THE PROPOSED OPENING OF SHAKESPEARE' TOMB.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1103, 24 October 1883, Page 3

THE PROPOSED OPENING OF SHAKESPEARE' TOMB.

The proposal to exhume Shakespeare’s remains came formally before the Stratford-on-Avon Town Council at their meeting on 4th September. The Mayor said he had been inundated with telegrams and letters from all parts of the kingdom, protesting against the proposed outrage, and calling upon the Corporation to resist the proposal to the uttermost. The Mayor, continuing, said;—“ The attention, I may sny, of the whole civilised world is just now being directed towards our town in conse-fw-qucnce of this proposal to desecrate the tomb of our immortal townsman,

William Shakespeare, I feel that I must, from the high position which I occupy, disabuse the public mind that this Corporation would ever allow such a proposal to ho carried out, I would have it understood that any such impudent proposal wonld moot f>om ns a contemptuous refusal. Not only wonld the Corporation strain every nerve to prevent such an act of desecration, ant I feel certain that the townsmen generally would l band themselves together to guard the sanctity of the poet’s tomb. I could not myself think that anyone could be found so base and depraved ns even to suggest the violation of the poof’s last resting-place.” Several speakers followed the Mayor in denouncing the project, and the Council then decided unanimously to offer their most strenuous opposition lo the scheme. As lay rectors of the chancel they had an important voice in the matter, and they meant to exercise it.