The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-17 00:00:00

(From the Westminster Gazette.)
The London Necropolis and National Mau-
soleum Company held their annual meeting on
February Bth. The accounts show that the
receipts are still less than expenses. The chair-
man explained that the company had been
formed on a scale capable of carrying out the
entire funeral arrangements of this great me-
tropolis ; that they had been induced to open
upon that large basis relying on the promises
made in Parliament, to the effect that all intra-
mural churchyards were to be closed. But
that had not been the case, as Government
had actually purchased churchyards under the
pretext of having them closed, and were now
working them on their own account ; that the
sanitary agitation which had taken place at the
time when the cholera had visited this country
had now subsided, the recommendations made
in Parliament and at so many public meetings
had been forgotten, and no doubt would remain
so until another epidemic broke out in this
great city, the most populous in Europe. He
stated, moreover, that the burial fees cannot
be altered, because they were fixed by Act of
Parliament. In answer to questions, the chair-
man explained that from 20,000 to 30,000 grave
allotments in perpetuity had been granted ;
that it was expedient for the company to keep
good faith with the public; that their honour
was pledged ; that they held more than 1,400
acres, which were an ample security of the
company's stability. Such were the reasons
why no proposition would be entertained of
dividing the land amongst the shareholders ;
besides Parliament would never allow it ; but,
that if any shareholder, or committee of
shareholders, had any suggestions to make,
that the Board was at all times ready to receive
them ; that a railway was now making to Al-
ershot, which would increase the value of their
land and give themthe benefit ofanother station.
Two new directors were elected. Great hopes
are entertained that the affairs of the company
will benefit by the change. An unanimous
and cordial vote of thanks to the chairman
and directors, including the secretary, for
his constant assiduity in promoting the
welfare of the company, was duly acknow-
ledged, and closed the meeting. The public
cannot be aware of all the advantages that
exist in the Necropolis Cemetery. It is, true
to its name, a national mausoleum. It is
situated in that retired part of Surrey where
for ages no buildings can possibly come to
distur the resting place of the dead. The
scenes which have taken place in St. Pancras's
old churchyard in making the railway cannot
be forgotten. At the Necropolis such scenes
can never take place. All is carried on
with the greatest decency, and single graves
are provided for all classes. The ground is
a pure sand, of the standstone formation ; so
graves can be dug to any depth without
the least danger of accident. No water is
ever seen in the graves, as is the case in
most of the stiff-clay cemetery grounds north
of London. There are many advantages of
economy ; but let any one go down and judge
for himself. The spot is of easy access from
the private station in the Westminster
Road. Catholics have a special allotment
transferred by
a deed in perpetuity, and con-
secrated by his lordship, the Bishop of South-
wark.

CAMBRIDGE COUNTY SCHOOL.-A movement has
been commenced, under the auspices of Lord George
Manners, M.P., Lord Royston, M.P., Lord Arthur
Hervey, the Bishop of Ely, and other noblemen and
gentlemen, for establishing a county school for the
middle classes of Cambridgeshire. It is proposed that
the new school shall be at Burwell, near Newmarket.
A further meeting will be held on the subject very
shortly.
TII3 EDUCATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL CLASSES.
—A general county meeting of the North Riding
Chamber of Agriculture was held at Malton, on
Saturday. Mr. R. H. Bower, in the absence
of Lord Fevershain, was in the chair. The first
subject discussed was compensation for losses by
cattle plague, and a resolution was passed that
full compensation should be allowed for all cattle
slaughtered by order of the Privy Council. The
question of establishing county financial boards
was also considered, and several resolutions from
various branches of the Chamber were proposed ;
but ultimately it was agreed to postpone
the matter, pending the introduction of a bill by
Sir William Gallwey. The third topic before the
Chamber was the education of the agricul-
tural labouring classes. Resolutions from the
Ripon and Thirsk branches, the one against local
rating and compulsion, and the other favourable to
local rating to a certain extent, and educational
districts were received, and ultimately a series of re-
solutions, proposed by Mr. J. Smith, of Riseborough,
recommending the establishment of boards of educa-
tion, composed of the guardians of the poor, and
specifying the conditions on which grants in aid should
be made, were ordered to be sent out to the branch
chambers. In the course of the discussion on the
subject, the Hon. Edward Portman, an assistant
commissioner on education, addressed the meeting
respecting the education of children employed in
agriculture.
THE MARQUIS OF HARTINGTON AND NORTH LANCA-
SHIRE. —A largely-attended meeting was held at
Ulverstone, on Friday afternoon, for the purpose of
making arrangements to secure the return of the
Marquis of Hartington, at the next election, as one
of the representatives of the northern division of
Lancashire. Upon the motion of Mr. H. W. Schneider,
seconded by Mr. Barker, an unanimous vote of
confidence in the marquis was passed. Lord Hart-
ington, in the course of a lengthy address, said the
first object of certain gentlemen who had met at
Preston, and the object which they hoped to attain
without a contest, was to frighten him out
of that division into another. If he had had the
intention of leaving the northern division for
the purpose of going to the north-eastern divisior,
this move would have made it very hazardous for him
to do so. He ventured to hope that there was no
good reason why he should give way to Captain
Stanley. There were, no doubt, in the northern
division many sincere candidates who thought that
our institutions, as they existed, were very good, and
who were opposed to violent changes. These he
would remind that they were the more secure from
violent changes under the guidance of the Liberal
party. It was sufficient to look at what
had taken place within the last two years.
He intended to seek re-election whether Captain
Stanley was brought forward or not, with a slight re-
servation. That reservation was, that if it should
appear that the Tories were in an overwhelming
majority—if Captain Stanley received promises which
would nialfe his return certain, none of his (Lord
Flartington's) friends would wish him to stand a hope-
less contest. A registration committee was appointed
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