, 1860-07-03

Correspondence Of the New York Evt MI s Poss-J
Loxpex. May 20. 1870.
In one Of my loiterings among the n,ouu-
1nents that hal!ow and beauty world-renowned
Westminster ABBEY, the thought Of the stern
old "prolector" 80 wrought upon my fancy.
that nj once determined to glean oil could
relative to the final disposition Of bis remains.
since '1 lie death of Oliver Cromwell. Changefal
as were his fortunes in 1ife, the vicssitudes
which befel his earthly remains were not less
striking. When death struck down the re-
uowned chatnpiou Of ecclesiastical right aad
religious liberty, his body was ernbalmed
aud inferred IN great potnp in Westminster
Abbey. After the restoration Of the Stuart's
it was diein1erred, agreeably 10 sentence
which will forever blscken That kingfy name,
and ignrminiousy suspended at T, burn. The
head was then cut oil, pike staff thrust thro'
it, and, with those or the noble lretou nnd 1lrad
shaw, it was placed on the outer walt Of Vest
there, exposed to tie elements aud the iibes Of
an ignoble dynasty, until ut last noture, kinder
than man, loosed the grasp Of iron, and tile
skull rolled into the parapet of the Hall. As
soon as it waB missed search Was instituted
ior it, but without success, and Few Of all tlIat
people the vast metropolis hare any iaea that
it is still in existence. Y'' such is actually the
fac..
The skull was perceived by sentincl il his
rounds, who instantly see1eied it unltr Lis
cloak and conveyed it home, where he kept it
carefully concealed until his death. The widow
then conveyed it to tie Cambridge Russell! fam.
i;y, who gave her the sum Of two hunured
pounds for it. In this line it remained, until 1.
member Of the family, who, through e1.rava.
gance. had become involved, sold it TO the
grandfather Of the present proprietor, the lion.
1lr. Wilkinson. Ey h m it is guarded as "a.
cred reic being until recently sccreted entirely,
and even now but rarely exhibited.
That it is the veEitable head Of Cromwell
there is abundance Of proof. Rumors Of its ex-
and able articles were written in support Of ihe
belief at the time, but Eot until recently, from
prudential reasons, las the fact been made pa
lent. Besides the. documentary evidence, and
oral testimony Of the far,ies di1 1eutlY concerned
in its preservation, there is sufficient internal
evidence to convince the most skeptical. In
aize OF brain in contour Of features, snd In gen.
eral appearance, there is striking similarity to
all the busts and portraits extant Of tie " Pro-
tector." Flsxnan, the emicent sculptor, bus
carefully examined it, and unhekitaiDg1y pro.
nounced it genuine. The chief marks Of id.n-
tidcation are the large wart en- the right eve
brow, the strongly nlurked cLiu, aud the end Of
the broken iron pike, which has rus.ed deep in
tue skull.
l1asiag from various SOURCES CLEANED the
above Information, aud being desirs US Of seeing
the centurt-guartcd relic, l obtain,d note
stating my object, sud yesterday rode out to
the residence Of the Hon. Mr. Wilkinson. at
BROMLEY, Kent, near the metropolis. Mr. Viii
kinscn, lew years since, was member Of Par.
liameut from Lambeth, but having, under i
sense Of duty, voted for the opening Of the
Crystal Palace on s'abbaths, he becam: 80 un-
popular with his constituency 1has he Was not
sustnioed, ana since then llc has been in private
life. Being possessed Of ample means end re-
fined taste, he has taken great pnins in orna-
mentiug his residence, and it will favorably
compare with The charming homes thai one
meets with everywhere among the seats Of the
gentry throughout England. The situation is
delightful, and the surrounded lactscape is one
oi almost fAultless loneliness. The vetsct.like
lawn is gav with beds Of the rarest and sweetest
flowers; huge old oaks throw their shadows
across tile wide park, md dear and beautiful
English cattle browse deep in the shade Of the
Fl and old trees.
Being ahown into tue drawing-room, a lady in
the prime Of lie, and OF elegant rei son, soon
made her appearance. 1t was the accomplished
daughter OF Mr. W, in whose Care the r. lie
has long been coniided- With the manners OF
| the true gcntle.voman she readi1y granted my
| request as soon as it was 1nnde known,the more
| ESPECIALLY Is the stranger Was an American.
Baon large wooden box WIS brought into
| the apartment and opened. Enclosed IN it "a,
q much smaller one Of mahogany, with heavy
/ brass hinges. Lifting it carefully out, two OF
three coverings oi cloth anu SILK we're SUCCESS.
lively removed from the object within i. and
then Was displayed The serltaole head OF o'iEer
| Cromwell.
Deep uni varied were my emotions when
| that renowned head IVES first disclosed to 1ny
view. could scarcely realize that was ill.,
deed gazing On TIE brain that had ouce been 80
mighty in intellect, SO stur-ndous IN power. As
vision aftc1 vision cf the sttrn Puritan ercnt'
ful life rose before me-, I stoop tFanstixed in d
Ct thought. For a moucnt-a moment only
dared 10 grasp tho sacred relic IN my hand
then laying it revercntly down, turned away
from the head Of Cromwell.
From being embalmed the 1eah is in a dry
sh.lvelled state. but the features are rema1ka
bly, dis inct, and tue dark hair ls as natural Al
life. The huge wart on the right eyebr,'v j!
plaialy visible, and the end Of the iron pike i.
I'LL rusted rith with exposure to tile elements
only couple ot iuclea remaining above thu
skull. Altogether this interesting memorial o
by gone century is in an excellent state o
preservation, and 30 lfe-like are the features
that there il little in them that is hidcous o.
repuisive. In gazing on them thought Icoult
see the characteristics Of tile restless beng il
the silent linesments, aud could not a5oit
feeling that WIS indeed reading as ttikioE CON:
mendaiory Oh the littleness ot al earthly great
ness. W. r. TouLNsoS.