The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-26 00:00:00

BILL.

The House having again resolved itself into Corn-
mittee,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose
and said it would be remembered that, in consequence of
the reports which had been made known to the public of
the disgraceful state of many of the burial-yards of the
metropolis, an Act of Parliament was last year passed
which vested in the Board of Health the charge of pro-
viding for the interment of persons dying within the
metropolitan districts, and for the temporary duration
of the Board of Health; but the Act did not give the
board the complete power which they considered to be
requisite in order to ensure the provision of adequate
means fur the expense of burials and the compensation
which they were liable to pay on closing any grave-
yard in the metropolis. Considering it necessary that
they should be in possession of all the burial-grounds
within the metropolitan districts, the board applied to
the Treasury forits sanction of the purchase of the whole
of the cemeteries; but the Treasury thought they were
going faster than was expedient, and refused its permis-
sion to their doing so ; but at the same time suggested
that the purchase of one or two cemeteries might afford
better means of judging how to deal with the others,
and put them iu the position of being able to close
some of the worst of the graveyards in the metropolis,
and of enabling the parishes in which those graveyards
were situated to bury in the cemeteries. During the
spring there was not the least doubt entertained that the
board would have been able to obtain from some of the
great insurance companies a loan of sufficient amount to
accomplish that object; but it turned out, on reference
to the solicitors of these companies, that they did not
think there would be good security for the payment of
the interest on the loan. In pursuance of the permis-
sion of the Treasury, however, notice had been given by
the Commissioners of the Board of Health to purchase
the Nunhead and Brompton Cemeteries, and the ques-
cteey.
would
to
of the sum to be paid for them was now pending
before
arbitrators, on the delivery of whose award, sup-
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oia payment of compensation to the clergy and other
parties entitled to compensation under the Act. Unless
the Board of Health were furnished with the means
of paying the sums awarded for the purchase of the two
cemeteries, and the closing of graveyards within the
metropolis, the Act of last session would be a dead letter,
and he proposed, therefore, to advance a sum, which was
no doubt large, for that purpose, which would cover all
incidental expenses, and leave it open to Parliament to
deal with the whole question in the ensuing session, and
footing.
it on a satisfactory g,
putHe proposed, then, that
a sum of 132,0001. be advanced for the purpose from the
Consolidated Fund.
Sir B. HALL complained that so important a subject
should have been kept back to so late a period of the
session, when it was impossible to give it full considera-
tion. Besides, the inhabitants of the metropolis had not
such confidence in an irresponsible body like the Board
of Health to consent to so large a sum being placed at
their disposal. Another reason for postponing the vote
was, that it was probable the Committee on the metro-
politan water supply would recommend the amalgama-
tionewers under one management of the P the water
supply, and the interments of the metropolis. If the
Board of Health wanted money, let them raise it by a
penny rate throughout the metropolis.
Mr. WAKLEY wanted to know why the board
should purchase the Brompton Cemetery, which was
almost within the metropolis, being but two miles from
Hyde-park-corner, when the original intention of extra-
mural interments was, that they should take place
at least seven miles from the metropolis. Let them pass
a Bill, which they could readily do in the course of next
week, to prevent intramural interments in the metropolis
after one year from the present time, and they might be
certain the parishes would make the necessary arrange-
ments for the purpose.
Colonel CHATTERTON said he wished to remind
her Majesty's Government that the Board of Health
might at present purchase for a moderate sum a ceme-
tery at Woking, extending over 2.000 acres.
Mr. J. BELL said, he understood that the owners of
that cemetery were not disposed to sell it. He hoped
that the Committee would not, without further consider-