76 J. V. HULTKEANTZ 



the trunk of the departed saint, with the former of which he safely decamped 

 to his own country. This relic he preserved with tlie greatest care and venera- 

 tion till the day of his death, when it was discovered by his surviving relatives; 

 and from some written documents left behind the fanatic, the whole circumstances 

 connected with this extraordinary affair were developed. His friends, alarmed 

 at the consequences that might follow such an unhallowed violation of the tomb, 

 and being desirous of atoning in some measure for the sins of him who had been 

 guilty of so great a crime, caused the head to be forthwith transmitted to this 

 country, with a request that the coffin might be re-opened for the purpose of 

 ascertaining if it was the identical head of the saint, and if so, that it might be 

 restored to its original situation. 



In compliance with this request, the coffin was opened, and the above 

 story proved to be perfectly correct, the trunk only of a skeleton presenting 

 itself to the astonished eyes of those around. The head has accordingly been 

 reinterred with due solemnity in the presence of the elders of the church. 



No. 3. 



The Rev. Samuel Noble's letter to the Editoi* of The Times» 



for A-pril 1st, 1823. 



Emanuel Swedenbory. 



To the Editor of the Times. 



Sir, — In your paper of to-day is an anecdote headed as above, which 

 contains some mistakes which I trust you will allow me to correct. 



It is true that the skull of Swedenborg was a feiv months ago (not soon after 

 his interment) taken from his coffin in the vault of the Swedish church near 

 Radcliffe-highway, by a Swedish gentleman then, and now, living in England: 

 but it is not true that the person who executed this singular robbery was or is 

 one of his disciples. I understand that the motive which led him to obtain pos- 

 session of this »relic», was the same as led Drs. Gall and Spurzheim to possess 

 themselves of similar relics of other eminent men. The fact having been heard 

 of by the Countess — , of Sweden, she requested an English gentleman of rank to 

 wait upon the possessor, and request that he would allow the skull to be restored 

 to its former situation; to which he readily assented. It is true, then, that 

 its re-interment took place; but it is not true that this was attended with any 

 solemnity, or »excited unbounded (or any) interest amongst his numerous follow- 

 ers.» Some of them knew that the skull had been taken away; but I believe 

 that none of them (or not more than one) knew when it was restored; and I am 

 sure that none of them cared anything about the matter. 



The sole motive of the Lady above alluded to for procuring the re-inter- 

 ment, was, that the admirers of the writings of Swedenborg might not be char- 

 ged with such stupidity as that of venerating the mortal remains of any man, 

 which, Swedenborg maintains, are entirely unnecessary to the future existence 



