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7
very few. There are two public vaults of small size;
and insufficiently ventilated. Now that vault-interments
are illegal, it would be desirable both in a sanitary point
of view, and as a security against desecration, to dispose
the coffins on a level and to cover them with a foot of
earth.
In St. James', the coffins are few. With a view to
the preservation of the church from dry rot, a freer
ventilation through the vaults is desirable. The church
is warmed by stoves in the aisles; there is no communication
between the vaults and the body of the church.
In all cases I met with the readiest assistance and
attention to my suggestions, from the Ministers and
Churchwardens.
Although I have stated that the bodies of the
churches are cut off from all direct communication with
the vaults, it must not be inferred that this is a sufficient
protection against the intrusion of air from the
vaults. Under the law of diffusion of gases, two gases
contained in separate chambers, are enabled to penetrate
each other through any chink or channel which may
exist between the two chambers. Thus, air from the
vaults may, even in the absence of all currents, insinuate
itself through the gratings into the external air,
and thence through the doors and windows into the
church. This process is especially favored by warm