The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-26 00:00:00

CRE3IA7IO.V v. INHUMAiION.

The Journal des Connaissances ille'dicales contains
an article by Dr. Caffe on the much-controverted
question regarding the expediency of returning to
the ancient custom of burning instead of burying
the dead. Alluding to the new cemetery which the
City of Paris purposes establishing at Mery, near
Pontoise, and which will measure 850 hectares
(2,125 acres), the author of the article doubts
whether even at that distance the emanations
from that vast metropolis may not exercise a
baneful influence on the sanitary condition of
Paris. At present, whichever way the wind
blows, the putrid effluvia of Pere Lachaise, Mont-
matre, or Montparnasse are carried into the
heart of the city, and the water we drink con-
tains cadaverous particles in dissolution. When
we consider that a mere scratch of the dissecting-
knife may occasion death, or at least require imme-
diate amputation of the injured part, the import-
ance of avoiding all such deleterious influences can-
not be denied. Taking into consideration the
motives of piety which induce us to desire the pre-
servation of the bodies of those we loved dearly,
Dr. Caffe examines for an instant whether embalm-
ing might not be resorted to on a large scale ; but
he soon discards the idea, on reflecting that such a
practice would involve the necessity of constructing
vast subterranean receptacles, which would in a
short time exceed the cities of the living. Crema-
tion, therefore, is the only alternative besides
inhumation. The Greeks, the Roman; and the
Gauls used to burn their dead—why should not
we? This practice is not contrary to any moral or
religious principle, for the first Christians them-
selves used thus to dispose of their dead; and if the
Fathers of the Church objected to it, it was solely
because polytheistic superstitions were at that time
connected with the custom. Dr. Caffe next con-
siders how the cremation of the dead could be
effected. To burn the bodies on funereal piles like
the ancients would in our days be a far too costly
process ; but we have other and better means of
attaining the same end. Let a large edifice, which
might be called a sarcophebe (purifier of the body)
be erected on some elevated point of the town ; let
the body be laid on a metallic plate, and slid into a
furnace, there to be incinerated in a short time.
The ashes might then be coll3cted into an urn, and
returned to the family. All this process might be
effected with the usual solemnities.

THE NEW JUDGE OF THE ADMIRALTY COURT.
Sir Robert John Phillimore, Q.C., who has been appointed
Judge of the Court of Admiralty in the room of the Right
Hon. Dr. Lushington, who has res'gned, is a son of Dr•
Joseph Phillimore, formerly Chancellor of the dioceses of
Worcester, Oxford, and Bristol, Commissioner of the India
Board, and M.P. for St. Ma.wes and Newport. He waft
educated at Westminster Schocl and.. Christ Church, Ox-
ford, where ho graduated in 1831, and took a second-class
honour in classics—among those who came out in honours
at the time being Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Professor F-
D. Maurice, the late Lord Herbert, and Mr. Prideaux,
Q.C. In 1841 he was called to the Bar by the Middle
Temple, and ho was for many years a distinguished advo-
cate in Doctors'-commons, where ho was admitted as
D.C.L. in 1839. In 1843 he entered the House of Com-
mons as member for the borough of Tavistock, and re-
tained his seat until 1817. He has held the post of Queen's
Advocate since 18G2, and is Judge of the Cinque Ports and
Chancellor of the dioceses of Oxford, Salisbury, and Chi-
chester. Sir Robert was married, in 1844, to Charlotte,
daughter of Mr. John Denison, of Ossington-hall, Nesvarl‘,
a sister of the Right Hon. John Evelyn Denison, 31.11•
(Speaker of the House of Commons), Sir William Denison,
and the late Bishop of Salisbury. _

THE BURNING FORESTS.—We have already men-
tioned the devastating conflagration which broke out
nearly a week back in the forests of the Maures, on the
mountains between Hyeres and Draguignan. The wind
having abated, the troops, sailors, and peasantry have "t
length been successful in arresting the fire. The loss 16
estimated at several millions.

CROYDON CATTLE MARKET.—At market }rester-
day, the prices were as follows, at per stone, and sinking
the offal : Sheep, choice Southdown wethers, 5s 4d ; 1"3
Bents, 5s ; and coarse sheep and fat ewes, 4s to 4s 81
lambs, 5s 8,1 to Gs tld ; rigs, as. id to 4s, and store ditto,
124 to 184 a tread.