The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-02 00:00:00

TIT) NRCROPOLIS INQUIRY.

A. public meeting of the friends of persons buried in the
Necropolis was held at two o'clock yesterday, in the Con_
cert Hall, Lord Nelson street, for the purpose of receiving
If. report from the committee appointed at the last meeting•
The meeting was very numerously attended ; the galleries
were chiefly occupied by females, most of whom were in
mourning. The chair was occupied by John Woodruff,

Esq., churchwarden.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that on
Monday, the 23rd of March, a meeting was called at the
Clarendon Rooms, for the purpose of giving an opportu-
nity to those persons who had friends buried in the
Necropolis of expressing their sentiments in reference to
the proceedings which had recently taken place there. It
was a very crowded and a very excited meeting, and,
after considerable discussion, it was resolved that a com-
mittee should be appointed to investigate the cir-
cumstances that had taken place, to confer with the
Parochial Authorities, the Health Committee, and the
Board of Health in London, and to get information
from any source whatever, for the purpose of reporting at
a future meeting. The committee took considerable pains
to investigate the various matters connected with the
enquiry. They had interviews with the trustees of the
Necropolis; they had investigated the books to a con-
siderable extent, and the result of their labours would
pow be laid before the meeting in a report. (Hear, hear.)
He, in common with them all, regretted exceedingly the
necessity for holding the meeting, but however strong they
might feel upon the subject he trusted that the meeting
would be conducted as quietly as the circumstances of the
case would admit of—(hear, hear),—and that if there
were any opposition to any of the resolutions they would
give each speaker a fair and patient hearing. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. F. Hull, solicitor, then react the following
REPORT

of a committee appointed at a General Meeting of Friends
of Persons Buried in the Necropolis, held in the Clarendon
Rooms, on Monday, the 23rd March.
Your committee beg leave to report that, through the
medium of Messrs. Fletcher and Hull, they put themselves
in communication with the Health Committee, and with
the trustees of the Necropolis. That, from the trustees of
the Necropolis, they required first, a free inspection of the
books ; secondly, a liberty to attend the meeting called by
the trustees for Wednesday last, at the Necropolis ;
thirdly, a demand that any grave should be opened on a
request in writing. The trustees replied by at once
offering a free inspection of their books. and by assenting
to the opening of any grave; but they refused to admit
either your committee or the reporters to the press at the
meeting of their proprietors, and your committee, there-
fore, do not know what determination the proprietors
came to at that meeting.
Your committee, availing themselves of an inspection ol
the books, have ascertained that this burial ground was
originated in 1823, by a few gentlemen, dissenters from
the Church of England. That the promoters having
purchased the land, proposed the scheme as a joint stock
company ; and it was stated that the objects principally
de:;ired to be obtained were, " security against robbery,
the constant attendance of an officiating minister, freedom
from the obligation of using a ritual, and exemption from
exorbitant charges and fees." The promoters further
stated, that they offered the land to the public without
any pecuniary benefit whatever being derived from it by
the purchasers.
The money subscribed was £7,000, and it was agreed
that " no subscriber should, under any circumstances, be
allowed to hold, either in his own name or in any other
name, more than fifteen shares." The land purchased
contained 21,000 square yards. A. set of books was ordered
to be prepared for the regulation of the company and of
the burial ground—,
Ist. A register of funerals.
2nd. A book of receipts and disbursements.
3rd. A list of trustees.
4th. A ledger.
sth. An index book, to accompany a plan of the ground,
6th. A day book.
7th. A plan of the ground, which was subsequently
prepared by Mr. Franklin.
These books were admirably adapted for the purposes
required, and, if correct, afford the most ample informa-
tion and easy reference to any enquirer.
A registrar was appointed to take charge of the books
and to conduct the funeral services of the burial ground;
and, amongst his other duties, he was required to exercise
a vigilant inspection of the ground, and to direct the

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