Cemeteries of Edinburgh and Leith. 201 



32 in. deep, in which is deposited the mould or earth when 

 cast out of the grave. The sides of this box are removable at 

 pleasure ; and the box, before receiving the earth from the grave, 

 is raised up in a sloping position to the margin and alongside 

 the grave, so that when the coffin or chest is lowered the grave- 

 diggers have little else to do than loosen and take out the one 

 side of the box, when the earth immediately runs out ; and the 

 whole of the earth being returned, then, with broom in hand, 

 the workmen proceed to fit on the turf, and after the space of a 

 few minutes not a particle of earth is to be seen, but everything 

 left almost as neat as if the ground had not been disturbed. 



The fees are most moderate. A man may be buried, all 

 expenses included, for 8s. 6^., and a child for 5s. At the same 

 time there are different degrees of style in performing funerals, 

 varying in expense from 4>s. (the expense of burying a still- 

 born child) to 51. 17s. 6d. (the expense of a hearse, with five 

 mourning-coaches, and all the customary paraphernalia). 



It may be remarked that there is also the Old Calton Burying- 

 Ground, as well as the new ; and that both are under one system 

 of management. The Calton Incorporation, which is a society 

 united for the attainment of one of the most laudable objects 

 that can engage civilised man, to provide for the widow and 

 the orphan. The old burying-ground was much cut up by the 

 opening of the new London road in March, 1819, and the site 

 of the new cemetery was planned to supply the deficiency, 

 which it has admirably done : and, besides, it has given a stimulus 

 to church-yard improvement ; for, although this Incorporation 

 under their manager was not the first to use the box above 

 described, yet they were the first in Edinburgh who used it ; 

 and Mr. Hay, the present manager, has the honour of having 

 introduced it from Leith. 



This receiving-box, as it may be called, is the invention of 

 Mr. Lamb, wright and undertaker, in Leith. Mr. Lamb, about 

 fifteen years ago, made two boxes smaller than that described, 

 which were used in South Leith Burying-Ground, under the 

 late Mr. Dick, with the happiest results. One of these small 

 boxes was placed at each side of the grave ; but this was found 

 inconvenient, by keeping the mourners at too great a distance. 

 The double boxes, therefore, soon gave way to the larger single 

 box, above described, and the small ones are never used unless 

 in confined places of the burying-ground, or when a greater 

 depth is required than ordinary. Mr. Lamb has since made 

 pattern boxes for Glasgow, East Linton, and some other places ; 

 and, without claiming any monopoly for the invention, he 

 most honourably charges the current price of making similar 

 boxes of the size for any other purpose. Mr. Hay took the 

 hint from Mr. Lamb's boxes, and has acted upon it for many 



