The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-27 00:00:00

lantly observed in case of suspended animation. With
the latter view, many of them are specially furnished
and specially officered. In that at Frankfort, for in-
stance, each body is placed in a separate warmed and
ventilated cell ; cords are attached to the fingers in such
manner that the slightest movement occasions the ring-
ing of an alarm. Night and day watch is kept in a
central apartment, which looks into each cell, and has
the several alarum bells hung round it. Adjacent is a
room designed for acts of resuscitation, with bath, gal-
vanic apparatus, and the like, always in readiness for
constant use ; and, so long as any corpse lies within the
reception house, the medical superintendent of the es-
tablishment never goes beyond its walls. Dr. Suther-
land, whose report to the General Board of Health is
full of interesting information on the burial institutions
of the continent, praises the completeness and ingenuity
of these contrivances, adding, however, that "after
careful inquiry at all the cities where he found them to
exist, he could not learn that any case of resuscitation
had as yet occurred." I may add, too, as regards my
own personal experience in this country, that with ex-
tensive opportunities it has never happened to me either
to see any case of suspended animation, where doubts of
death and question of interment could arise, nor to hear
in professional circles of any such occurrence. I there-
fore think it quite unnecessary to recommend any ar-
rangement of reception houses with reference to the
resuscitation of persons apparently dead. The object
for which I would desire their institution, is exclusively
that of receiving dead bodies out of the houses of the
poor, in order to mitigate those evils which arise in pro-
longed retention of the corpse. That this object is in
itself very desirable, and that, under the prevalence of
epidemic disease, its accomplishment might be of urgent
necessity, you will not doubt; and the responsibility for
fulfilling it, or at least for giving all facilities to its ful-
filment, is so distinctly imposed on you by the letter
and spirit of the law, that you will probably wish to
take measures accordingly. The extent, then, to
which my information on the subject would lead me
to recommend provisions to be made, is this—l would
advise that accommodation of an appropriate character
(savouring in style rather of an ecclesiastical construc-
tion, than of the workhouse or dissecting room) be ar-
ranged for the reception of 50 coffins. For this purpose
I would suggest, not the building of several separate
reception houses within the city of London, in order to
their being respectively adjacent to the portions of popu-
lation which might use them ; but rather the establish-
ment of one only, and that on the site of your cemetary.
Thus the conveyance of bodies, which would take place
under your auspices, might be made with greater
economy, since it could work into the plan I have already
suggested. The advantage of having only a single edi-
fice (especially since its use is likely to be limited), and
of including its superintendence in the general organisa-
tion of your cemetary, cannot be questioned. And it
seems to me, likewise, that a building designed for the
reception of so many dead bodies cannot conveniently be
established in the heart of the city.
I would of course recommend that the use of this
building should be entirely optional with the poor, and
that its advantages should be allowed gratuitously to
persons burying in your ground, so that any one, who,
in respect of his cemetery fee, would be entitled to have
a corpse conveyed thither for funeral purposes, might
claim this conveyance as soon as he chose after the oc-
currence of death, and might have the coffin kept, with
all proper formalities, in the reception-house till the
moment fixed for its interment.
On further particulars connected with this part of
your arrangements, I do not think it requisite at present
to dwell, especially because, while I regard the establish-
ment of a reception house to be quite indispensable to
the complete fulfilment of your new responsibilities, I
still look upon it as an institution to be gradually deve-
loped in the course of years, and according to circum-
stances yet undetermined, rather as something which
ought at once to assume its permanent character and
proportions.

Here, too, in concluding this introductory report, I
may observe that I have endeavoured, as far as possible,
to avoid encumbering it with detail. For myself, in its
construction I have thought it indispensable to pursue
the subject into minuter ramifications, to consider a vast
number of circumstances here scarcely mentioned, to
make myself acquainted with the burial customs of other
countries, to review a great variety of opinions and
arguments which have been advanced on the several
matters alluded to, and to consult with persons practi-
cally versed in them. But to have brought all this mate-
rial before you would have prolonged my report to an
inconvenient extent, and with no proportionate utility.
Further, as regards the details of the subject, there are
many parts on which I cannot address you with the con-
fidence that belongs to personal knowledge. The general
principles which I have set before you do indeed lie
within range of my official and professional observation.
But the next stage of your inquiry relates to matters of
special pursuit, with which I am only indirectly conver-
sant ; and whatever information I may have compiled
for myself from other sources you will probably best
obtain at first hand. Practical experience in the con-
struction and working of cemeteries has now for many
years been the growing knowledge of persons connected
with their administration by ties of business or by official
appointment. In many instances it has been dearly pur-
chased, and notorious failures have arisen from its ab-
sence. Regard being had to the magnitude of your un-
dertaking, hitherto unprecedented in the country, and to
the immense interests involved in your success, I cannot
but earnestly hope that such experience may be made
available for your information.
At an early period you will have to determine what,
appointments will be requisite with a view to the archi-
tectural and other designs of your cemetery, to its eco-
nomical planning and decorations, to the superintendence
of its daily working, to its financial management, to the
conveyance of bodies, and to all intramural organisation
connected therewith. Minute details will be best con-
sidered when these appointments are made, and when
you will naturally have the benefit of such practical ex-
perience as may best assist your deliberations ; for the
task on which you are engaged extends, I need hardly
say, far beyond the purchase of certain acres for your
burial ground. It implies, for its completion, that you
shall possess an adequate plan on which the interment of
your population may be managed during many succeed-
ing generations—a plan constructed, first of all, with
entire regard to the general good of the public, and
next, with as little violence as may be to those habits,
prejudices, and interests which are involved in the pre-
sent system of interment.
The construction of such a plan constitutes a very large
question of municipal policy—one which, because (If its
solemn subject, and because of the degree in which
human feelings and affections are involved in it—re-
quires to be handled with peculiar discretion and delicacy,
but which not the less requires to be contemplated in a
large and comprehensive manner.
I have, therefore, thought I should best fulfil the ob-
ject of your reference by bringing before you those
general principles which lie at theroot of all minute con-
siderations ; in order that—having first determined on
them, and having taken one collective view of the sub-
ject—you may better know at what time, and in what
order, and to what extent you would wish the minor
details to be developedfor your information.—l have the
honour to remain, gentlemen, your obedient faithful
servant, JOHN SIMON.

REPORT OF THE OLMUTZ CONFERENCE.

(From the Press.)
(By our Special Telegraph.)

(A. chamber at Olmutz. The Emperor of Austria
is seated on a low couch, smoking a cigarette.
The Czar of Russia is striding about the room.
A large map of Europe hangs against the wall.)

Czar (impatiently)—My dear brother, there is one
word which I cannot get you Germans to utter or to un-
derstand.

Emperor (languidly)—Ah ! What's that ?
Czar—The word Now. This is what I have been
trying to impress upon you all the morning. And when
I think I have made the case clear you light a fresh
cigar, and ask me in which opera Grisi made the great-
est impression in Petersburg. Nobody likes singers
and dancers better than I do—in their place—but, young
as you are, you must feel that there is such a thing as
business.
Emperor—Don't I feel it ? Ask Buol.

Czar—See ! There never was such an opportunity—l
may say there never was such a necessity—for us to un-
derstand one another. A bold united front now, and
you, my dear brother, may sit down in peace, and en-
joy your music, and your tobacco, and your charming
female society for the rest of your life.
Emperor—Do you believe that ? Because, to speak
the truth, I would really as soon be at peace as at war.
Our people here like peace.
Czar—Our people like—what I like. But I do not
blame you for consulting, as far as you properly can,
the prejudices of your subjects. What I propose to you
seems to me the course they would desire. For what
on earth but a disturbance must follow if Austria takes
part with England and France against me ?
Emperor—lt is not against you, my dear brother ;
but, after all, there bangs the map, and we do not want
to make a new edition necessary.
Czar—Don't be offended if I remind you that Kossuth
would have made a new edition necessary some time
ago but for a friend of yours.
Emperor--I have not forgotten it. Have we not just
—discovered—the regalia of Hungary, providentially in
perfect preservation, and not a jewel lost?
Czar—Dear me ! I did hear that the Crown jewels
of Hungary were in America.
Emperor—The Court jewellers will give you any cer-
tificate you please to the contrary. They are most up-
right tradesmen. I hope you are satisfied with their
assurance that these are the original articles.
Czar—Heaven forbid that I should doubt a Court
tradesman. But, if you should ever happen to lose them
again, the same number of men, or more if necessary,
shall always be ready to assist in the recovery. Re-
member that. Ido not know whether France or Eng-
land makes you the same offer.
Emperor —You know my feeling towards both. As
for France—but I suppose we have both the same reve-
rence for parvenus. As for England—
Czar—Aberdeen, I assure you, is a good man, a wor-
thy man, and one who thoroughly understands and
trusts me.

Emperor—That we have never doubted. But ho is
powerless.
Czar—Not so powerless. He can do nothing, except
one thing, which is better than if he did a great many
things. He has the gift of preventing stronger people
from doing anything. Aberdeen has, in his dull, sour,
obstructive way (for I admit he is not brilliant), done
me very good service all through this business Per-
haps I know the English better than you. The islanders
place a great value on something which continentals care
little about— I mean public character. Now, my good
Aberdeen has not scrupled in his old age to sacrifice all
that remained to him of that article, for the sake of