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in my former Report, many complaints have been made.
Government Inspectors have condemned the piling and close
packing system as out of all proportion to the space in use.
It is said that, on every Sunday, 130 bodies are interred:—
that, in fact, 16000 pounds* of mortal matter are added, on
that day alone, to the already decomposing mass. So continuous
is the dead march down Bethnal Green Road, that
it has got the cognomen of the Road to the Grave. According
to the Instructions issued by the Secretary of State to guide
Burial Boards, the interment rate is 120 bodies, per acre,
per annum. By that estimate, the annual interments in the
Victoria Park Cemetery ought not to exceed 1440.
Slaughtering Places.
Having, Gentlemen, informed you, last October, in a special
Report, of the condition of each slaughtering place, I have
only, on this occasion, to express my admiration of the alacrity
displayed, by the several butchers, in carrying out your
orders, and my conviction that the improvements effected
Trill, equally, conduce to the health of the occupants, and the
preservation of the meat. Although we may hope that the
day is not distant when abattoirs will be established round
London, surrounded by trees,† yet, without doubt, it is possible
(where slaughter-houses are isolated, as in Bethnal
Green, and when all due requirements are made) to carry
on the business, with little injury or offence.
Pauper Statistics.
At the close of the year 1855, 1265 persons were inmates
of the "Workhouse in Bethnal Green. During 1856, there
were 2187 Paupers admitted, and 2129 discharged; 48 Children
were born—18 legitimate, 30 illegitimate; 251 died; and
615 Vagrants and 46093 Out-door Poor had relief. On
December 31st, the inmates numbered 1072; namely, 360
* Leading Article, Lancet, Nov. 8, 1856. †As the Abatttoir of Roule is in Paris.