Star. — 1830-05-10 (London, England)

MONDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1830.  THE POOR ANATOMIZING BILL.  It is expected that in the early part Of the present will be this most unfeeling and demoralising measure will be again brought before the legislature. We are therefore looking forward with the most fearful anticipations that this odious and invidious subject, when again pressed upon the attention of Parliament, may be ultimately carried, and that the dead bodies of the poor of England will hereafter be subject to be " cut up" and mutilated by " Act of Parliament." In the House of Lords, during the last session, this unpopular, execrable, self-interested, and abominable, poor-cutting-up-bill was introduced by Lord Calthorpe, but was thrown out— after passing the Commons—by a considerable majority. Since that period—indeed very latterly—a letter has been received by Lord Calthorpe on the subject, written by a gentleman of very considerable experience, and whose opinions are, in consequence, of no mean value. We understand that when this Bill is again brought under the notice of the legislature, various alterations and amendments will be made agreeably to the suggestions of the writer of the following letter to the nobleman alluded to ; an extract from which we have been permitted to make, and which we subjoin.—Senday Paper. Extract ofa Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Caltborpe, on the subject of " A Bill for preventing the unlawful disinterment of human bodies, At."  " It appears that all the opposition which has manifested itself against the passing of the bill in question has arisen in consequence of that clause which enacts that the bodies of ALL persons who die in prisons or workhouses, not claimed by relations or friends within osoonly-hro hours, are to be given up for anatomical purposes t and, therefore, the only difficulty which now presents itself to delay the passing of a similar bill appears to be, (In the first place) bow a sufficient number of bodies to supply all the anatomical schools, con. templated by the bill, can be obtained ; and (in the second place) how that supply can be procured in the least otensive manner to the feelings and prejudices of the community at large. I would therefore seggest to your Lordship that the bodies of the following persons should be appropriated to the advancement of anatomical science:—  " Ist —ALL persons who are hanged...not confining dissection to murderers only. " 2nd. Persons wbo die in prison ruder sentence of death. "fid. Convicts, under sentence of transportation, who die either in prison, on board the Hulks, in any of his Majesty's Dock.yords, or in any other part of England or Scotland. " 4th. Persons jetted dead, who are not claimed by relations or Mends within 72 hours atter an inquest has been holden. " sth All persona who commit suicide (no matter under what eirenanstasoes, nor whether sane or not at the time of committing the act).—the Coroner, before whom the inquest is held, to send la' mediate information to the office of the commissioners for licensing schools of anatomy. In order that this last clause should be rendered as palatable as possible to the higher orders of society, I would propose that a body might be redeemed, by relations or Mends, on payment of a fine of E—. (my &..501.); such fines to be appropriated towards raising a fund to defray the expenses of founding a National School qf Anatomy, or any other public institution connected with that branch of medical science."