The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-10 00:00:00

GENEtt CEMETERY COMPANY.

A Public Meeting, convened by the Committee
of this Company, was held yesterday at the Free-
masons' Tavern, Lord MILTON in the Chair. Among
the persons present, besides his Lordship, were the
Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Radstock, Sir J. Dean
Paul, Sir Robert Price, Mr. Spottiswoo'le,the Rev.
James Harris, and Mr. G. F. Carden.
Lord MILTON, on being called to the Chair, said,
that he felt no hesitation, on the present occasion,
in taking upon himself that office. The object of
the meeting was one which every well-constituted
usind must approve. The manner in which the
bodies of the dead were disposed of in this metro-
polis had long been a subject of complaint; and
whether it was considered with reference to the in-
dividual feelings of the survivors, or with regard to
the health and interest of the public, every one must
desire that some improvement should take place. It
had been calculated that no less than 40,000 inter-
' rocks now took place annually in this metropolis.
In 1824, the number was ascertained to be 27,000 ;
and, from several circumstances which had since
occurred to increase that number, there could be no
doubt that the annual interments now fell little short
of 40,000.—The ground now provided was not
adequate to the purpose; and it was therefore pro-
posed to form a large cemetery, which might he so
arranged, that while it was a positive benefit to the
health of the inhabitants of a populous city, it might
be made an ornament to their town, and a means of
healthful recreation to the inhabitants. There was
no reason why London should not be made equal to
the other capitals of Europe, in this respect and with
that view it was now proposed to form the General
Cemetery Company. To prevent the Company
becoming a bubble company, the shares would not
be capable of being transferred till three-fifths of
their amount had been paid up. His Lordship hav-
ing thus called the attention of the meeting to the
general object, should not go into the details of the
plan, which he thought would be best entrusted to
the decision-of a Committee.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, proposed the first
resolution. He said that he had been induced to
attend the meeting, because it seemed to him that
the object was one of importance, and that the pro-
posed Company had nothing in it of a speculating
character, but would, if carried into effect, contri-
bute materially to the improvement of the health,
the police, and the ornament of the metropolis, in a
respect in which it was at this moment lamentably
deficient.—(Hear, hear.)—lt was not only abroad
that such cemeteries existed, for in Liverpool, the
great and worthy rival of this metropolis, a ceme-
tery had been erected, under the care of Mr. Fos-
ter, a distinguished architect, and was most highly
approved of by the people there. Was it fitting,
that while the second town in the empire possessed
such an establishment, the metropolis should be
without it ? Certainly not. He could not but be-
lieve that the plan now proposed would succeed ; '
it would improve the health of the living, while it
gratified their feelings by the security and decency
it would insure to the interment of the dead ; and
he therefore gave it his most cordial support. His
Lordship moved, " That interment within this me-
tropolis is highly objectionable, leading to conse-
quences injurious to health, and offensive to de-
cency."
The Rev. JAMES HARRIS seconded the resolu-
tion, and observed that the cemetery at Liverpool
had been consecrated by the present Bishop of Lon-
don, who at that time held the See of Chester.
The resolution was carried.
Lord RADSTOCK was favourable to the-plan, and
hoped its execution would be entrusted to a well-
selected Committee.

Mr. SPOTTISWOODE was glad to find it was no'
necessary to urge any argument on behalf of the
proposed object, for of the merits of that no one
entertained a doubt.—(ilear.) If any interests were
affected by it (as of the Clergy, for instance) com-
pensation could he afforded. There were, however,
several objections as to the means proposed to carry
the plan into effect. Some objected to the formation
of a Company ; but their objections would be ob-
viated by preventing this Company from becoming
a bubble Company, while it must be evident that to
effect a measure of such public importance, a Com-
pany was absolutely required. The evils of the
present system had been declared by the first reso-
lution. That which he was about to propose
suggested what should be the remedy employed.
He moved, " The only effectual way of remedying
these evils is by the establishment of a General
Cemetery without the limits of the town, which,
while it conduces to the public health, will be highly
ornamental to the metropolis."
Sir ROBERT PRICE seconded the resolution, and
said that he believed the adoption of this plan would
be the best means of avoiding a great public calamity.
The resolution was carried.
Sir J. DEAN PAUL, in moving the third resolu-
tion, observed, that a great many evils resulted from
the present system of interment. Public and pri-
vate decency were often violated—our tenderest
feelings were outraged—the health of the living
was affected—the repose of the dead was not se-
cured—anti, in addition to all these evils, if the sys-
tem should be continued, increased mortality, with
diminished means of proper interment, might pro-
duce that dreadful scourge of nature, a plague. It
was for the purpose of obtaining the means of re-
moving these evils that the present meeting were
called on for their assistance, and with their assist-
ance the evils would certainly be removed.—(Hear,
hear.)—But there were other objections to the pre-
sent system, which the plan now proposed would
obviate. The expence of a funeral was now very
great—(Hear)—it was an expellee which came on
all when their hearts were bowed down with sor-
row—when lost in grief they hardly knew what
orders they assented to, in consequence of which
many involved themselves in expellees they were
but ill able to bear.--(Hear, hear.)—The plan
would be a public benefit if it only went to diminish
such an evil—(Hear, hear)—but it would do much
more, and was in every way deserving of public pa-
tronage. The resolution he was about to propose
pledged the Company to make economy as much as
possible one of their objects. He moved, " That
in establishing such a Cemetery, it. is advisable to
avoid every expence that may tend to increase the
cost of interment."
The resolution was seconded by Mr. BEAUMONT,
and carried unanimously.
Colonel MONEY said, that he thought one objec-
tion to the present plan was, the compensation to
be afforded to the Clergy.
Mr. SnovrtswooDE answered, that that would be
matter for subsequent deliberation. It the Clergy
had any vested right, compensation must be granted
—if they had none, compensation would not be
required.
Mr. DOUGLAS remarked, that he thought a resolu-
tion ought to he adopted disconnecting the plan
from the Church of England. He recommended
that different portions of the ground should be al-
lotted for different persons, and that one among
these portions might be consecrated by the Ministers
of the Established Church, for the satisfaction of
those who belonged to that body. Persons of a
different persuasion would not wish the Church
Service said over them.
Lord MILTON said that he apprehended the
ground must be consecrated. No one would wish
that it should not be consecrated. There might then
be a Chapel' on the ground in which the funeral
service might be performed by the Ministers of the
various sects according to the rites of their sects.
Mr. CARDEN said, that in rising to propose the
fourth resolution he felt much embarrassed, for it
was impossible he should avoid being highly grati-
fied at seeing a plan on which he had bestowed so
many years' attention thus produced to the public,
and supported by men of rank and character. He
had seen the late Bishop of London on the subject,
and his Lordship was very favourable to the plan.
He believed he might say the same of the present
Bishop, and of most of his Clergy. He then Went
into some little detail of the circumstances that

r endered his plan necessary, and concluded by
moving—
" That this meeting approves of the principle or►
which the General Cemetery has been formed, and
recommends all . who feel interested in the public
welfare, and in the improvement of public taste, to
join them in forwarding this important object."
The resolution was seconded aif I carried.
Mr. Foss, in order to secure the object to which
their Chairman had alluded, namely, the preventing
of this Company becoming a bubble company, pro-
posed a resolution to this effect :
" That this meeting approves of the resolution
already adopted by the Committee, that shares in
!his Company shall not be transferrable uut►l three-
fifths of their amount shall have been paid up."
The resolution was adopted.
A vote of thanks was passed to Lord Milton for
his conduct in the Chair, and the meeting then
separated.