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

LONDON.

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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. DUCKS' 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 efforts that the board
were bent on muking for the removal of acknowledged
evils.

The Rev. E. CRAIG, of Pentonville Chapel, said that
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.—(Hear, hear.) The board acted wisely in
not admitting deputations, and in not allowing the
que,tion to be re-opened.
Mr. G. THOMPSON, 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-
don, 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 sincere
congratulation; that they believe thereby essential aid
has been rendered to the object, and would therefore
record the expression of their gratitude and thanks to the
newspaper press of the country."— (Hear. bear.)
" 2. That the evidence laid before the Select Parlia-
mentary Committee of 1842 on the subject of intramural
burials has been strikingly illustrated, rand 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 di:ease still continue with
slight abatement), this committee deem it their duty, in
the prosecution at this awful cri:is 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 be congratulated the society
upon the fact that, with scarcely a single exception,.
the in esi 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, hear.) To their
president (Mr. Walker), whose indefatigable la-
bours exposed the crying evil years ago (and well
would it have been for 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
recommended a last resource which the appalling
mortality of the country justified.—(Hear.) He
(Mr. Thompson) recommended the appointment of a
sub-committee to draw up a memorial to the Se-
cretary of State, embodying the resolutions which he
had read, and, without further trespassing on their
time, he would move the first resolution.
Dr. T. EVANS seconded the resolution. _

The Rev. E. CRAIG moved the second resolution,
and expressed his determination to put down, as
quickly as possible, burials in his churchyard, where,
within a very short period, he had seen the same
grave thrice opened. He repeated what he had al-
ready stated, that he believed that there were many of
the clergy as willing as he was to do away with in-
tramural burials.
Mr. R. D. TENNENT seconded the resolution.
The third resolution was moved by Dr. Parker,
seconded by Mr. T. Hamber, and supported by Mr.
L. J. Hansard.
The resolutions having been carried,
Dr. POWELL felt great pleasure in stating that the
medical profession fully approved of the society, and
highly appreciated Mr. Walker's services. In his
district the medical men were aware of the atrocities
committed in graveyards, and the great damage the
public health sustained from them. With that im-
pression they were endeavouring to get closed St.
George's burial-ground, which was one great cess-
pool, close to tie dwellings of the aristocracy, who
inhaled from it a deadly poison which rendered the
very air putrid. For 80 years it had been a recep-
tacle for the dead, who were so packed together that
a shilling could not be passed between them. Such
was the state of the pauper burial-ground, in many,
instances the coffins were not 18 inches from the sur-
face. On one occasion, in order to make room for
more, a portion of a body was dissevered, with the
muscles and integuments attached to the osseous
structure, thrown on a tree. The exhalation from
the graveyard rendered the atmosphere nauseous,
disgusting, and putrid; and the scenes enacted in it
were revolting to contemplate. A memorial, signed
by 41 medical men, requesting that it be closed, was
presented to the Board of Health.—(Hear, hear.)
After a few words from the CHAIRMAN,
A sub-committee was appointed to draw up a
memorial to the Secretary of State, and the meeting
separated at a late hour.

THE HON. AND REV. BAPTIST NOEL.—The ne-
gotiations for the cccupation by Mr. Noel of Mr. Mor.
timer's chapel, Gray's Inn-road, have been, we under-
stand, brought to an unsuccessful termination, owing to
legal difficulties. It appears that the chapel is the pro-
perty of Mr. Davenport, who, under a Commission 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 were compos mends, he would
probably object to such transfer, the Court feeling bound
not to do any act of which Mr. Davenport, in his right
mind, might disapprove. It is now, we believe, very
probable that Mr. Noel will hereafter become the pastor
of Mr. Harrington Evans's church, John- street, Bedford-
row.—Patriot.

TESTIMONIAL TO TEE LATE SIR JOHN BARROW,
BART., LLD., F.R.S.—We with much pleasure find
that the first list of subscription, just announced, has
reached the sum of nearly 6001., and that it is the inten-
tion of the committee to erect a column in the neighbour-
hood of his birthplace, Ulverstone, in Lancashire, which
not only will do honour to the deceased, but likewise
it-rve as a sea-mark. Sir John Barrow, in his official
character at the Admiralty, has left behind him a name
encircled with worth and esteem; while in his literary
career, " The Life of Lord Macartney," " Travels in
South Africa, China, Cochin-China," " The Life of
Lord Anson, Howe," &c., and the numerous articles in
the Quarterly Review, must ever cause him to be regarded
as an author replete with talent and usefulness.