Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-04

LONDON, May 30, lS60.-In one of my lott
erings among the monuments that halow and
beautify the world-renowned Westminster Alb
hey, the thought Of the stern old Protector"
SO wrought upon my fancy, that | at once de-
termned to CLEAN all that could relative to
the final disposition OF his remains.
Nearly two hundred years have rolled away
since the death OF Oliver Cromwell. Change
ful as were his fortunes in life, the yicissitudes
which bete his earthly remains were not less
striking. When death struck down the re-
nowned champion of ecclesiastical right and
religious liberty, his body was embalmed and
inferred with great pomp i'll Westminster Alb
hey. After the restoration of the Stuarts it
was disinterred, agreeably to a sentence which
will forever blacken that kingly name, and ig-
ANONYMOUSLY suspended at Tyburn. The head
was then cut Oft, pike staff thrust through it,
and, with those of the noble lreton and Brad
shaw 1t was placed on the outer wall of West.
minister Hall. Years and years it remained
there exposed to the elements and the iibes
of an gnobe dynasty, until at last nature,
kinder than man, loosed the grasp Of iron,
and the skull rolled into the parapet Of the hall
AS soon as ii was missed a search was institu-
ted for it, but without success, and few OF all
that people in the vast metropolis have any
idea that it is still in existence Yet such is
actually the fact
The skull was perceived by sentinel in his
rounds, who instantly secreted it under his
cloak and conveyed it home, where he pit
it carefully concealed until his death. The
widow then conveyed it to the Cambridge Rus
sell family, who gave her the sum OF two hui
bred pounds for it. In this line it remained
until member Of the family, who, through eX'
travagance, had become involved, sold 1t to
the grandfather of the present proprietor, the
Hon. Mr. Wilkinson. BY him tits guarded as
a sacred relic, being until recently secreted en-
tircly, and even now but rarely exhibited.
That it is the vertablc head OF Cromwell
there is abundance Of proof. Rumors OF Its
existence were rite in London half a century
ago, and able articles were written in support
of the belief at the time, but not until recent
ly, from prudential reasons, has the fact been
made patent. Besides the documentary evi
dence, and oral testimony of the parties di
recty concerned in its preservation, there is
sufficient internal evidence to convince the
most skeptical. In size OF brain, in contour
Of features, and in general appearance, there
is striking similarity to all the busts and
portraits extant of the Protector" Faxman,
the eminent sculptor, has carefully examined
it, and unhesitatingy pronounced it genuine
The chief marks OF identification are the large
wart on the right eyebrow, the strongly mark
ed chin, and the end Of the broken iron pike,
which has rused deep in the skull.
Having from various sources cleaned the
above information, and being DESTROYS OF see
ing the century.guarded relic, obtained
note, stating my object and yesterday rode
out to the residence Of the Hon Mr. Wilkn.
son, at Bromley Kent, near the metropolis.
Mr.. Wilkinson, few years since, was member
Of Parliament from Lambeth, but having, I'M