26 APRIL 1935, Page 19

SHELLEY'S HEART

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Janus is wrong in stating that Shelley's heart is buried in the English cemetery at Rome. That statement has been made a great many times, but there is not a shadow of founda- tion for it. When the body was burned, Trelawny snatched the heart from the flames,- and, after burying the ashes at Rome, gave the heart to Leigh Hunt.

It was preserved first by Leigh Hunt, then by Mrs. Shelley, afterwards by Lady Shelley, and upon the death of her hus- band, Sir Percy, it was placed in his coffin and buried in the churchyard of St. Peter's Church at Bournemouth. The evidence for these facts is ample and conclusive.—Yours, &C., Leteombe Bowers, ',Vantage.

ALFRED BEESLY.