The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-16 00:00:00

MONDAY E N G S ally

LORD PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY.
• Now ready, price ls.,
ORD PALMERSThN'S SPEECH to the
3...4 ELECTORS of TIVERTON, at the Recent Election. An
Authentic Reprt,

. -
A most arousing history of the affairs of the whole world, at
home and abroad, for the lag. thirty years."—Examiner.
• London : Smith, Elder, and Co., 65, Conil2lll.

BURIAL IN TOWNS.

Friday night G. A.Walker, Esq., surgeon, author of
"Gatherings from Graveyards," &c., and well known
for the zeal and ability with which he has advocated
the abolition of interinural sepulture, delivered the
fourth of a series of lectures on the actual condition of
the metropolitan graveyards, and their injurious
effects on public health and public morality. Mr.
Walker said, that in the previous lectures he had ex-
plained the nature and action of morbific poisons • had
shown the manner in which these poisons may be in-
troduced into the human body, and brought forward
cases which incontestably proved the fact that the re-
spiration of putrid exhalations from dead bodies be-
fore burial, or from vaults and open graves, is highly
injurious to the health of man and animals. He in-
tended next to prove that analogous effects are pro-
duced by the vapours which exhale from over-crowded
burying-grounds. In this case the generation of
morbific matter was more gradual, the poison less
concentrated; and persons were seldom directly
exposed to its influence for any considerable
length of time, and the relation was there-
fore less evident or less easy to establish; but
he believed, when they weighed the evidence hewould
produce, that the audience would leave the theatre
with the firm conviction that the saturated grave•
yards of this metropolis were centres of infection,
producers of lingering disease or sudden death, and
that such places should be at once and for ever re-
moved from amongst us.—(Cheers.) This was no
mere assertion, but a matter capable of being proved
by the most simple calculation. It required no logic
to prove that it was impossible to lodge fifty indivi-
duals in a room ten feet square; and it was equally
impossible to inter in a safe and decent manner 3,000
dead bodies in an acre of ground, which can only
hold 136.—(Hear, hear.) To show that this was the
fact, it was necessary to give some calculations which,
though disgraceful and disgusting, were all important
and for the correctness of which he pledged himself.
An acre of ground contains 4,840 square yards, and
will decently inter about 1,361 adult bodies. Pre-
suming that the dead body was committed to
the grave for the purpose of mingling with its
parent earth, ten years must be allowed for
this process, and hence the number of adult bodies
that an acre of ground will annually receive is 136.
From accurate returns of the superficial extent of the
parochial and some other burial-grounds of the me-
tropolis, and the number of bodies annually interred
in each, the following facts were deduced :—The
annual average of interments in the seven descrip-
tions of burying places comprised in these returns,
was stated to be 2,271. If this was divided by 7, it
gave the average for each, which gave 324 burials
annually to the acre—(Hear, and shame)—from
which might be fairly abstracted the burial places of
the Jews and the Society of Friends, which are well
conducted. Deducting these two they had five
species of grounds, which would give an annual aye-
,age of 426, instead of 136 each.—(Hear, hear )
In Germany the average was only 110, but here our
graveyards were made to receive every year three
times as many as they ought, and four times as many
as, were permitted by the laws of well-regulated con-
tinental states.—(Hear, hear.) The overcrowding
)f our grave-yards might be illuatrated in another
way. The annual mortality of L ,ndon was at least
50,000. Supposing the burials renewed every ten
ears, 444 acres would be required, whereas we have
only 209.—(Hear, hear.) But that was not all,
There were 182 parochial graveyards in London, of
rhese only 48 were confined to the proper limit of
136 to the' are; .the rest exhibited various degrees
of saturation, from 200 up to 3,000 annually.
In. St. Andrew's Undershaft the average per
acre •was ••• ••• ••• 1,278
Portugal- street Burying-ground 1,021
St. Dunstan's, Fleet-street 1.182
St. Dunstan's in-the-East 1,210
St. John's,. Clerken well 3,073
St. .. • • ... 1,159
St. Olave, Tooley-street .. 1,257
St. Swithin's, Tooley-street • • ... 1,760
Turnirig from. pariah , grounds to Dissenting burial-
places the following ware the results :
Wickliffe Chapel, Stepney .. .. 1,210
Enon Chapel, Woolwich .. 1,080
Parker, Dcckhead, Woolvvich 1,613
Aloorfields ... • • ... 1,210
Cannon-street road .. 1,109
And, lastly, New Bunhill-fields was distinguished
by an average of 2,323.—(Hear.) It was humiliating
to think that a parish ground—St. John's, Clerken-
well—stood at the head of these unchristian nui-
sances—pestiferous in every respect, because, when a
proportion of 3,073 were annually interred on an acre
Of land, it followed that the bodies could only
ra'nain in the ground five months instead of ten
years.—(Hear.) Hence the stacking of coffins
in deep pits, the brutal dismemberment of bodies, the
consumption of coffin wood in many localities, the
danger to mourners from attending such places, the
insidious infection which, especially in the warm
season, poison the atmosphere, and, by undermin-
ing the health, hurried thousands to an un-
timely end, again to become the subjects of fresh in-
dignities, the centre of infection to survivors, and
the distributors of pestilential emanations.—(Hear,
hear.) In support of these general propositions, the
lecturer proceeded to adduce a vast number of deeply.
important and most interesting specific evidence,
tracing malignant typhus fever in many instances to
the poisonous exhalations from dead bodies in various
places ; and also numerous cases of measles and
scarlet fever in children, arising from the same
cause. From these instances we quote one :—Mr. J.
Irwin, residing at No. 32, Clement's-lane, which
overlooked the burial-ground in Portugal-street, had
enjoyed good health with his family until he came to
reside in that neighbourhood. They have never en
joyed health since. The wife of one of his lodgers, in
comfortable circumstances, was attacked by typhus
fever in the house, and removed to the hos-
pital. The husband, who went to visit her, fell ill of
'he same disease, and died in four days. Two other
lodgers also had fever. The husband died, and was
removed to the graveyard from which he met his
death. Dr. Walker at this period attended Mr.
Irwin, who was fast merging into that low form of
fever of which this locality has furnished so many
-xamples. On looking into the " green ground"
through the window of Mr. Irwin 's room, Dr.
Walker noticed a grave open within a few feet of the
house. The sick man replied to his observations,
" Ah, that grave is just made for a poor fellow who
died in this house in the room above me, he died from
typhus fever, from which his wife has just recovered.
they have kept him twelve days, and now they are
going to put him under my nose by way of warning
to nie."—(llear, hear.) Fortunately Mr. Irwin re-
covered, and has since laboured earnestly for the
abolition of this monster nuisance. But it was not
alone in the crowded graveyards of London that the
pestiferous and deadly nature of this poison exhaled
from the graves of the dead were exhibited. The
lecturer showed by reference to two yecent outbreaks
of fever at Minchinhampton and Axminster, most
remarkable illustrations of the intimate connexion
which exists between graveyard emanations and the
development of pestilential fever. After detailing the
facts connected with these outbreaks, Dr, Walker pro-
ceeded to adduce copious evidence of the same fact from
Sinde, Chusan, Jamaica, and Egypt, all of which
nleodutirtcsoee of of
the he the irresistible conclusion that intramural se
pulturewatsuin all cases an unmitigated evil, and
ought to be banished at once and for ever. In the
co
uses
sctto which t
ure Dr. lla'atlkneortorailoluuds nuiedtsoanto,hee,
Enon Chapel, is now applied, and stated that frequent
applications had been made to Sir J. Graham and the
present Home Secretary by himself and other inha-
nuisance, but hitherto
how-
ever,
shortly with referencecontemplation
subjectrt of this almost unequalled
in o without effect. It was, bitants on the
—(Cheers
t ioo
avoid doing justice to telon
to it, and he hoped they would
hold a public meeting
Passing, he could not
daily papers that had for
tPerseveringly, and ably
all attend.
—(Cheers.)
and had been
directed many
ye
ars
public consistent]att e n
teidcause of sanitary
of the greatest service to
ore‘sf.oerdma
dgeeenperdaelblyt .0
of
gllreatictoondsoidteor
papers for their
that the public
talentedAe and ingtructive
pplause.) Dr.
ance to
nl\orballekera and n
cul useful exertions.
a most
13a t however
might
lecture, full of facts of the gravest
public health and morality by stating lthmLor
injurious a deteriorated atmosphere
full grown adult, it was infinitely more so to chil-
dren,who perished weekly by thousands. Hence he
called on them, not only as Englishmen and as
Christians, but as parents, as they desired to leave
behind those who were to continue the race, as they.
valued health and its inappreciable blessings .them-
selves, to cast from them that prolific cause of pre-
mature destruction, the practice of the interment of
the dead in the neighbourhood of the living.—
(Loud
applause.)
A vote of thanks was unanimously given to the
lecturer at the conolusion.

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND
SUICIDE IN THE CITY.
A most deliberate attempt at murder took place on
Saturday afternoon, between the hours of three and
four, in Mark-lane, City. The following particulars
connected with the dreadful affair were obtained
from parties who were eye-witnesses of the same,
and may be relied upon as being perfectly free from
exaggeration :
It appears that the person whose life has been
placed in danger is Mr. George Crawley, a, highly
respectable wine merchant, carrying on business in
the lower part of the house numbered 12, Mark-lane,
just above the New Corn Exchange, on the opposite
side of the way. The intended assassin is named
John Ovenstone, and has for some considerable time
past carried on the business of an upholsterer in Great.
Titchfield-street, Marylebone. From what could be
learned from the friends of both persons, it seems
that an execution had been sent into Ovenstone's house,
which had greatly exasperated him. Mr. Crawley
having been the plaintiff in a suit, the ac-
cused went, at the time above stated, to his
place of business for no other purpose than to
murder him. Upon arriving at his offices, he
saw one of Mr. Crawley's clerks, of whom he inquired
whether or not his employer was within. Having
been answered in the negative, be expressed his regret
that he, was not; and desired the clerk, if he could,
to send for him, as he bad business of great import.
ante to transact, which could not be delayed. Un-
fortunately Mr. Crawley was at a friend's house in
the City, and the request of Ovenstone having been
made known to him, he at once returned to his offices.
Upon entering he inquired of• Ovenstone what his
business was, when he saved out in a great passion,
" What do you mean by doing what you have done ?"
The unfortunate gentleman only had time to reply,
" Why, Mr. Ovenstone, you know that I have only
done—," when Ovenstone cried out, " Take that !'
at the same moment discharging the contents of a
loaded pistol at Mr. Crawley. A cry of " Murder 1"
was immediately raised, and Mr. Crawley ran bleed
ing into the street. A great crowd soon congregated
round the wounded man, who took him to the sur-
gery of Messrs. Harris, Duplex, and Co., in Fen.
church-street. Upon an examination being made, it
was ascertained that a bullet had entered the cheek of
Mr. Crawley, and had tern away a portion of the
roof of the mouth, but the ball had lodged in the
cavity. Seeing the dangerous state he was in, Mr.
Harris advised his removal to the hospital, which was
forthwith done.
When Mr. Crawley's clerk saw his master was
wounded, he closed the door and locked the at-
tempted murderer in. He had hardly done so before a
second report of fire-arms was heard to proceed from
the place. A party of the City police immediately
repaired to the house, and Constables Strickland and
Edmonds entered, and found Ovenstone sitting in a
chair, with a couple of pistols near him, and blood
flowing in copious streams from his head and face.
They immediately secured both the pistols and
Ovenstone, and, having placed him in a cab, they
took him to Gay's Hospital. Mr. Cocks and Mr.
Wilkes, two of the house surgeons, were in instant
attendance. They found that the injuries he had in-
flicted on himself were of a most frightful character
the ball appeared to have entered at the mouth, passed
in an oblique direction, and lodged over the left
temple. From the fact of the bullet remaining in
the head very little hopes are entertained of his re-
covery.
Mr. Crawley made the following statement respect-
ing the affair, which, it will be perceived, fully sub-
stantiates the report :—" Yesterday afternoon, about
half-past three o'clock, whilst conversing with a
friend in the wine trade, my clerk came to me and
said that Mr. Ovenstone, of Great Titchfield-street,
wanted to speak to me. I immediately went into my
room, where I found Mr. Ovenstone, to whom I said,
Well, Mr. Ovenstone, I understand you want to see
me.' He replied, Yes, Sir, I do: I inquired what
his business was with me, when he shouted out,
' What do you mean by doing what you have done ?
you are a pretty fellow, I think.' My impression
was that he was alluding to a sale that bad taken
place at his house. I told him that I had nothing to
do with it; that I had left my case in my solicitor's
hands. I had no sooner uttered these words, than
he put his hands into his pocket, for the purpose, as
I imagined, of drawing out his handkerchief, instead
of which he pulled out a pistol, presented the mouth
at me, and before I had time to get away he dis-
charged the contents in my face. I immediately ran
out into the street, and cried Murder,' and after-
wards went to Mr. Harris's surgery, and thence I
came to this hospital in a cab. When I ran out Oven-
stone was in the room, and I understand from my
clerk that he locked him in to prevent his escape.
What afterwards took place I do not know of my own
knowledge, but .1 have been told that Ovenstone shot
himself the moment after I ran into the street."
It is understood that the medical gentlemen have
been successful in extracting the ball which had
lodged in Ovenstone's head, and that it is now in the
care of Edmonds, the officer. There seems to be no
doubt about its having been the intention of the
wretched man to kill Mr. Crawley, and then destroy
himself, as, in addition to the fact of his going to
that gentleman's counting-house with two heavily
loaded pistols, a written statement was found in his
coat pocket, which was evidently drawn up so as to
give a full explanation of the several reasons that had
actuated him to attempt the commission of the crime.
In it he states that he is
after detailing his tired of the world, and,
many misfortunes, expresses his
desire to die. It appears that Ovenstone, in conjunc-
tion with a Mr. Cremer, was the assignee of a bank-
rupt, manager of an inn in Holborn, to whom Mr.
Crawley had supplied wine and spirits, but Oven-
I?, Mr. Crawley proceeded at
stone's co-assignee failing,
law against Ovenstone for the amount due to the
estate, about 150/.
SUNDAY EVENING.
—UPOn making inquiries this
evening at St. Thomas's
Hospital as to the state of
the unfortunate sufferer, Ur. Crawley, it was ascer-
tained that a change had taken place for the worse.
When Mr. Solly, the senior assistant surgeon, made
an examination of his patient, he found that the bullet
from the pistol, after passing through the cheek and
fracturing the jaw-bone, had then lodged in the skull.
ro extract this required considerable care, but with
the aid of forceps Mr. Solly succeeded in extracting
the ball. Messrs. Barwell and Elborough, two of the
assistants, sat up with Mr. Crawley the whole of Sa-
turday night, but, although
no immediate danger is
apprehended, from the change that had taken place
during the after part of Sunday, it is feared that ery-
sipelas will supervene, and if so the worst conse-
quences may be expected.
With respect to the intended assassin, it was
learned, upon inquiry being made last evening at
Guy's Hospital, that he was considerably better.
The bullet, which had entered at the mouth, had
passed obliquely through the thick flesh of the cheek
to the top of the scalp, without
injuring the brain.
By merely removing a small portion of the skin of
the head the ball was extracted without much diffi-
culty.

Mrs. Crawley, the wife of the unfortunate sufferer,
called at the hospital yesterday afternoon, for the pur-
pose of seeing her husband, but from the dangerous
state he was in she was not allowed to enter the ward
in which he is, the surgeon fearing that sudden excite-
ment may aggravate his case.
Mr. Yates, the managing clerk to Mr. Crawley,
stated yesterday to the reporter, that when Ovenstone
tt a
appears, dread-
fully
iasd a-
sinentered his employer's house he appearedi
time in
acted as
fully excited state, and on one of the parties on the
premises asking him if he knew the time of the day,
he merely raised his arms, and with a vacant gaze re-
plied, "
man,Oh,
and
no; oh,
his n o .
s"i s t
er. Ovenstone,for
some
housekeeper to him, but she died about six months
since, and he has ever since been unfortunate in
business.

command of
THE ARRIVAL OF THE 63D FROM INDIA.-011
Wednesday evening the 2d sth, an,) 61th comp inies of
the 63d regiment ( West Suff )1k) arrived at Chatham
and
remain-
garrison from India. The strength consists of 14 ser
taken to
geants, 4 drummers, 12 corporals, and 175 privates,
Lieutenant-Colonel
Cwoenr
tea
gin,i c kg
em-
barked at Madras on the 7th of April, on board the
-ocmoelno,n
ealn (Al
.IG6. children,
Smedley. under
These
troops
ship London, and arrived at Gravesend after a passage
of four months ; the only deaths during the voyage were
der of the regiment, let ttEhl
ereheocshpiiltdarte n
T,•
liteb oLuatdyfi vFelim,rean,
Madras after the above ship
had sailed. The strength of the regiment is 682, all
ranks. Upwards of 300 volunteered into other regi-
ments in India. It left Chatham in 1828. The remain-
der of the regiinent is expected daily.
Mehemet Ali, it is said, has refused to allow the
European population of Alexandria to erect an eques-
trian statue in his honour ; suggesting as a better and
more welcome monument, the erection of a public edifice,
to comprise an exchange, theatre, and club-house. The
fac,ide, are to be ornamented with bas-reliefs represent-
ing that great work of ti rritorial redemption, the bar-
rage of the Nile, and the emblems of am culture and com-
merce intermingled with military trophies. A marble
bust of the Viceroy and a marble tablet recording the
founders' names are all that are to minister to the vanity
of individuals.
The number of persons arrested for taking part in
the riots at Troyes, on Saturday and Sunday, is about
40. Great part of them will, it is believed, be set at
liberty, as their participation in the disturbances was
very.slight indeed.—Galipiani.