In the detailed account of the scientific investigations concerning 

 the contents in the coffin of Emanuel Swedenborg, which were 

 executed by a Committee appointed on May 27th, 1908, by the Royal 

 Society of Sciences of Upsala\ I have quoted on page 25 a com- 

 munication from a certain Mr. R., that a human skull, reported to 

 have been Swedenborg's, was still in England in private possession. 

 I related also oui' fruitless efforts to obtain detailed information re- 

 specting it from Mr. R., who it appeared was confined in an insane 

 asylum and under no consideration would disclose the names and 

 addresses necessary for further inquiries. 



In October, 1911, the Rector of the University of Upsala re- 

 ceived a letter from the said Mr. R. with the information that, after a 

 long search, he had now discovered the skull in question. 



Although our previous investigations had resulted satisfactorily 

 in the conclusion that the remains in the coffin with the greatest de- 

 gree of probability were genuine, and although no new facts reversing 

 our decision had come to light, we found it most correct to probe 

 quite without bias the import of Mr. R's suggestion and its actual 

 basis. To that end we communicated with him and received through 

 his kindness not only further particulars respecting the skull in que- 

 stion, but also tracings, photographs, and finally a plaster cast of it. 



Prom Mr. R's letters and from two communications published by 

 him in The East London Observer for the 16th and 23rd of March, 1912, 

 we learn that the late father of Mr. R. was a missionary in the disti-ict 

 where the Swedish Church stood, and visited the shop of an old herb- 

 alist in the adjacent square (Wellclose Square). The herbalist prided 

 himself on his collection of curios, amongst which he prized most highly 

 Swedenborg's skull. How he came by the skull, Mr. R. ne\'er knew 

 and cannot learn. The herbalist died some thirty years ago, but from 



' Published in tlie Nova Acta Reg. Soc. Scient. Upsal., Ser. IV, Vol 2, No 9. 



