The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-19 00:00:00

249 215

INTRAMURAL BURIALS.
Last eying a meeting of the " Metropolitan So-
ciety for the Abolition of Burials in Cities and
Towns" was held at the society's rooms, New Bridge-
street, Blackfriars, Mr. G. A. Walker, President, in
the chair.
Mr. THICKB, the secretary, read the answer of the
General Board of Health to an application from
the society for an interview with the board. The
reply stated that the board had refused to receive
deputations from parties who were desirous of oppos-
ing the orders issued by the board for the closing of
graveyards, and that they were also compelled by
the terms of the Nuisances Amendment Act to con-
duct their proceedings by inquiries into each indivi-
dual case. Should the society have any new infor-
mation on the subject the board would gladly accede
to their request, but, as in doing so they must also
hear many parties besides, the effect would only
be to occupy time and delay the effurts that the board
were bent on making for the removal of acknowledged

evils.
The Rev. E. CRAIG, of Pentonville Chapel, said tha
the answer was highly satisfactory. It assumed the
principles of the society to be well-founded, and fully
proved that the board were resolved to comply with
the wishes of the country respecting intramural
burials.—(Bear, hear.) ahe board acted wisely in
not admitting deputations, and in not allowing the
question to be re-opened.
Mr. G. TIIOMI'SON, M.P., said, that considering
the peculiar, and, he might add, appalling condition
of the country, he thought that the time had arrived
when the society might adopt the following resolu-
tion, which he should take the liberty of laying upon
the table for their consideration:—
" 1. In recognizing the value and importance of the
co-operation of the public press in the cause of the abo-
lition of intramural burials, this committee regard the
unanimous denunciation of the practice by the journals
of the metropolis and the provinces as matter of siecerr
congratulation; that they believe thereby essential aid
has been renered to the object, end would therefore
record the expression of their gratitude and thanks to the
newspapf r press of the country."— (Hear, hear.)
" 2. That the evidence laid before the Select Parlia-
mentary Committee of 1842 on the subject of intramural
burials has been strikingly illustrated, .and
,its truth
abundantly confirmed, by the accumulating and appal-
ling facts which have been recently adduced, and that
the constantly recurring proofs of the dangers and fatal
consequences arising from the crowding of unlimited
numbers of dead bodies into limited spaces of ground,
fully justify the report of the Committee, as also the opi-
nion of the House of Commons, as declared by a majo-
rity of the assembly in 1845.
" That, adverting to the circumstances alluded to in
the foregoing resolutions, and to the lamentable tact, that
already many thousands of the inhabitants of the metro-
polis have been slain by the visitation of the epidemic
cholera (the ravages of which disease still continue with
slight abatement), this committee deem it their duty, in
the prosecution at this awful crisis of the work they have
undertaken, to address an earnest memorial to the Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department, with the view
of bringing under the consideration of the responsible
Minister of the Crown the propriety of proposing to the
Cabinet the promulgation of an order in Council re-
quiring measures to be adopted throughout the kingdom
for the prevention of the practice of intramural burials;
a practice which, as has been repeatedly demonstrated,
is fraught with the most terrible and irremediable con-
sequences."
The Hon. Member said he congratulated the society
upon the fact that, with scarcely a .single exception,
the presi of the country fearlessly, and regardless of
local interests, proved itself the zealous guardian of
the lives of the public by warring against one of the
most odious, offensive, and deadly nuisances that
could disgrace a country.—(Hear, thews.) To their
president (Mr. Walker), whose indefatigable la-
bours exposed the crying evil years ago (and well
would it have been tor the nation had his warning
voice been attended to), the country and the Go-
vernment owed a deep debt of gratitude, which it
was hoped they would pay, and pay liberally.—
) (Hear.) In recommending her Majesty to issue an
Order in Council for the immediate closing of grave-
yards ) in cities and towns during the recess, they
D recommended a last resource which the appalling
D mortality of the country justified.—(Hear.) lie
2 (Mr. Thompson) recommended the appointment of a
U sub-committee to draw up a meuiprial to the Se-
eretary of State, embodying the resolutions which he
1 had read, and, without further trespassing on their
1 time, he would move the first resolution.
2 Dr. T. EVANS seconded the resolution.
IThe Rev. E. CRAIG moved the second resolution,
3 and expressed his determination to put down, as
• quickly as possible, burials in his churchyard, where,
o within a very short period, he had seen the same
o grave thrice opened. He repeated what he had al-
-4 ready stated, that he believed that there were many of
2 the clergy as willing as he was to do away with in-
-1 tramural burials.
o Mr. R. D. TENNENT seconded the resolution.
1 The third resolution was moved by Dr. Parker,
• seconded by Mr. T. liamber, and sum' tecl by Mr.
2 L. J. Hansard.
1 •
1. he resolutions having been carried,
1 Dr. Powenr. felt great pleasure in stating that the
2 medical profession fully approved of the society, and
O highly appreciated Mr. Walker's services. In his
O district the medical men were aware of the atrocities
1 committed in graveyards, and the great damage the
1 public health sustained from them. With that ins-
-1 pression they were endeavouring to get closed St.
o George's burial-ground, which was one great cess.
• pool, close to toe dwellings of the aristocracy, who
O • inhaled from it a deadly poison which rendered the
O very air putrid. For 80 years it had been a recep-
-1 tacle for the dead, who were so packed together that
• a shilling could not be passed between them. Such
4 was the state of the pauper burial ground, in many
1 instances the coffins were not 18 inches from the sur-
-1 face. On one occasion, in order to make room for
▪ more, a portion of a body was dissevered, with the
1 muscles and integuments attached to the osseous
1 structure, thrown on a tree. The exhalation from
0
the
graveyard rendered the atmosphere nauseous,
2
disgusting, and putrid; and the scenes enacted in it
1
1 were revolting to contemplate. A memorial, signed
oz, by 41 medical men, requesting that it be closed, was
o presented to the Board of Health.—(Hear, hear.)
1 After a few words from: the CHAIRMAN,
1 A sub-committee was appointed to draw up a
O memorial to the Secretary of State, and the meetirg
O separated at a late hour.

THE HON. AND REV. BAPTIST NOEL.—The ne-
gotiations for the occupation by Mr. Noel of Mr. Mot'•
timer's chapel, Gray's Inn-road, have been, we under-
stand, brought to en unsuoce:sfal termination, owing to
legal difficulties. It appears that the chapel is the pro.
perty of Mr. Davenport, who, under a CommiesiQn of
Lunacy, was declared some years ago incompetent to
manage his own affairs. Now, as Mr. Davenport is an
Episcopalian, the Court of Chancery will not sanction
the transfer of the chapel to a Dissenter, on the ground
that, if Mr. Davenport verb compos mends, he would
probably objt ct to such trans ier, the Court lcoling bound
not to do any act of which Mr. Davenport, in his right
mind, might disapprove. it is now, we believe, vk r)-
ptobable that. Mr. Noel will bet eatter become the pastor
of Mr. Ilarrington Evans's: church, John. street, Bedford-
row.—Potriot.

TESTIMONIAL TO Tar LATE SIR JOAN BARROW,
BART., LL.D., F.lt.S.—lv'e with much pleasufe find
that the first list of sub,vription, just announced, has
reached the mum of nearly 6001., and that it is the inten-
tion of the committee to c teem; a column in the neighbour-
hood of his birthplace, Ul.ifer stone, in Lancashire, which
not only will do honour to the deceased, but likewise
srrve as a sea-marl:. Sir John Barrow, in his officiA
character at the Admiralty„ has left behind him a name
encircled with worth and elite:en); while in his literary
career, " The Life of Lord Macartney," "Travels in
South Africa, China. CociLin-China,' " The Lie of
Lord Anson, Howe," &c., and the numerous articles in
the Quarterly Review, must, eiver cause him to be regarded
its au author replete with tf§il.ent and asefulnosa.