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of which we have spoken. Here it will be in the power of every one, 



who may wish it, at iin expense considerably less than that of a com- 

 mon tomb, or a vault beneath a church, to deposit the mortal remains 

 of his friends, and to provide a place of burial I'ur himself, which, wliile 

 livin;,^ he may contemplate witliout dread or disgust; one which is 

 secure from the danger of being encroached upon, as in the grave- 

 yards of the city ; secluded from every species of uncongenial intru- 

 sion ; surrounded with every thing that can fill the heart with tender 

 and respectful emotions; beneath the shade of a venerable tree, on 

 the slope of the verdant lawn, and within the seclusion of the forest ; 

 removed from all the discordant scenes of life. 



Such were the places of burial of the ancient nations. In a spot 

 like this were laid the remains of the patriarchs of Israel. In the 

 neighbourhood of their great cities the ancient Egyptians established 

 extensive cities of the dead ; and the Greeks and Romans erected 

 the monuments of the departed by the road side, en the approach to 

 their cities, or in pleasant groves in their suburbs. A part of the 

 Grove of Academus, near Athens, famous for the school of Plato, was 

 appropriated to the sepulchres of their men of renown ; and it was the 

 saying of Themistocles, that the monuments he beheld there would 

 not permit him to sleep. The " Appian Way " was lined with the monu- 

 ments of the heroes and sages of Rome. In modern times, the Turkish 

 people are eminent for that respectful care of the places of sepulture, 

 which forms an interesting trait of the oriental character. At the 

 head and foot of each grave, a cypress tree is planted, so that the 

 grave-yard becomes, in a few years, a deep and shady grove. These 

 sacred precincts are never violated ; they form the most beautiful 

 suburbs to the cities, and, not unfrequently, when the city of the 

 living has been swept away by the political vicissitudes, frequent under 

 tliat government, the Grove of Cypress remains, spreading its sacred 

 shelter over the city of the dead. 



In the city of Boston, the inconveniences of the present modes of 

 burial are severely felt; and it is as a becoming appendage and inter- 

 esting ornament of the town, tiiat this cemetery should be regarded. 

 When it shall be laid out with suitable walks, and the appropriate 

 spots shall begin to be adorned with the various memorials which 

 affection and respect may erect to the departed, what object in or 

 near Boston will l)e equally attractive? What would sooner arrest 

 the attention of the stranger ? Wliither would a man of reflection 

 and serious temper sooner direct his steps ? f (ad such a cemetery, 

 with prophetic forethought of posterity, been laid out in the first 

 settlement of the country, and all our venerated dead, — the eminent 

 in church and state, — been deposited side by side, with plain but 

 enduring- monuments, it would possess already an interest of the 

 most elevated and affecting character. Such a place of deposit is 

 Pere la Chaise, near Paris, which has already become a spot of the 

 greatest interest and attraction, furnishing the model to similar estab- 

 lishments in various parts of Europe, and well deserving to be had in 

 view, in that which is in contemplation here. 



The vicinity of our venerable University suggests an interesting 

 train of associations, connected with this spot. It has ever been the 

 favorite resort of the students. There are hundreds now living, who 

 have passed some of the happiest hours of the happiest period of their 



