The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-04-06

=
nave led TO litigation In England, where a
grave is only lease, il has been held fraud
on the landlord to barry in an iron coffin, be-.
cause twould extend the term of the lease
beyond the intention of the parties! In this
state very curious case was decided by the
Supreme Court few years ago A wealthy
lady was inferred, dscked with all her Jewels.
worth several thousand dollars. Her son sold
ms interest IN her succession. The tomb was
broken open and the jewels stolen. They
were recovered, but il was deemed unsafe TO
Febury them, AMI il became matter Of Iii.
CATION who was entitled to these disntered
lewes-th heir, or the purchaser Of his rights,
1t was decided in favor OF the latter. II in
curious to find the same law called forth
in all times, by the same cause. Plato, in his
Republic, prohibited the interment of costly
articles with the body, and set aside the most
barren ground for sepulture. He was also very
ParslmOLious IN the matter Of epitaphs. The
len Tables OF Rome forbade the burial of
any precious metals, except the gold attach
ed to the teeth. Bat, in spite Of prohi-
billions, natural affection led to frequent inter
ments Of treasures. sWhere profit hath
prompted. no age hath wanted such miners -
For which the most barbarous expilalors found
the most civil rhetoric Gold once out of the
earth, is no more due to il; what was unrea.
sonably committed to the ground, is reasonas
bly, resumed from it; let monuments and rich
fabrics, not riches, adorn mems as es. The
commerce Of the living is not to be transfer
fed with the dead. 1t is not injustice to TAX e
that which none complains to lose; and no
man is wronged where no man is possessor'
In this quaint old work Of Browne, Ito be
found at the Lyceum Library,) the argument
is altogether in favor Of the inhumation Of the
body. He that hath the ashes of his frieod.
hath an everlasting treasure; when fire taketh
leave corruption slowly enters. In bones
well burnt fire makes wall against itself, =
What the SUN compoundeth, FIRE analyzeth,
not transmuteth That devouring agent leaves
almost always morsel for the earth, whereof
all things are but colony; and which, If time
permits, the mother element will leave in their
premature mass again. He then speaks OF
the custom Of butylng in fields, as practsed
by the Patriarchs-=of the Eomah fashion to
bury by the side of the public road Hence
tha al finn tod { al
ler!' The sensible rhetoric Of the dead, to
e4emplnrty of goodlife first admitted he bones
of pious men and martyrs within church wall,
which, in succeeding ages, cfopt into promis-
tuous pfaclce.' We might go to the end
of the book, so full is t of ancient learning
aud curious speculation, and tfre Christian
hope. @%
We must come back to oHr italian and his
pnttifacton. 1t seems that flowers can be
turned into stone; retaining their form, color,
and even the minutest fbres. The flower is
as if Natute had herself produced 1t in stone.
For such purpose this ID most fortunate
art. Hitherto the deicacy OF flowers has BATS
fled all efforts to preserve their beauty. Her>
bariums are but collections Of mummies, dis
torted and formless--withqut beauty. Now
we shall be enabled to collectin cabires the
Flora Of the earth, The nearest approach to
Nature has been in wax workout Nature
will now reproduce her most delicate works
in the most enduring materials-Creseent.