The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-03 00:00:00

T IEI 1;4'1 SUN,

purer water, more regular drainage, and more effec-
tual ventilation.

It was observed yesterday at the vestry meeting
abave referred to, that the Chief Commissioner of
Woods and Forests had recently expressed his inten-
tion of purchasing the West of London and West-
minster Cemetery in the name of her 111a.rasrv's Go-
vernment. This assurance was given, it appears, to
the reverend gentleman, who announced the circum-
stance to the assembled rate-payers, the venerable
Archdeacon of Middlesex. The intimation afforded
another clue to the failure always observable
in the official efforts to secure the benefits of extra-
mural sepulture to the metropolis. Whenever Minis-
ters have consented to come forward themselves to
the aid of the unfortunate inhabitants of the capital;
it has been invariably in some way wholly inadequate
to the extraordinary nature of the emergency.
Whereas, the city of Paris is at once (in a sanitary
sense) blessed and (in a topographical sense) beauti-
fied by the vast area and picturesque arrangements of
Pere la Chaise, London is compelled to witness the
opening of six or seven. minor cemeteries inappropriate
fis regards situation, and altogether insufficient as
regards their dimensions. Already we have re-
peatedly taken occasion to insist upon the false
economy of this peddling system of arrangements.
We have protested
against the folly of thisleft
t
left-
handed, wall-eyed method o:nfts. Whatproceeding
h capital of
in e
the
direc-
tion of sanitary improvements.
England requires is not a small cemetery at Nor-
wood, or one at Highgate, or one at Brompton,
but a grand burial-place such as the
projected Necropolis at Wcking,
might be interred every year,
where 50,000
bodies
and 3. et
four centuries be required, even at that rate of sepul-
ture, to fill up the whole of the ground to a moderate
depth. Such are the means by which alone the
health of the capital could be insured, and by which
the annual mortality of London and its vicinity could
be materially diminished. Among other enormous
social advantages of a different character, we look
confidently for the fulfilment of our hopes in this par-
ticular to the present advisers of the SOVELEIGN.

The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway
Company are, as usual, early in tho &Id. Tha half-

yearly general meeting was held yesterday, at the
Bridge-house Hotel, under the presidency of the

chairman, J. LAING, Esq., M.P., when a dividend of
1/. 12s. per cent. was declared for the half-year ending
the 30th June last. It must, however, be borne in

mind that this has been the most unfavourable portion

of the year, and that the Brighton directors do not
follow the practice generally adopted of leaving
a reserve fond for the purpose of equalising
the dividend. That which has been fairly
earned, and which is properly available for
the purposes of dividend, is fully divided
among the shareholders, and the quotations of prices
on the Stock Exchange afford the best evidence that
the practice is not disapproved of by the community.
It was announced that the traffic of the :past half-
year was about equal to that of the corresponding
period of 1851, a statement that was deemed
highly satisfactory, when it was considered that there
bad been a large increase is the receipts during the
former period, on account of the Great Exhibition ;
and also that the inclement and unsettled state of the
weather during the Derby week, and the greater
part of June, had reduced the receipts at
those times far below what might reason-
ably have been anticipated. It, therefore
showed a very auspicious state of affairs, when, not-
withstanding these drawbacks, there had been no
falling off whatsoever from the former six months,
the most profitable there had been for many years.
In alluding to the accident that happened last year
at New Cross, and for which the company had to pay
in the whole no less than 3,5001., the Chairman com-
mented upon the unfairness of the existing law, and
the hardship of compelling railway companies to be
the insurers against all casualties that may happen
upon their lines, and contrasted the case of
the loss of the Amazon, where no demand
was made against the, Steam-packet Company,
and they were considered to have behaved liberally in
giving 200 guineas to the fund for the relief of the
sufferers, with that of the trifling collision at New
Cross, which cost the Company 14 times the amount,
although no really serious injury was sustained. It
is not the law, however, which makes the difference
so mach as the anxiety of jurors to make railway
companies pay extravagantly on the most trivial
pretexts. There can be no doubt that railway
companies are severely and most unwarrantably
mulcted in every stage of their progress. From
the first publication of the projected undertakings
during their progress through Parliament until
when in full operation, they are charged not
only. an income-tax to the national exchequer, but
also a Passenger-tax of 5 per cent. on the gross re-
ceipts from passengers, without any allowance being
made for expenses in carrying on the traffic. They
are also victimised to no small extent by the various
parishes through which they pass for poor-rate, and
also exposed to exorbitant demands for compensation,
and occasionally great imposition, in the event of any
unfortunate accident, although they may have taken
every precaution that human foresight could provide.
The suggestion that the principle of the Carriers'
Act should be extended to lives, and that nothing
beyond a certain amount should be charged unless
there had been an extra payment to an insurance
fund, appears well worthy of consideration. Two
persons, men of rank and station, may be travelling
in the same train, and both killed by a casualty over
which the directors bad no control, bat for which
they were responsible in law—e. g., the misconduct
of a servant whose qualifications had been carefully
tested, but who thought proper to disobey or neglect
the regulations by which he should be guided. For
oiae,, they might have to pay little, if anything, as his
family had derived no profit from his life. But fur the
otter they might hays to pay 20,000/. or 30,0001.
sterling, although equal care was exercised towards
both, and they had given exactly equal sums for
their journey. This certainly appears to be a hard-
ship. There is justice in the demand that where
heavy damages would be incurred, proportionately
high fares should be paid.
was also given to the directors to borrow
te' utwi. including the sums necessary for the
Crystal Palace traffic. We trust that the admirable
project,
we alluded some week 3 since, of
establishing nalt-w t •
to Which
ol the -Palace may a,er baths in the immediate vicinity
if judiciouakl
It is indeed
an lit carried into speedy exc•clean.
one svhica, or national iropor.ance,
materially
Yanand efficiently carried into
promote the health and
immense profit to the company.
ecoxrnEcfnotritnno'fwtohnelainhaleitantYs the metropolis, and
prove a source of
There are many persona unable to
the
etain salt-water
permanentutmost value,
of attraction'
bathing, to whom it would be
alaeeieie sub
scribers. sad who might be calculated on as
conveyed et.
scribers. Even the Crystal
scarcely prove a greater object
Thoseea
who have
Brightontl'egh:ftbrieyoocinfuierinpctoulry7ods pwiapteePsr:
eejoyed a plunge in the open sea, who have felt the
of the salt water on their nerves, and
bwrhaoc i ehaveg pined fur a repetition of the de-
lightful and salutary
exercise, will feel strongly
interested in seeing the project fully and fairly
carried out.
We cannot pass from this subject without alluding
to another matter in which, although the Brighton
COmpiny are in no degree concerned, tLe
health and comfort of the people may be
largely promoted. Several gentlemen of scientific
attainments en Saturday visited the water
sources from whence it is intended to supply
the metropolis with pure and
wholesome water from
the hill tops, in place of that now in use. Mr.
P. 0. WALD clearly explained the superiority of the
pure spring over the sewage.tainsed water DOW
supplied, and the immense pecuniary saving.,
to say nothing of the sanitary advantages of the
scheme. A report of the proceedings will
ne found in
i another part of our impression,
to Which we would earnestly invite public attention.
The Pl'speedily
mast be brought into oPeration,
and when its
advantages are fully known the only
wonder will be
h
tented with the detowcietnh! people
unwholesome
w
ere so l
supply
g con-
that which may truly and of
lily be termed the chief necessary
of life.

COLONEL BRUEN AT
' —2---Thbre is no truth in the
report current in the early part of this week, that the Colonel
had been attacked with apoplexy, The Gallant Colonel is
now in excellent health.