DESECRATION OF THE DEAD.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 12, 11 July 1848, Page 3

DESECRATION OF THE DEAD.

In consequence of reports which have been for some time circulated respecting the disgusting and dangerous condition of the dead buried under Enon Chapel, Clement's Lane, Strand, Mr. G.A. Walker, Surgeon, and other members of the " Metropolitan Sucie y for tbb Abolition of Burials in Cities and Towns," visited Enou Chapel on Monday. They wcie met by tha Trustees of the Chapel, who procured lights and accompanied Mr. Walker and the other gentlemen into a cellar under the Chapel, wuieh measured 59 by 29 feet, and was less than fivmeethign.; I u that place, on. all sides, lay human remains, bruken eft&.is, and other emblems of decayed mortality, scatter* in confused heaps. At the extreme end, on the north side, were between seventy and eighty empty coffins, their ternnts having been made away with. To the rigbC were several coffins in which lay half-decomposed iaccuses; and in the centre w-s a deep trei.ch, the sides and cads of which were formed by coffins closely packed together, four and five feet deep. The whole of the cellar was similarly crammed with bodies uuder its surface, which was not a foot deep. To the right of the vault was a blind window, through' which, in former davs, it was asserted, toe dead bodies were shot into another cellar, where they were chopped up and disposed of so as to make room for fresh interments. Upon leaving this horrible den, Mr. Walker and the trustees consulted upon the b„st mode of suppressing and putting down so frightful and so daagerous an abomination. Their unanimous opinion was, that the only remedy would be found in the immediate an J total removal of all the bodies, bones, and empty coffins, to some public crni jtery, or suburban churchyard, with as much care a:,d c'cceucy as possible. But as that could not be L;lo.tai without grtatfspense.ii. was lesolvcd to apptal at once to the authorities and the public for lie funds for that purpose, and to one of the cemetery-companies for ground for the interment uf the bodies, rhich it is calculated eacied 400, Having taken leave of the trustees, Mr. Walker visited several houses in the locality, to a cenam the condition of the health of the inhabitants. On all sides he learned tint fever, general disease, and sudden deatha were oi frequent occurrence. Many complained that in addition to the treatment to which those buried were subjected, iurther indignity was offered to tbein by dancing and dress balls taking place in the chapel itseU scleral nights each week. The following i s the card of admissiuu to the-so orgi. s over the dead : ** Temperance UaU, Clement's Lanf, Lmcotu's-inn. fields.—A grand plain aud fancy drcas ball will take placa on Monday, November ], IS 17, when eveiy a - tention will be paid to give sattsfacuuu to those ladies and gentlemen who w H do the honor of attending en the occasiou. Admission oaly Gd. each. Dancing to commence at S o'clock." Tito publication i f these facts in Tuesday's Chronicle, excited cuchhornr and disgust, that several gentlemen, among whom was Mr. 8.8. Cabbell, M.P., waited upon Mr. Walker, to ascertain from him the accuracy ot the report. To remove all doubt on the subject, Mr. Walker proposed that they slioutd accompany him to the vaults. They did *o on Tuesday evening, and were not many minutes in the place hetore they simultaneously exclaimed that no language could describe its horrors, and that the picture drawn of it by tha Wonting Chromvte, was co«sid<-rdbty b.low the mark, and tou delicately yourtrayed. Mr. Cabbvll, who minutely examt.ied the cellar, and ihe ouh under the dwetlinghou=e, in which it is said the bodies were sumnjonly disposed of, either by chopping or selling them for surgical purpoaes-, obiirved thit the dauger to the health of the liv.iig wns greatly mci eased by the joists uoc being protected by lath ai.d pin tot—and that ihvreftire the pet sous utti* ling s iviti. in the Cimpel had no protection fro. —h 'tous which arose from the putrid aud putt* _ *s underneath. Mr. Walker baiJ thu the tact w. ty bjrne uut by the num. be;s that were ever> - carried out of the chapel in fainting fits. lie .aid the dreadful effects of those exhalations ope. althily, but moat oeadly, both on the crowded in ts o' , leuicut's Lane, and those who occupied tha ~i Uciueni'& lim. Atlas. Whatever is is Rich* -./ Jew tCEspri/.— Two fiiencs, who had not s.'ia each other (ur u luug whilu, uitt o.ie <*ay by ace dont—" ILw do you do ?" *say* one.—"So, eo," lepiu-o thcothtr; "and jet 1 was married since you and 1 were together.' —'■ ihdt i* SCOI ne^vs.*'—" Noi very good for it was my lor to choose a ternhga.t."— <* h is u i i ."— «* I lastly H.ink so fir elu nr ujht me w> thuj aid puun is " " Wei, there is comfort."—Nut m ie:» for with her fj-tuue I [m chis'd a ttuanticyof btieep, and thevafe alldeid of the rot."—" Ttut U, i»d:ed.d »tiets n:.'* —■* Nit s-) ilutr -".n; bn you fur by r„<j 8 tie of lbs »kms I got more than tUe sheep c >*C rae.' —*' In that c»se you ure indemnified " —" li/ m. menus, tor my home and all my money werJ duaUuyed by Are. '— Abu! whut a drea-Uul uu* fort .iie."~-l?\uih • not so dreadful ivr my wife, and houss were burned together,'