The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-18 00:00:00

CLERICAL INTOLERANCE IN
THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
'TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In the midst of a season of affliction, wideh Las
been added to by the circumstances I am about to relate,
I feel much reluctance in at all obtruding on public no-
tice, and should be content to submit quietly to the con-
' duct which has been shown towards me and my family,
if it were not for a sense of publicsduty.
About four years ago I lost a sister by consumption
at Carisbrook, in the Isle of Wight. Owing to the state
of her health she had resided there several years, and
according to her wish, she was buried in the churchyard
of the neighbouring parish of Gatcombe. The then
rector of that parish, Dr. Worsley, made no objection
to her interment, though I afterwards understood that
he was annoyed by my dispensing with the body being
taken into the church, and only having the service real
at the grave. The undertaker, however, inforrwd me
that the Doctor seemed very well satisfied when he re-
ceived his fee ; and as the objection was not made offen-
sively, but simply on the gn.und that the deceased had
been, and I was, a Dissenter ; and, as it is an e very day
occurrence in London and other large towns for similar
interments to take place, the circumstance had almost
faded from my memory, though it was but too well re-
menitered by those who treasure up every effenee
against the exclusive authority of the Church.
Little more than a week ago I was called to the island
by the death of another sister. She died in early wo-
manhood of the same fatal disease, and it was but na-
tural that we should wish the sisters not to be separated
in death.

Within the time I have mentioned the former rector,
Dr. Worsley, had died, and on Tuesday, July 2.9tb,
went over to Gatcombe to see his successor, Dr. Thomp-
son, accompanied by my brother. The Doctor's recep-
tion of us was most courteous. I asked him if he had
any objection to my sister being laid by the s;de ef the
other one ? His answer was, "Of course I can have no
Oljre ion." He was told that we were not natives of the
island, but that my mother and sister had been res:divg
some pars at Carisbrook. He asked why the firmer
burial had taken place at Gatcombe instead of Carts •
br,ok, and was informed that it was by the wish of the
deceased, with which reason he expressed himself sars•
fisd, and then at his suggestion the three of us went to
Gatcombe Church to point out the spot. At the church-
yard the sexton received directions from the Doctor
about digging the grave, and, with his concurrence, the
day and hour of the funeral was fixed. Nothing could
be more definite and better understood; but on the even-
ing of the ensuing day I was surprised by receiving the
following note:—

" Dr. Thompson presents his compliments to Mr. Vid-
ler, and begs to inform him, that upon inquiry he finds
he cannot with propriety bury the corpse of the late
Miss Weller in the churchyard of Gatcombe, and there-
fore must reluctantly decline.
" Gatcombe, July 30."
It was too late on the evening of the day on Miich I
received this note to go to Gatcombe, but on the follow-
ing morning I went there. I felt that I had a right to
some explanation ; that it ought to be no light thing to
induce a clergyman and a gentlknan to retract a rru-
mise. I obtained a second interview with Dr. Thomp-
son. Ile was cool and distant, but studiously polite; he
hid all the manner of a man determined not to commit
himselil lie said, " That as the death had not taken
place in his parish, he had a right to refuse without
giving any reason ; that he thought when he gave his
consea the family were in some way connected with the
parish (this was not true, for on the first interview he
had been told most distinctly to the contrary); that Dr.
Worley had always regretted allowing the :ormer in-
terment; that he was acting under advice, and should
decline giving any other reasons."
I admitted his legal right to refuse (my request had
been made as a courtesy), but that and all the circum-
stances he had stated, with the exception of the feelings
of the late rector, he had known when he gave his con-
sent. Nor could I help adding, that I thought his
conduct most unkind, and quite contrary to the teaching
ef our Great Master, who taught us to do as we would
be done by. To this he answered " That lie did not
wonder I felt so, but he must do his duty by his parish."
And thus the conference closed without one word from
him about w hat I believe to be the real reason of his
refusal, viz., that we were Dissenters. This is no doubt
what he learnt by the inquiry he speaks of; and for this
reason he refused to allow the ashes of two sisters to
mingle together who had loved each other in life, had
been supported by one common faith in long and
lingering disease, and had met the same early death.
If I am mistaken in my opinion I shall be glad to be
corrected by the reverend gentleman. It is my present
conviction that he refused to bury my sister because he
had received information (perhaps clerical) that we were
Uni:arian Christians.

By some strange omission the Dissenters of the Isle
of Wight, though a numerous and a wealthy body, have
not obtained for themselves any cemetery of their own;
and have in consequence borne most patiently several
petty insults from the established clergy. Had there
been such a cemetery, 1)r. Worsley would have bee a
spared the regret, of which his successor spoke,
and I and my family would have been spared
huh pain and expense. After my interview with
Dr. Thompson, I determined not to expose myself to
another refusal, which at such a time seem d almost like
an affront to the departed, nor to give another clergy-
man of the same church an opportunity of showing his
z. al against heresy. So I left the island and crossed to
Portsmouth, where, at the High street Chapel, there is
a so all grave-yard attached. By the kindness of the
Rev. 11. Haw lies, the minister of that chapel, and the
trustees, I obtained permission for the interment to take
place there last Saturday. Till then I hardly knew
whether it might not be necessary to take the r( m ins
of my sister to London for a resting place. I refrain
from making any comment on the circumstances I have
narrated; I merely wish to put you in possession of the
facts, and if their publication in any form appears to you
likely to tend to correct intolerance, and promote the
cause of religious freedom, you are at full liberty to use
them according to your discretion. Though writing frcua
Cal isbrook, I have given my London address, in order
to authenticate my statement.—l am, Sir, yours, &c.,
WILLIAM \IDLER, Minister of the
Domestic Mission Chapel, Cripplegate.
1, Brunswick-place, City-road, Aug. 7, 1845.

DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE OF

LARGE TOWNS.

The Government Bill (prepared by Sir James Graham)
for the improvement of the sewerage and drainage or
towns and populous districts, and for making provision
for an ample supply of water, and for otherwise pro.
moting the health and convenience of the inhabitants,
is now printed, and avowedly for the purpose of
being circulated through the country, as the Bill
will not be proceeded with until next session, the
second reading being postponed for three months. It
occupies 118 pages, and the heads of the clauses alone
fill seven folio pages closely printed. Ample provi-
sions are made for the election of Commissioners by rate-
payers, for the appointment of inspectors, their mode
of meeting and conducting business, &c. The publicly
interesting portions of the Bill, however, are those
relating to the system of drainage and sewerage,
&c., proposed to be adopted. Towns are to be effec-
tually severed ; and the inspector for the district is to
furnish the Commissioners with an estimate of the cost
of the sewerage works. All sewers are to be vested iu
the Commissioners, and to be under their management
and control. The Commissioners are to make new
sewers where requisite, mills and other obstructions to
drainage being enabled to be purchased and removed.
Private drains are to be made from houses to communi-
cate with the sewers, and no houses are to be built
without drams. Houses are to be built on a
proper level, to be fixed by the Commissioners.
Vaults and cellars under streets are not to be mane
without the consent of the Commissioners ; and
drains, privies, and cesspools, are to be kept
in good order, and to be subject to inspection
by the officers of the Commissioners. The latter
are also to cause streets to be cleansed, and dust and
ashes to he removed from houses, and they may water
the streets. A medical officer is proposed to be ap-
pointed, subject to the approval of the Secretary of
State, to inquire into and report upon the sanitary con-
dition of any town or district, and such medical officer is
to perform pout mortem examinations when required by
the Coroner. The Commissioners may, further, on re-
port of the said medical officer, order filthy and unwhole-
some houses to be cleansed and whitewashed, and an
inspector of nuisances is to be appointed for superin
tending the general execution of the provisions ut
this Act ; and for receiving complaints and laying
informations, if necessary. Slaughter-houses, ant.
knackers'-yards, &c., are to be registered, and regulations
are to be made for their cleanliness and for their in.
1 spection. The inspector is to make a report on the suf.-
ficiency of the supply of water, and, if necessary, state
the best means of increasing it; and the Commissioners
may, with the approval of the inspector, contract with
water companies for a supply, or may lease any powers
vested in them. Power is also to be given to put •-
chase springs of water, &c., by agreement, under the
provisions of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, &c.
Sewer rates, paving rates, and general rates, are to be
made, to be levied on occupiers of houses and other pro-
perty, &c., and the Commissioners are to make water
rates, &c.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Stn,—Seeing in the Morning Chronicle of this day a
letter from Mr. Henry Knill, addressed to the Earl 44
Devon, reflecting upon the conduct of Mr. Collett, M.l`i
in reference to some railway companies, I owe it to myselt
thus publicly to state that I never in my life purchased tor
held a share in any company whatvver, nor am I either
dir etly or indict ctly connected with any railway ist
embryo or in existence.
If Mr. Knill intends to refer to my younger brother, tha
Member for Lincoln, he and others will I trust in future
de: tribe him correctly as " Mr. William Collett, M.P.
Very faithfully, yours,

JOhR COLLETT, M.P., for Athlone.
7, Upper Be'grave- street, London, Ang. 1 O.

MILITARY PUNISHMENT AND DEGRADATION.—
On Thursday morning a large concourse of spectators assen.-.
bled outside the gate of Winchester barracks, to witness a
private of the Ist battalion of the Grenadier Guards beixey,
drummed out of the regiment. He had been tried about
three weeks ago and sentenced to receive 150 lashes, of
which 125 were inflicted, and having sufficiently recovered,
was brought from the hospital to the parade, for the pus—
pose of being expelled the regiment. According to C.,
usual custom, he was led by a drummer-boy, with a halter
round his neck, through the files of troops, the band playiugthi.
" Rogue's Mardi." He had previously borne a bad character,
and the offence for which be has been thus expelled was fir
accoutring himself in the dress of an officer, and stealing some
utensils of German silver, under the expectation that they werw
silver, when he marched out of the barrack-gates without being
recognised by the sentry. This is the only ease of flogging is
this battalion since its arrival, and the first since the guszil)
have been stationed in this city.