearance being the skull ofone who had been emlai
med-the wart on the eyebrow the beard. shape of
the chin. it's similarity to tho bust with the ex-
ception Of it's saness from the shrinking md dry
ing up the flesh leaving but little else than the
skin clerng the bone the opinion cf the family,
founded upon printed and MSS. documents aud
oral testimony of its being the identical head. us
well as that Of many who have seen il, nre amongst
the principal things to he noted. The proprietor,
w. A. Wilkenson, Esq, was member for Lambeth