It may not he uninteresting here to state that extra-mural or suburban cemeteries, formed part of the plan of the cele brated Sir Christopher Wren, for the rebuilding of London after the Brea tfire. "I would wish," say s he, "that all burials in churches might be disallowed, which is not only unwhole some, but the pavements can never be kept even, nor the pews upright ; and if the church-yard be close about the church, this is also inconvenient, heeause the ground being continually raised by the graves, occasions in time a descent by steps into the church, which renders it damp. and the walls green, as appears evidently in all old churches." Ile then proceeds to recommend, that a piece of ground, being purchased in the fields, should then be "enclosed with a strong brick wall, and having a walk round, and two cross walks, decently planted with yew-trees. The timr quarters to serve four parishes, where the dead need not be disturbed at the pleasure of the sexton.
" lu these places beautiful monuments may be erected ; but yet the dimensions should be regulated by an architect, and not left to the fancy of every mason for thus the rich with larg,e marble tombs would shoulder out the poor: when a pyramid, a good bust, or statue on a proper pedestal, w ill take up little room in the quarters, and be properer than figures, lying on marble beds ; the walls w ill contain escutcheons and memorials for the dead, and the real good air and walks fiu. the living." Though the cemeteries which have been formed are pro nounced to be only improvements on the places of burial in this country, and flu• below what it would yet he practicable to accomplish; they have indisputably been viewed with public satisfit•tion, and have created desires of further advances by the erection of national cemeteries. Abroad the national cemeteries have obtained the deepest hold on the affections of the population. They have been established near to all the large towns in the United States. To some of them a horticultural garden is attached ; the garden-walks being connected with the places of interment, which, though decorated, are kept apart. These cemeteries are places of public resort, and are there observed, as in other countries, to have a powerful effect in soothing the grief of those who have departed friends, and in refining the feelings of all.
At Constantinople, the place of promenade for Europeans is the cemetery at Pera, which is planted with cypress, and has a delightfnl position on the side of a hill overlooking the Golden Horn. The greatest puldie cemetery attached to that capital is at Scutari, which limns a beautiful grove. In lZussia. almost every town of importance has its burial-plaee, at a distance from the town, laid out by the architect of the government. It is always well planted with trees, and is
fropiently ornamented with sculpture. Nearly every Ger nrun his its cemetery, planted and ornamented. In Turkey. Rtissia. and Germany, the poorer classes have the advantages of interment in the national cemeteries.
One of the most celebrated cemeteries in Europe is that of Pere la Chaise, but in this, as in all the cemeteries of Paris, it has been a subject of complaint, that the graves of the poor are neglected and little eared fin.. amidst the splendid monuments and sculptured ornaments which mark the tombs of the higher classes.
The first attempt at a metropolitan cemetery. in imitation of that of Pere la Chaise, was made by the General Cemetery Company, who, in the year 1833, opened to the public their new and extensive burial-ground at liensall Green. This cemetery occupies above fifty acres of ground ; which is taste fully laid out with flowers and plants ; •ell.gravelled walks lead to various parts of the ground ; and yews. evergreens, and shrubs, deemed appropriate to a place of sepulture, ment and diversify the landscape. On the road side. the cemetery is bounded by a high wall. allimling protection seclusion; on the other side, towards the canal, an open iron palisading permits an uninterrupted view of the country, which here presents a prospect both extensive and beautiful. At the entrance there is a handsome gateway, from which a cen tral walk leads to the church in the ontsferided portion of the cemetery. In this building are sob Ionized the funeral rites according to the Church of England. In front of the church a large circle is appropriated to many of the more splendid tombs and mausoleums, and beneath it are extensive cata COMbs In the in:consecrated part of the cemetery, set apart for the burial of Dissenters of every denomination. a neat chapel has been erected for the performance of service according to their several fiirms of worship. The principal feature of this chapel is a rather handsome Doric colonnade, and near it also are catacombs.
The etablishment of the cemetery at KeresaII Green was immediately followed by that of several others in the suburbs of London; one of the most picturesque of these is I I ighgate Cemetery, situated on the rising slope of the hill Highgate Church. Here, the natural beauty of the ground has been tastefully made use of and the result produced is pleasing, if viewed as a pleasure-garden, though certainly eon veying but little of that solemnity of and ftieling we are accustomed to associate with a burial-place for the dead.