Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-01
NO. XLYI


The Head Of Oliver Cromwell.
Nearly two centuries have elapsed since the
death of this renowned champion Of ecclesiasu-
cal right and religious liberty in great Britain,
That the veritable head of Oliver Cromwell
now exists and is in good state of preservation
near London, in the custody of q lady there is
no doubt. Having been seen and actually hand
led, and its written aud printed history careful
lly noted down, there can hardly be the possl-
| bility of mistake. Rumors OF the existence OF
the head were in circulation half century
since. and periodicals now in the British Muse
Eum suggested such fact. Various correspond
ents alluded to its concealment and as having
been seen privately but it is only recently that an
American gentleman was permitted W see sne
relic and handle it in person
| Cromweh's body was embalmed and buried
with great pomp in Westminster Abbey. Al
ter the restoration of the Steuarts the body was
disnterred, the head cut off and pike.stan
thrust through the neck. 1t was then placed
on Westminster Hall. 1t remained there q con-
siderable number of years, until either blown
down by the wind or carried off by stealth. 1t was
secreted for long series of years, and handed
down from generation to generation among the
descendants OF Cromwell, until 1t now rests IN
the custody of the accomplished daughter OF
Hon. Mr.. Wilkinson, an OK member OF FarlIa-
ment, resididg at Bromley, Kent, near LoEdoD.
| While on a recent visit to England, the wrl-
ter passed the Sabbath with Rev. Mr.. Verrell,
pastor OF the Dissenting Chapel at Bromley,
Kent. During the evening of that day an allu-
sion was made to his having seen Cromwell's
head in the vicinity. 1t was agreed that the
next morning an effort should be made to pro-
cure sight of it, the possessors OF 1t not being
desirous that it should be too often exhibited"
Near noon We called at the residence OF Hon.
Mr.. Wilkison, at Beckenham, not long distance
from the home of the estimable Miss Marsh
Rev. Mr. Verrell sent in his card 10 Miss W,
and we were soon shown into the drawing room.
Like most OF the residences of the English gent.
ry, the windows looked out upon landscape OF
tsuItess loyeness and beauty. Lawns, velvet
| like in appearance, with the sweetest beds OF
flowers, lay before the eye. In the distance,
clusters ot aristocratic oaks threw their deep
shadows over the lawns, shielding from the rays
of the summers sun, groups OF beautiful English
cattle. ,s,,.,.
Very soon lady Of mature years, and of
handsome person, entered the room, with an
air that indicated position and the manners OF
the true lady. An introduction followed, and
the purpose of our visit being made known, it
was cheerlulIy granted, especially when 1t was
stated that the stranger was an American. Ve-
ry soon o wooden box was brought into the
room and opened. Enclosed in 1t was small
or one of oak, with dark brass hinges. Two or
three coverings of cloth and silk were success
siyely removed, and then was lifted out the ver-
liable head OF Oliver Cromwell! he e
The thoughts were strange when that renown'
ed face was first scent The head having been
Ienbalmed, retains the flesh in shrivelled, dry
state, but the features are distinct and the hair
almost o. perfect as at its burial. The huge
wart over one of the eyes, so historically true Is
clearly distinct, and the resemblance to bust,
copied from real life, which is near by, carries
conviction of the identity of the head beyond
misgiving The iron pike which was thrust
through the throat and came out at the top OF
the head, is rusted in. Its age and exposure
have consumed the upper part, and only q cou-
| pie of inches of the iron remain above the head.
The wooden part of the pike was broken OH
Just below the throat, and the fracture shows
that it was severed by violence aud not cut a.
sunder by an instrument.
Altogether, this singular memorial Of another
age is 10 better state of preservation than any
of the snbamed Egyptians, and SO well preserv.
ed are the features, and The shrivelled skin 30
entire, that it has little that is bdeous or repul.
sve. Flaxman, the eminent sculptor, who ex.
amined it with care, in connection with contem'
poraneous busts and portraits, uDhesitatingly ex-
presses entire confidence that it is the head OF
Oliver Cromwell. In addition, the family who
possess this strange relic of an illustrions man,
have both printed documents and written de-
tails of it's history, minute and circunstantia,
that they know beyond doubt its authentic
ity. 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 secreted, and now it is not easily ac-
csssible. The following letter from Rev. MIR.
Verrell, who is on intimate friend OF the family
of Hon. Mr. Wilkinson, prepared at the request
of the writer of this paragraph, is OF historical
interest and confirms the above statement.
W. A..
"BRoMLEY, Kent, July 6, 1858.
"Dear Sir The head we saw at W. A. Will
kinson, Shortlands, BeckeDham, believe to be
that of Oliver Cromwell The history of his
death, intermeDt after being embslmed, and the
sentence passed for his exhumation, hanging at
Tyburn aud placing the heads of lreton, Brad
shaw and Cromwell on Westminster Hall, are
all patent. The head having rolled into the par.
apet of the Hall by the breaking OF the spear or
hslbert, on which it was fixed, after twenty
years; the sentinel taking it under his cloak aud
hiding it until his death his widow then con-
veying it to the Cambridgeshire Russell family:
its being possessed by them until it was sold for
4l00, by one of the family, who from his dis
sipated habits had squsndered his property; the
purchase Of it by the grandfather Of the present
proprietor for the sum mentioned its present
appearance being that Of one who had been en-
baimsd-ths wart on the right eyebrow, the
beard, the shape OF the chin, its similarity to the
bust, with the exception Of its smaness from
shrinking and drying up Of the fesb leaving
but little else than the skin covering the bone;
the opinion of the family, founded upon printed
and manuscript documents and oral testimony Of
its being the identical head, as well as that Of
many who have seen it, are amongst the princi-
pal things to be noted. The proprietor, W.. A.
Wilkinson, Esq, was member for Lambeth, but
lost his election because of his vote for the OPEN
ing the Crystal Palace on Sundays. In other
respects he was 9 good liberal member.eM
| y O6serper, Oct. 8. ~ sA'l1
A celebrated writer says: No woman can
be lady who can wound or mortify another
No matter how beautiful, how refined, how
cultivated she may be, she is in reality coarse,