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construction of a mortuary house, which caused several visits
and some correspondence.
After full consideration, Dr. Aldis wrote to the effect, that
although a place for the purpose of preventing the corpses of
persons from being retained in the crowded dwellings of the poor,
longer than is safe to the living, would be most desirable, nevertheless,
several reasons were mentioned that might be considered
fatal to the plan in this instance.
He also consulted Dr. Druitt, who visited the crypt, and Mr.
Grainger, the Government Inspector of burial grounds, who both
concurred in this opinion. .
The Hon. and Rev. R. Liddell subsequently expressed a
wish that Mr. Grainger might be invited to inspect the spot, to
see whether he could change his views.
Dr. Aldis replied to the Rev. Mr. Liddell, that his request
should be complied with; and at the same time stated, that in
addition to the objections already urged, " in certain cases, as
dropsy for instance, oozings might take place, only to be prevented
by leaden coffins, which would not be provided for the
poor ; and as three or four coffins might be placed there at the
same time, the evil would be concentrated. Any escape from
the coffins would cause a great nuisance, especially as the
entrance to St. Barnabas' must be at least 100 feet from the
crypt. He therefore strongly advised Mr. Liddell against the
project."
Mr. Grainger, having examined the crypt, was opposed to
the principle of allowing dead bodies to be placed under
churches, and saw no reason to alter his previous opinion.