"
His courageous article is particularly useful for the adduction of
cases in which corpses have lain in the grave far longer than that
of Shakespeare, and been discovered in a state of comparative
perfection. What would one not give to look upon Shakespeare's dead
face!
The letter of "a friend residing near Stratford," from which he
gives a long extract, was from one of my present colleagues in the
Shakespeare Trust, viz.:
3.--Timmins, Sam., as quoted in the last recorded article, writes--
"Some graves of the Shakspeare date were opened at Church Lawford a
few years ago, and the figures, faces, and dresses were perfect,
but, of course, in half an hour were mere heaps of dust.
Shakspeare's grave is near the Avon, but doubtless he was buried
well (in a leaden coffin probably), and there is scarcely room for a
doubt that, with proper precautions, photographs of his face might
be taken perfectly. Surely the end does justify the means here. It
is not to satisfy mere idle curiosity. It is not mere relic-
mongering; it is simply to secure for posterity what we could give--
an exact representation of the great poet as he lived and died.
Surely this is justifiable, at least it is allowable, in the absence
of any authentic portrait. Surely such a duty might be most
reverently done. I doubt after all if it will be; but I am very
strongly in favour of the trial, and if no remains were found, no
harm would be done, the 'curse' to the contrary notwithstanding.
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