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A similar Memorial was presented to the London County
Council praying it to refuse its sanction to any plans for building
upon the site and to use its influence with the Home Secretary
to induce him to withhold his license for the removal of human
remains as contemplated. The Board also appointed a deputation,
consisting of the Chairman of the Board (Mr. George J.
Newton, J.P.), Mr. Henry J. Coles, and the Solicitor (Mr. G. C
Topham), to wait upon the Home Secretary upon the subject.
It likewise placed itself in communication with Mr. R. K.
Causton, M.P., and with Messrs. Edric Bayley and T. Hunter,
the local representatives of the Council, the former undertaking
to see the Home Secretary upon the subject, and the two
Council representatives interesting themselves greatly in the
matter. Both of these expressed an opinion that the Council
was with the Board in its endeavours to secure the whole of
the site.
The deputation was very courteously received by Mr.
Kenelm E. Digby, one of the Under Secretaries of State, at the
Home Office, by appointment, on the 11th February, Messrs.
James Spicer & Sons, the London County Council, and the
Metropolitan Public Gardens Association being also represented.
The decision of the Home Secretary was received shortly
afterwards in the form of a reply to the letter forwarding the
Memorial to him above set forth, as follows:—
" Whitehall,
" 9 th March, 1898.
'' Sir,—In reply to your letter of the 22nd ultimo, I am
directed by Secretary Sir Matthew Ridley to acquaint you, for
the information of the Board of Works for the St. Saviour s
District, that, after very careful consideration of all the circumstances
of the case, he has decided to decline the application
for his license for the proposed removal of human remains from
the Cross Bones Burial Ground.
" I am, Sir,
" Your obedient Servant,
" The Clerk to the Board " KENELM E. DIGBY.
of Works for the St.
Saviour's District."
Subsequently Messrs. James Spicer & Sons submitted an
amended plan for the erection of buildings upon the same portion
of the site as shown upon their former plans, but of diminished
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