§ Order of the day for the Second Reading read.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a.
§ THE BISHOP OF EXETER moved that the Bill should be read a second time that day six months. His opposition to the Bill was occasioned by the circumstance that while it gave powers to the Government, by an order in Council, for the closing of existing burial grounds, it did not impose the slightest obligation to provide other burial grounds for the parishes and places the grounds of which were so closed. As the church could not recognise burials, except in consecrated ground, it might hence arise that the people of Ireland might be prevented from burying their dead according to the law of the church.
THE BISHOP OF LONDONcalled attention to the evils which had attended the English measure, and to the scenes of indecency which were daily taking place in parishes at the cast end of London, in consequence of burial grounds having been closed before new ones had been provided. When he last called attention to this subject, anoble Friend of his (the Earl of Aberdeen) promised that something should be done to remove the evil, yet at the present moment bodies were taken in all kinds of conveyances to unconsecrated ground, buried a great number in the same grave, and divine service, as it was called, read over them by the gravedigger, who slipped on a surplice for the purpose. It was impossible to describe the scenes of abomi- 1283 noble indecency which daily occurred in consequence of this defect of the law, which permitting the closing of one burial ground before another had been provided to supply its place. It was the bounden duty of the Government to correct so great a social and moral evil, by making some provision for the decent burial of the dead; and as there was an absolute necessity for some remedy, he should, after Easter, call their Lordships' attention to the subject.
§ EARL GRANVILLEwas understood to say, that some inconvenience had indeed followed the operation of the law in certain parts of the metropolis, but that the local authorities were now bestirring themselves to provide a remedy. By the English act, a board elected by the rate payers had power to provide a new burial ground; in Ireland it would be impracticable to apply the same provisions, without the risk of occasioning unseemly disputes.
§ LORD MONTEAGLEthought it better to suspend the operation of this Bill, which would only remedy one evil by creating another.
THE EARL OF WICKLOW,thinking some measure of this kind was required in Ireland, did not wish to oppose the present Bill. He suggested that the noble Earl (Earl Granville) should take the second reading now, with the distinct understanding that he would postpone the further stages of the Bill until after Easter, and that if he could not insert provisions to meet the objections which had been urged against it, he would not persevere with it.
THE BISHOP OF EXETERsaid, he had not the slightest wish to press his motion, provided he obtained from the Lord President an assurance that some provisions should be made to meet the objection which he had made.
§ EARL GRANVILLEexpressed his willingness to adopt the suggestion of the noble Earl (the Earl of Wicklow), and to postpone the further stages of the Bill until after Easter.
§ EARL GREYthought that the subject alluded to by the right rev. Prelate (the Bishop of London) ought not to be allowed to rest where it did. Last year the House was horrified at the statement which was then laid before it by the right rev. Prelate, as to the working of the Metropolitan Interment Act. He (Earl Grey) ventured at the time to recommend that he should not be satisfied with the assurance of the Government that something should be done, but that he should adopt a course 1284 which he hoped the right rev. Prelate would now take, namely, to move for a Select Committee, which should inquire into the question and ascertain whose fault it was that these abuses had been allowed to exist. Having ascertained that, Parliament would be in a proper situation to insist upon the application of some remedy. As the provision of new burial grounds would require the raising of funds, either by rates or otherwise, it would be necessary that a measure should be introduced into the other House of Parliament; and he hoped that the Government would consider whether the best course would not be to bring a new Bill into the other House, which should be passed by that House before their Lordships should be asked to consent to it.
§ LORD REDESDALEsaid, that this Bill provided for the summary closing of burial grounds, and ought to contain an equally summary provision for the opening of new ones. If not, the disgusting scenes now presented in the east of London would be repeated, perhaps exceeded in Ireland. He believed that in some parishes in the metropolis carts might be seen conveying the coffins of paupers to the graves, into which they were thrown with almost as little ceremony as if they were the remains of animals.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2° accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.