The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-17 00:00:00

CHURCHYARDS AND CHOLERA.

Mr. H. BERKELEY inquired whether, under the im-
possibility of at present brioging into the house a bill to pre-
vent intermural interments, the government would deem
it necessary, under the prevalence of cholera, to bring is a
short bill es a temporary measure, to invest local authorities
with the power to prohibit, upon the representation of me-
dical or other testimony, the interment ef bodies in church.
yards of a dangerous and objectionable character. He put
this question on account of what had recently taken place at
Bristol. In a miserable part of that town inhabited by
persons of the lowest description, and in itself unhealthy,
there was an overladen churchyard, which formed the head-
quarters of the cholera when it visited Bristol. There were
houses about it, the windows of which looked into it, and in
which 20 persons died soon after the cholera made its
appearance. Some ef those bodies were exposed in the
churchyard, and when the inhabitants applied to the magi,-
trates they were informed that there was no existing law to
prevent it.
Sir G. GREY said that no representation of these facts
had been made to him, and if they were correct he bad no
doubt that such an exposure of dead bodies wu illegal
(Hear' hear.) But he thought the facts must be misrepre-
sented. There was no law to distinguish between bodies
that had died of cholera and other diseases, but by the 11
and 12th Viet., e. 68. a 82, the Public Health Act, if, upon the
representation of the local Board of Health, and after cer-
tain inquiry, it appeared that any burialground where the
act was in force was dangerous to health, owing to the sur-
charged state of the graves, and that sufficient means of in-
terment existed within a convenient distance, power wee
given to the general Board of Health to prohibit further
burials in such burial-ground. By a bill, the second reading
of which stood for that evening, it was proposed to give a
further power to the local board, to provide some other con-
venient place for burials. The creation of a local board,
generally speaking, rested with the inhabitants themselves,
of any city or town. by petition. But he was not aware that
the inhabitants of Bristol had petitioned for a local Board of
Health.
Mr. H. BERKELEY.—The same thing bad occurred is
every large town where the cholera bed appeared.
Sir G. GREY said that the set he referred to applied to
every large town, except the metropolis.
PARTY PROCESSIONS IN IRELAND.

Lord CASTLEREAGH said that shortly after the 17th
of March, he had asked the government if it was their idea
tion to bring in chill to put down party processions in Ireland.
At that time he was assured the goverament had some mea-
sore in contemplation, and he was satisfied with the as-
stranoe. Still the house would have seen with grett regret.
by the reports in the newspapers, that a sanguinary conflict
had taken piece on Friday evening, at Castlewellan. (Hear.)
Sir G. GREY said he regretted to have to data that he
had that day received from Ireland iaformation of the chi-
meter alluded to ; be had "...vivid the official report of the
stipendiary magistrate of the neighbourhood, stating Uteri?:
cumstances, u far as they came within his knowledge, 01
the collision which had taken place between a large body of
armed orangemen and a large body of armed ribbonmen, in
the neighbourhood of Castlewellsu; on Friday last. The ex-
tent of the ascertained number of deaths, at the time be
wrote, was four of the ribbonmen and one of the other
party; but tho eiranestances were about to undergo a fall
investigation by the magistrates, and therefore the write
did net enter into any statement of them. Up to Friday
evening, he had received reports stating that the day
had passed off without the slightest breach of the
peace; and it was not till the evening of Friday,
when the procession was returning from Follymore,
the seat of Lord Luso, that this collision had taken place.
It had not yet been ascertained by whom the first shot war
fired ; the result was most disastrous, and one which
every person must deplore ; and, when the facts were telly
ascertained, the matter would receive the attention of the
government.
Lord CASTLEREAGH—I beg to remind the right hon.
baronet that he has not given any answer to my second
question.
Sir G. GREY—I have stated that it will be better for the
government to have before them a full statement of the
facts, before entering into any consideration of the steps to be
taken in the matter.

INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. OSBORNE asked if there was any objection to state
the names of the commissioner to be appointed to carry oat
the provisions of this bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not, at present, state the
names of the commissioners, because he had not yet received
the aceeptance of the office from the gentlemen whom items
proposed to appoint. It was proposed that the duties should
be undertaken by gentlemen in whom the house had the
fullest confidence ; but he bad not yet been auctessful in ob-
taining their acceptance of the office. .

Mr. 08BORNi gave satin that he should repeat the
question en Thursday.

POOR LAW MEDICAL OFFICERS.
Mr. DISRAELI asked if it WWI the intention of the poor-
law 021°4131"in to *Wont orderfor the better reamers-