§ MR. MIALLsaid, he begged to ask the hon. Under Secretary for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to the fact that arrangements were being made and notices served for the removal of the remains of persons buried in the late Bunhill Fields burying-ground, Church Street, Islington, and for using the ground for building purposes; and whether such proceedings were in accordance with law? To make the question intelligible, he must state to the House that a notice had been served upon the owner of one of the vaults, which notice required the removal, within seven days from the date of the receipt thereof, of the remains contained in the vault. He wished to know whether such a proceeding was in accordance with law?
§ MR. MASSEYsaid, the attention of the Government had been called to the matter. Two years ago, information was given to the Home Secretary that notices had been served upon the owners of private vaults and graves in the Bunhill Fields ground to remove the remains of their friends, as the ground was about to be appropriated for building purposes. In. order to put a stop to such gross indecency, the Solicitor to the Treasury was instructed to warn the person who had served those notices that they were illegal, and that he would be prosecuted if he persevered in his intention. This warning appeared to have had the desired effect, but about two days ago a representation was made to the Home Office that similar notices had again been issued. No doubt such notices were illegal at common law, and rendered the person who issued them liable to an indictment for misdemeanor. Parties having graves in that burying-ground might protect their rights by injunction from the Court of Chancery. He would, however, make further inquiry into the subject, and if it should be found necessary the law would be put in force.