The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

THE STATE OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCHYARD WaS
brought before the City Commissioners on Tuesday.
The horrible and disgusting facto detailed by Dr.
Letheby, who reported the case, would scarcely
be believed in these days of sanitary improvement.
This churchyard, in extent considerably less than one
acre, was so full of bodies in May,1853, that the Home
Secretary ordered it to be immediately closed. Since
then, however, Dr. Letheby reports, no less than three
thousand bodies have been added to the soil ! Human
bones protrude from the earth on all sides, and
though the soil of the churchyard is from ten to
fifteen feet above the level of the road, the daily
addition of bodies raises the soil so much that the
gravediggers are compelled now to plank up the
railings in order to prevent the bones and soil from
falling out into the street:—
Everywhere (observes Dr. Letheby) on the surface of
the ground bones and decaying wood were abundantly
scattered about, and the soil itself was saturated with
decomposing organic matters ; indeed, it exhibited, in a
very marked degree, that peculiarly oily or unctuous quality
which is characteristic of the overcharged soil of the
London graveyards. I took away a portion of the earth
for experiment, and I place before you the disgusting fetid
liquor which I obtained by a distillation of only two
ounces of the soil. This will convince yon that church-
yard earth is not so innocent or innocuous a thing as many
have supposed.
In all directions the ground was considerably above its
natural level, and at my request the gravedigger and his
assistant explored it in several directions, in order that I
might ascertain at what depth the coffins were buried. Tn
several places they were not more than three feet from the
surface, and in one case the coffin was covered with less
than two feet of earth.

A copy of the report was ordered to be immediately
forwarded to the Home Secretary.

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW was opened
to the public on Tuesday and for the three following
days. At all the previous periods of the exhibition
the number of visitors has never been so great as
during this week. The show of cattle is deemed
scarcely equal to the average, both in point of Lreed
and number. The Herefords and Devons, though
here and there displaying a fine animal, particularly
in the Marquis of Exeter's prize ox, fall below the
standard of previous years. The Welsh cattle, of
which one remarkably fine ox was exhibited by
Colonel Pemnant, and soothe: by Sir Richard
William Bulkeley, offer a successful proof in favour
of the improvement to be obtained by high feeding.
Among the sheep, the Leicesters showed best ; the
Southdown and Cotswolds were inferior; while the
crosses between the two breeds showed a marked
superiority in all points. The many fine specimens
of cross breeds, both in cattle and sheep, were a
leading feature in this year's show; and the com-
mittee, in passing them over and awarding prizes
only to the pure breed, do not appear to have been
actuated by those motives of liberal encouragement
to stock-breeders which should in some degree
influence their judgment in the award of prizes.
Among the pigs, Mr. John Scott of Mahon, the great
trainer of race-horses, exhibits an animal of gigantic
size, and of the enormous weight of sixty-six stone,
or nearly I,ooolbs. The gold medals has been
awarded to the Marquis of Exeter for the best ox ;
to Mr. Keene Ambler for the best cow; to Mr.
Rigden, of Hove, for the best one-year old short-
woolled sheep; to Mr. R. L. Bradshaw for the best
loug•woolled sheep ; and to Mr. John Coate for the
best pen of pigs.

THE HUME TESTIMONIAL was Considered at a
public meeting held on Thursday at the Court•house,
Marylebone. Sir B. Hall, M.P., Mr. Roebuck, M.P.,
Mr. Osborne, M.P., Mr. Williams, Mr. Apsley
l'ellatt, Colonel Sykes, Sir James Duke, Bart., &c.,
were present and addressed the meeting, speaking
mainly to the merits and career of the late Mr.
Hume. Resolutions proposing a memorial to his
memory, and instituting a committee to collect a
public subscription, and to draw up a petition to
Parliament to erect a statue in the vestibule of the
House of Commons, were unanimously passed.
A MEETING OF THE RATEPAYERS OF HACKNEY took
place on Thursday for the purpose of considering the
imposition of a ne-c church rate. The meeting was
of an exceedingly stormy character, and a poll was
ultimately demanded, to close this afternoon. By
Thursday evening a majority of ninety six against
the rate was returned, and there was every prospect
of the proposition being thrown out.

THE ELECTION FOE THE REPRESENTATIVES to the
Central Board of Works from the various metro-
politan parishes, took place on Wednesday last-
when the members for the different districts wore
duly returned.
AT the quarterly dinn'r at Fishmongers'•hall on
Thursday Sir Charles Napier returned thanks for the
navy, and observed that the public must not feel dis-
appointed at the result of the Baltic campaigns, as
the time to do work was so limited ; but if the
Government would only act with vigour, and give the
admirals clear orders, they would soon show their
readiness to do any worls.

SATURDAY,

THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY held their
annual meeting at Exeter-hall on Thursday, when
the report of the society was read by the Secretary,
Mr. Gruneisen. The affairs of the society appear in
the most satisfactory state, and fully justify the
cordial support given by the public. The total re.
ceipts for the year amounted to 209,0321. Bs. Ifld. ,
while the reserved fund np to September 29 amounted
to 8,3911. 18s. 6d., and the profit on the year displayed
a balance of 2,2901. Bs. 7d., enabling the committee
to declare a bonus of six per cent.
THE ORNAMENTAL WATERS OF THE PARKS have been
slightly frozen over during the week, and every pre-
oaution was used by the Royal Humane Society to
induce the people not to venture on the ice, but in
vain. In the course of Thursday upwards of 2,000
persons were at one time on the ice in St. James's.
park. Towards the afternoon, when the thermometer
bad risen to 331, the ice became exceedingly dan-
gerous, and several accidents occurred without
serious results; but shortly after 3 p.m., some boys
who were pelting a young gentleman with snow.
balls, suddenly came to a weak part of the ice, which
gave way, and precipitated eleven or twelve into
the water. The greatest efforts were made by the
icemen to rescue the boys, and several were shortly
got out, and carried to the marquee at once. One
boy named Cole was so exhausted that he died
shortly afterwards, in spite of every effbrt to restore
him; and a report gained ground that two more buys
were still under the ice, but after careful dragging
no trace of them could be found, and the report is
hoped to De incorrect. Though the Serpentine was
too unsafe to permit any experiments, the round
pond in Kensington-gardens was firm and solid, and
afforded good amusement to the skaters during the
day. The Regent's-park water was well frozen over,
but scarcely considered safe. The sudden thaw
which has returned will effectually check any further
amusements at present.
THE BANK OF ENGLAND, by virtue of an Order in
Council of last Friday, has been empowered, to
issue additional Bank of England notes to the amount
of 475,0-01., according to the act of 1844.
THE COAL-WHIPPERS OF LONDON held a public
meeting on Tuesday at St. Paul's, Shadwell, for the
purpose of adopting measures for obtaining the
renewal of the Coal whippers' (Port of London) Act.
The rector of Shadwell took the chair, and in a brief
address pointed out the beneficial effects of the act,
which he hoped to see renewed. Various resolutions
agreoing to petition Parliament for a renewal of the
act were adopted, and the meeting separated.
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S RETURN for the week
shows a mortality of 1,099 persons against 1,031
births. The mortality is below the average.
THE CRYSTAL. PALACE COMPANY in their late report
show a total expenditure up to July last of 1,231,0001.,
a further sum of 70,0001. being required to close the
capital account.
THE LATE EXPLOSION IN WOOLWICH ARSENAL has
proved fatal to two more of the unfortunate sufferers.
William Wallace expired on Friday week, and
Thomas Holland on Saturday, after great suffering.
A Flout for lOW. a side, between Jones and
Madden, came off in the Kentish Marshes, Long
Reach, last Tuesday, and resulted in the death of
Jones, who expired the day after from the severo
injuries he had received.