lidruspedwe Criticism. 379 



warm colours of the azaleas with the cold colours of the rhododendrons and 

 kaliTiias, and relieving the tufted masses of dwarfs with occasional standards. 

 We observed some very interesting foreign varieties, — Cond. 



Art. II. Retrospective Criticism. 



Cemeteries. — In your " Principles of Landscape-Gardening applied to 

 Public Cemeteries" you have not forgotten the poor man, even in death. It 

 is often shameful to witness the disrespect shown to the remains of the poor 

 after they have travelled through a world of pain and sorrow, and in a coun- 

 try too that professes to show much benevolence towards the human race. 



I have often felt grieved in witnessing the funeral of the poor, the at- 

 tendance at times being scarcely sufficient to convey them to their last resting- 

 place, while their oppressors shall have a long train of unnecessary followers 

 accompanying them to the grave. But the glorious prospects which the 

 Christian religion holds out to the believer in Jesus, beyond death and the 

 grave, reconcile the traveller to heaven, in a great measure, to all the scorn 

 and neglect that may befal him in the way : he knows that, 



" Under ground 



Precedency 's a jest ; vassal and lord. 

 Grossly familiar, side by side consume." 



You have already shown the pernicious effects the living are exposed to by 

 a careless neglect of the dead, and it is really a matter of wonder that that 

 carelessness should still be persisted in. When we think of the disagreeable 

 effluvium which proceeds from a dead mouse or dead mole when decomposing 

 on the surface of the earth or but partially covered, the evil effects upon the 

 living in the neighbourhood of an improper burying-ground must be incal- 

 culable. 



You have also pointed out (p. 299.) how the funeral expenses have been 

 lessened about the metropolis ; and perhaps it may not be uninteresting to 

 some of your readers in the country, to be informed of a cheap and con- 

 venient mode of conveying the dead now in use in various parts of Scotland. 



West Plean and Auchenbowie are about three miles from the churchyard 

 of St. Ninian's, and it was sometimes found to be very laborious work to 

 carry a dead body when few attended the funeral, especially when the day 

 was wet and the roads dirty. Some time ago it was resolved that a hearse 

 should be got to the place for the use of the inhabitants ; a meeting was 

 accordingly called, and the thing set about briskly. Plans were drawn out, 

 and estimates received from the coach builders of Stirling ; one was fixed on, 

 and we have now a very neat article which cost about 50/. A house was 

 also built for it, which cost nearly 20/., and the whole has only cost the 

 members of the company 7s. Qd. each. V/e however, got some assistance 

 from gentlemen and farmers in the neighbourhood : one gave the ground 

 for the house to be built on free ; another gave 10/., and another 3/. ; while 

 the farmers carted the stones, lime, and slates, free of expense. One shilling 

 and sixpence is paid to the keeper of the hearse when it is required ; and a 

 farmer seldom charges anything for the use of a horse for two or three hours. 

 A pall or mort-cloth is scarcely ever used since the hearse came to the place. 

 We have handspokes, and a folding-seat for the cofHn to rest on when taken 

 from the hearse, so that we do not require those belonging to the parish : this 

 is also a saving. What has been done in one rural district may be done in 

 another ; and it has been acknowledged, even by those who were indifierent 

 about it at first, to be a great improvement obtained at a trifling expense. 



The members, in forming the regulations regarding the use of tlie hearse, 



