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

SITE OF CEMETERY.

" We are of opinion that, supposing the utmost avail-
able use mere made f the existing cemeteries, the wants
of the public would require at least one additional prin-
cipal metropolitan cemetery. After an exploration
of the; distticts round London, a singularly
eligible site for such a cem-tcry has ben
found, fulfilling, with refers nee to situation,
distance, surface, soil, extent, and acce,sibility, the
requisite conditions. It is situated at a sufficient dis-
tance from any town or village to fulfil the conditions of
remoteness and seclusion. It forms past of an ancient
domain, a considerable portion of which is abbey-land,
and has been consecrated ground for many centuries.
It rises by a gradual ascent from the river bank to the
height of 80 tees above high-water mark. The surface
is moderately irregular, being hero and there a good
deal broken, but consisting, fir the greater part, of
gentle undulations and slopes. It comprises an ample
extent of land, in a tract of gravelly and firm sandy soil
over chalk. Imtnediately beneath the gravel is a bed of
sand from 70 to 80 feet in depth, so firm that when cut
with the spade it stands !perpendicularly, requiring no
shoring. In excavations in the neighbourhood there are
blocks of this sand standing perpendicularly, to the
height of from 60 to 70 feet. Below the sand is the
chalk, which is 'nearly on a level with low wate-, hut
water is nt,t arrived at for the depth of from 270 to 300
feet. There are no. streams or rivulets crossing the
surface of the land in any direction and no springs
whatever.

"These conditions secure the dryness of the ground,
and are conducive to the natural process of decomposi-
tion. There is on the land much ornamental timber, a
considerable portion of which is of appropriate character,
but additional planting would be required, particularly
of trees and shrubs that have naturally dark foliage,
with great heigl.t in proportion to their width, admitting
air and sunshine freely—vegetable forms which would
give to the ground a distinctive character at once sug-
gestive of its purpose, and quite different from that cf a
pleasure ground, and which are classically and popularly
associated with places of sepulture. It has the advan-
tage of river-side as well as railway conveyance, the
distance of water-conveyance by steamboat being from
London bridge one hour and a quarter, wad by railway
half an hour.

"For the reasons set forth in the fourth general con-
clusion, a river-side cemetery app
ears to possess
paramount
by objections
ountalvautges
which
.Theo single superiority of
railway conveyance, that speed, is counter-
baseem to be insu-
perable: such as the difficulty of;
having
special trains on
al)? main trunk-line out of London on account
of the nature and amount of the regular traffic • the in-
convenience and incongruity of having funeral assem-
blages at the same stations at which the ordinary traffic
of the railway is carried on ; and the• necessity of har-
ing, f I this special service, railway mourning coaches
and hearses, which could be used for no other purpose—
thus requiring not only the exclusive use of the line at
certain fixed times but the provision and the exclusive
use of particular classes of carriages, 80. The furth
break
er
objection arising from the danger of collision, or ef
down, need be suggested only, not argued.
" On the other hand, with regard to the metropolis
especially, a reference to the map will show that the
highway a the river passes through the very cents e of
the largest extent of the most densely peopled districts ;
u hile the quietude, the more complete isolation, the fit-
aides for unihttlrructed transit at all hours, and the
great economy of water-coNveyanc,, give to this mode
advantages with which no other can be compare&
CONVEYANCE OF THE DEAD.

" The halfpenny steamer?, which at present ply on the
river, indicate at how cheap a rate the service in ques-
tion might be effected by this mode of comeyanee. At
the same time railway conveyance may be convenient on
same occasion?, and may be ( fen chosen by the attend-
ants, who may join the funeral at the cemetery. There
is, convenient for such cases, a railway station near the
spot which we have in view for the Great Eastern Me-
, Ropolitau Comte* -