The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-25 00:00:00

THE SUN,

propriate architecture; and they are of opinion that,
however the design and execution of such an edifice
may fulfil this object, the end will be still more
completely attained by, the appropriation cf the
building as a church in which, especially on the
Sundays, the usual services of that day may be per-
formed. They have expresed their conviction that
many would at`.cnd those services with peculiar interest,
from the consciousness of their nearness at that moment
to all that remains on earth of the objects of their affn-
tion; and that there would be no difficulty in rendering
the celebration of funeral rite 3 in a church thus doubly
suggestive of the most touching associations incompar-
ably more solemn and imposing than has hitherto been
effected in this country, excepting, perhaps, in some rare
instances, as on the occasion of the interment of royal
persons, or of men whom the country has endeavoured
to honour by the expression of national gratitude for
national services. It might be very practicable to secure
also the impressive accompaniment of music, whether by
the performance of a single voluntary or by some form
of choral service, and it is conceived that there arc many
on whom the compositions of our great masters would,
on such an occasion, have an elevating and consoling
effect; but these details must be confided to those who
may be charged with the direction of this service in
communication with ecclesiastical authoritiel. _ _

es
" In the unconsecrated part of the ground chapels
may be erected, convenient for the celebration of funeral
rites and the; performance of divine service, according
to the modes of worship of those who dissent from the
doctrine and ritual of the Church of England.
"8. It will elevate the celebration of the funeral rites
of the poor man, and tend to remove, in respect to the
services of the Church in the performance of burial, the
distinction between rich and poor. Though funerals
may still differ in costliness, and be performed, accord-
ing to the scale chosen, with more or less expensive ma-
terials, a greater or fswer number of attendants, and so
on, yet these differences need have no relation to the
celebration of funeral rites. We concur in the earnest
opinion expressed by clerical witnesses, that within the
church, in the performance of the religious service over
the dead, there should be no distinction of persons, and
that an important moral and religious object would be
fulfilled by adherence to this principle.
" 9. We also fully concur in the opinion which the
same witnesses have expressed, that moral and religious
purposes cannot fail to be answered individually and
nationally, by making the abode of the dead a hallowed
spot, and by investing it with the utmost solemnity and
sacredness. The evidence which we have adduced con-
tains the strongest expression of opinion on the part
both of clergymen and medical men—the best authori-
ties on this subject, for they truly know what passes
in the crowded hovels of our dismal courts and
alleys—that the familiarity with the dead which in
numerous instances is at present forced upon the resi-
dents there, tends to brutalise the mind, to destroy the
sense of the sacredness of life, and to predispose it to
violence and crime; but all who are realll acquainted
with the humbler classes entertain the coilbiction that
they are Peculiarly susceptible of the moral and reli-
gious impressions naturally produced by the loss of re-
latives and friends; that the solemn and impressive
burial cf their dead would strengthen these inipressicns;
and that the places in which their dead repose might
be made instrumental in soothing, refining, and elevat-
ing their minds."
This ends the report of the Board of Health on the
sulijsct ef; xtramural interments—a clocurn,nt which, if
it be adopted in practice, will be p haps the greatest
boon ever cos ferrcd upon the people ut ems metropoli-,
as well as upon the inhabitants of the country at large;
but which, if it be set aside and suffered to remain at a
" dead letter," will form a monument of lasting disgrace
to the Legislature.

THE GREAT NATIONAL
CEMETERY.

The report of the Board of Health describes the
site of the intended national cemetery, without de-
signating the spot. It is, according to that document,
perfectly satisfactory with respect to the requisites of
situation, surf ace, soil, extent, and accessibility.
Situated on the river shore, forming part of the do-
main of an ancient abbey, occupying a gradual slope,
rising 80 feet above the level of the water at high
tides ; of an irregular broken surface, consisting for
the most part of undulations and slopes—ample in ex-
tent—standing on a bed of strong sand, from 70 to
80 feet in depth, which is superposed upon a chalk
bottom of from 270 to 300 feet thick—perfectly free
from rivulets, or land springs, or any other cause of
offence in conjunction with sepulture—with the ad-
vantage of river side as well as railway conveyance—
and distant from London-bridge by railway half an
hour, by steamboat one hour and a-quarter, the ques-
tion naturally arises, what part cf the vicinity of the
metropolis complies with these conditions ? The
chalk formation in contiguity with the me-
tropolitan district is confined to Kent and
Sussex. Sussex, however, does not touch the
river in any pert. In Sussex, therefore, this
spot cannot be ; Kent, consequently, is the
county where it must be looked for. Then comes the
second question—what part of Kent? From London
to Gravesend taking two hours, on the average, by
steamer; it cannot be Gravesend for that reason.
What other point on the river, in connexion with a
railroad answers the distance, viz., half an hour by
that mode of locomotion, and an hour and a quarter
by water, or steam conveyance ? Clearly none other
that Erith, which is precisely identical in all further
respects with the description : arid than which there
can be no pleasanter resting place for the living to lay
the dead in the whole kingdom. Planted with the
taxodis and thepinus sempervirens —with the cvpressus,
the arbor vita; and the cedrue, interspersed with the
richer varieties of the quercus, the ilex and the holly,
and all those trees of that tribe which brave the
rigours of an English winter with impunity, and
fringed on hill top and water's edge with the salex
Baby'onicE (the weeping willow) and its pendant
branche?, a combination of the beautiful in zonnexion
' with death might be produced at a small comparative
outlay, which would not have its parallel in the whole
world ; and a cemetery constructed which would put
to shame even the " City of the Silent" at Constanti-
nople. Than Erith there can be no place better
adapted for this purpose in the entire kingdom.
Erith, then, it must be, or the Commissioners have
but pictured a scene drawn from their imagination.—
Obserrer.

13, Great Marlborough-street.
NOTICE.-.MADAME PULSZKY'S
MEMOIRS OF A HUNGARIAN. T.ADY,
Will be ready with the Magazines, I%.bruary 2S,
In 2 vols. post Bvo., 21s. bound.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great, Marlborough street.
Orders received by all Booksellers.

Now Ready at the Libraries, in 3 Vols.,
THE NEW NAVAL NOVEL,
TIIE PETREL.
" The author of this interesting work is, we believe, Admiral
Fisher, who commanded at the blockade of Alexandria in 1840. By
his skill in depicting life en the ocean, he will, we doubt not, supply
the place in nautical literature vacant by the death of the lamented
Captain Marrayat. His life of the ship is equally dashing, forcible,
and free. For a first offering we know of few other works of the
class, which in powerful description and refined humour could com-
pete witk it. The whole cruise of The Petrel is a narrative of vivid
interest."—Morning Fost.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. JAMES ANDERSON.
THIS EVENINt,
Will be presented, by her Majesty's Servants,
OTHELLO. Othello, Mr. J. Anderson ; lago, Mr. Yandenhoff ;
Desdemona, Miss Laura Addison ; Emilia, Miss Yandenheff.

Te be iollcwed by
The Comedy of THE SPOILED CHILD. Old Pickle, Mr. Da-
'ridge ; Little Pickle, Miss Maria Tertian.
Pri►ate boxes, 21. 35., 21. 12s. 6d., 2/. 25., 11. Ils. 6d., and 11. is.
Stalls, ss. each.
s. d.

FIRST PRICE.
FOXc9 - -4 0 1
Pit - - - 2 0
Lower Gallery - 1 0 I
I Upper Gallery - 0 6
Box-book-keeper

s. d.
SECOND PRICE.
Boxes - - 2 0
Fit - - - 1 0
Lower Gallery - 0 6
No Half-price to Upper Gallery.
r, Mr. J. Porey.

THEATRE ROYAL, EIAYMARKET.
Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lease° and Manager, Old Brompton.
THIS EVENING. -

Will be performed AS YOU LIKE IT. Jaques, Mr. C. Kean ;
Rosalind, Mrs. C. Kean.
Atter which a Vocal and Instrumental Concert, in which Mr. Sims
Reeves and Miss Birch wi!l appear.
To conclude with THE ROUGH DIS.MOND.
The Box-oftlise is under the direction of Mr. I. T. Archer.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHL
Under the direction of Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING},
Will be performed a new domestic Drama, called THIS WILLOW
COPSE. Principal characters by Messrs. Ilughes, Wright, P. Bed-
ure, O. Smith, Worrell; Madame Celeste, and Miss Woolgar.
After which MY PRECIOUS BETSY. Characters by Messrs.
Wright, Bedford, Worrell; 3liss Harding, and Mrs. F. Matthews.
To conclude with FRANKENSTEIN; or, The Model Man. t ranken-
,tein, Mr. Wright ; the What is It ? Mr. P. Bedford; Zamiel, Mr. 0.
smith ; Otto of Rosenberg, Miss Woelgar ; Tiddlewincz, Miss E.
Chaplin ; Agatha, Miss CoTeny ; Ilndine, Miss E. Harding.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Mr. J. M. Maddox, t,olo Leco and Manager.
THIS EVENING
Will be performed a new Opera, entitled CHARLES THE SE-
COND.
To conclude with KING JAMIE ; or, Harlequin and Magic Fiddle
larlequin, Mr. Bologna ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Clown, Mr. Flex.
nore ; Columbine, bliss Fawcett.

NEW ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Sole Lessee, Mr. W. Watts, St. John's Woed.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed TdE NOBLE HEART. Characters by Messrs.
G. V. Brooke, Davenport, Ryder, Johnstone, Belton, Lee, Howard ;
and Mrs. Mowatt.

Auer which THE POET'S SLAVE.
To conclude with a Farce, entitled A DEAD TAKE IN. Captain
Darcourt, Mr. Wigan; Hector Poalot, Mr. Compton; Clara, Miss
DliTer.

- -
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
FRENCH PLAYS AND OPERA COMIQUE.
Last Week tnt One of M. CIIOLLET'S Engagement.
Mr. MITCHELL begs respectfully to announce that the French
Performances at the St. James's Theatre will commence

TUIS EVENING,
At Eight o'clock, when will be performed
LE rosru,LoN DE LONJUMEAU. Chapelou, M. Chollet.

After which
UN TIGRE DE BENGALE.
The Boa-office of the Theatre is open daily from Eleven till
Five.
Boxes and Stalls at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-
street.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestrit.
sole Lessee. Mr. Charier:. Mathe we.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed CHARLES TIIE TWELFTH.
After which THE ISLAND OF JEWELS.
To conclude with PATTER versus CLATTER.
Dress Boxes 53. ; Upper isoxoe, 4s. ; Yit, as. ; Gallery, IS. No
calf-price to any part of the house.
All applications for Private Boxes must be made to Mr. Allcroft, 15
New Bond-street.

AsTIE ROYAL AMPHITHI.ATEZ.
Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty.
An entire change in the Scenes of the Arena.
New Grand Spectacle.
Madlles. Gardoni an l Amilie on the Dcuble Tight Ropes in a petite
Ballet entitled The Hungarian Wood cutters.
THIS EVtiNING,
The performance will commence at a Quarter to Seven, with a
new Grand Spectacle of THE CORSE DE LEON ; er, the Brigand
of Savoy.
To be followed by a brilliant eisplay of Batty's peerless scenes of
the Circle, supported by the accomplished artistes of the establish-
ment.
To conclude with BESS OF THE BELL; or, The Love Story.
Pox-office open from Eleven till tour.

EIIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDOF.
Tnis DIY —,,erning, 41 min. after 12 Evening, 10 min. afte 1
To- Vonaovr —Morning, 36 min. after 1 I Evening, 5 min. atterr 2

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEB. 24.
DIERNONETER, Lowest, 38; Highest, 48, Noon, 39,

BAROMETER. 30'38.
WIND W. to W.N.W.—very cold and foggy.

FEB. 25.

THERMOMETER, Lowest, 35; Highest, 41; Noon, 45

BAROMETER, 30.44.
WIND E.—dull cloudy weather.

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