American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG:

A curious circumstance relative to this celebrated character, and which excites unlimited interest among his numerous followers, has come to light within a few weeks past. It appears that he departed this life about fifty years ago, and was buried in a vault or small church or chapel in the neighborhood of Ratcliffe highway. Some time after his interment, one of his disciples came over to England, and whether prompted by supernatural inspiration, or by his own blind superstition, does not appear—contrived by means of bribing the sexton or grave digger, to gain admittance to the cemetery where the body was deposited.—Here, in the silent hour of midnight, having previously supplied himself with the necessary implements he broke open the coffin, and severed the head from the departed Saint, with the former of which he safely decamped to his own country. This relic he preserved with the greatest care and veneration till the day of his death, when it was discovered by his surviving relatives; and from written documents left behind the fanatic, the whole circumstance connected with this extraordinary affair were developed—His friends, alarmed at the consequence 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 the request, the coffin was opened and the above story proved to be correct, the trunk only of a skeleton presented 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.

London paper.