Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-07-07


consecrate it to the sacred purposes for
which il is destined.
Ii is a matter of obvious consideration,
that with the rapid increase ofthe city of
Boston, many years cannot clapsc, be-
fore the deposit OF the dead within Ms
limits must cease. 1t Is already attend
ed with considerable difficulty and Is OPP /
en- to serious objection. The establish
ment now contemplated presents an OPP
portunity for all, who wish to ENJOY 1t, OF
providing place of burial for those, lor
whom il is their duty to make such pro-
vision. The space is ample, ailordmg
room for as large number of lots aS may
be required, for Il considerable length OF
time; and the price at which they are
now to be purchased, it is believed, is
considerably less than that of tombs, in
the usual places of their construction.
Although no one, whose feelings and
principles are sound, can regard without
tenderness and dclicacy the question,
where he will deposit the remains ofthosc,
whom ii is his duty to follow to their last
home, yet it may be feared, that too lit
tie thought has been had for the decent
aspect oil our places of sculpture or their
highest afal taton TO tIcir great Object.
Our burial places are in the cities crow
ded till they are full, nor, III general,
does any other object, either III town or
country, appear TO have been had IN view
in them, than that Of coniinlug the re-
mains Of the departed to the smallest
portion Of earth, that will hide them
Trees, whose incNprcssIbe beauty has
been provided by the hand of the Crca-
tor, as the great ornament Of the earth,
have rarely been planted about our grave
yards; tho enclosures are generally mad
cquatc and neglected, the giavcs indc-
Gently crowded together, and often, al
ter few years, disturbed; and the whole
appearance as little calculated as posi-
bic to invite the visits of the seriously
disposed, to tranqulIiZc the feelings of
surviving friends, and to crafty that dis
position which would lead US to pay re-
spect to their ashes.
Nor has it hitherto been in the pow
er even of those, who might be able and
willing to do it, to remedy these evils,
as far as they are themselves concerned
Great objections exist to Il place of sep
ulture III il private field; particularly thus,
that in IA few years, it Is likely TO pass
into the hands of those, who will take
no interest in preserving It's sacred de-
post from the plough. The mother Of
Washington lies buried in II field, the
property OF a person not related to her
family, and in a spot which cannot now
be identified In the public grave
yard II is not always in the power of an
individual, to appropriate to n single
place Of burial, space enough for the
purposes of decent and respectful orna-
mcnt.
The proposed establishment seems to
furnish every facility for gratifying the
desire, which must rank among the pur-
est and strongest oithe human heart; and
which would have been much more lrc-
qucntly indicated, but for the very scri-
Gus, sometimes insupcrablc obstacles,
of whichwc have spoken. Here il will
be in the power Of every one, who may
wish it, at an expense considerably less
than that of IA common tomb or vault
bene ath a church, to deposit the mortal
remains Of His friends; and to provide
place of burial for hmscll, which while
living he may contemplate without dread
or disgust; one which is secure from
the danger of being encroached upon
us in the grave yards OF the city scclu
dcd from every species of uncongcnial
intrusion; surrounded with every thing
that can fill the heart with tender
and respectful cmutions:-bcucath the
shade Of venerable tree, ON the slope
of the vcrdant lawn, and within the Sc
clusiOn Of the forest remove from all
the discordant scenes of lie.
Such were the places of burial Of the
ancient nations. la ii spot like this,
were laid the remains of the patriarchs
of Israel. In the ncighborhood Of their
great cities the ancient Egyptians estab-
llshCd extensive cities Of the dead; and
the Greeks and Romans erected the
monuments of the departed by the road
side; on the approach to their cities, or
in pleasant groves i'll their suburbs. i
part of the Grove of Acadcmus, near 4
thens, famous for the school Of Plato,
was appropriated to the sepulchrcs ofthclr
men of rcnown; and il was the saying Of
Ihemistoclcs, that the monuments he
behcld there, would not permit him to
sleep. The Appan Way was line d with
the monuments Of the heroes and sages
of Rome In modern times, the Tur-
ksh people are eminent for that respect
iul care ofthe places of scpulturc, which
forms an interesting trait ol'thc oriental
character. At the head and foot Of each
grave, cypress tree is planted, so that
the grave yard becomes in few years,