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6
exposed earth much contaminated with gas, and occasionally
with sewage-matter. But there has not arisen
any annoyance of sufficient importance to induce your
Chief Surveyor or myself to recommend the suspension
of this most useful undertaking.
Church Vaults. I have inspected the three churches
in which vault interments have taken place. The principal
is the old church. In this the interments have
been numerous. The general aeration of the vaults is
excellent. The entrance is from without, there being
no direct communication with the body of the church.
The church is warmed by stoves in the aisles, so that
the air is not—as is the objectionable practice in some
churches—drawn up through the vaults. The public
vault contains many coffins generally disposed in an
orderly manner. In some which have had the lids
raised, the bodies are seen mummified; they have
undergone a process of dry decomposition. I do not
think that any danger is to be apprehended from any
further change that may take place in bodies which
have reached this condition. Two private vaults, one
at each of the eastern corners of the church, contained
coffins in such a condition as to render it necessary that
they should be disposed on a level and covered over
with earth. This the Churchwardens have undertaken
to have done.
In St. John's, Hoxton, the interments have been