29 NOVEMBER 1851, Page 12

still, all the complaint of stagnation in the political world,

stand- still, dead-lock, and so forth, scarcely a day passes without giving

vited to move in the direction of Catholic repudiation. moving in the direction of Catholic emancipation, we are now in-

to the other Reform movements already going forward, or back- plation, from the immortal old Westminster Association to the i but the Manchester millocracy must have its own eddy in the way- said to be on a Protection movement, the Teetotal movement, the Early Closing fen movement, the Irish Redemption of Land movement, Mr.

Anti-Knowledge-tax movement, the Anti-Flour-tax movement, the

to all London movement, the Anti-Truck movement, the Emanci- " My Lords cannot but regret that any erroneous expectation should have existed on this matter, as the position in which you are now placed with re- spect of the Jews (City of London) movement, Emancipation spect to the parties with whom you have commenced negotiations for the of the Jews (J. Russell's) movement, the Street Shoe-black (C. acquisition of cemeteries, arises entirely from your having entered into these national institutions. It is already evident that we have "My Lords are not prepared to apply to Parliament in order to authorize

quite enough " movements " and to spare, especially for a period of

stagnation. be given to any other cemeteries, or any further proceedings taken by which [By the by, we had forgotten the Peace movement ; which must the liability of your Board may be increased, without the previond sanction not be omitted. There was once, too, a Complete Suffrage move- of this Board." meat : can anybody tell what has become of that ? Is it dead, From this point, it may be said, the Treasury shows an undis-

merged, transmuted, going on, or what ?] guised satisfaction at the difficulties of the Board of Health. In

Now, with all this variety of public emotion, we do not know a similar manner, the Treasury had turned a deaf ear when the why there should be this complaint of apathy and immobility. It Board asked to be put in possession of the antagonistic estimates is true that some of these movements can scarcely be called na- prepared by Mr. Pennethorne, in order that the discrepancy with tional ; true that some of them, like Protection, or Lord John's the estimates of its own competent officers might be investigated Emancipation of the Jews, are rather dead than otherwise, and exer- and tested. The proceedings of last year, therefore, dwindled down eise little more than a galvanic posthumous motion dependent on to the miserable bill for purchasing the Brompton and Nunhead the industry of the operator; true that some of them, like the Man- Cemeteries. Even considered with regard to its limited purposes chester and Russell Reform ideas, are moving only in utero : but that measure was marked with many gross deficiencies. For ex- still enough is left to stir the limbs of the political world, and to ample, it made no provision for closing private burial-grounds, save it from the " pins and needles "of which it is so much in fear. which have been put in a worse state by the closing of the parish At least we do not see reason why there should be any hurry to burial-grounds; it necessarily exposed the intended plan of inter- get up new movements. England, as Dr. Johnson said when he meat to an overwhelming competition with the existing cemeteries, was told he could not see the baby yet, " can wait." There is no which could, of course, temporarily combine for a present abate- hurry : the nation will not expire although agitators should fail meet of cost in order to defeat an ultimate and enduring abate- to light some fresh fire. England is not so shortlived that she meet; and it left the proposed plan of interment to undergo that cannot wait the natural course of events. England can have no competition subject to the compensation of incumbents. But these childish impatience to tear open every political rosebud. Indeed, deficiencies and technical oversights might not be so objectionable agitation itself, we suspect, might profit by a little real suspension, in the eyes of its superior patrons; who had made such excellent not only because it would give the repose by which strength is use of the flaws in the original act. restored, but because also an interval of stillness, however brief, Not long since, the Morning Chronicle likened the conduct of might enable some of these sectional movements, that cross and • see " Minutes of the Board of Health relating to the Metropolitan Interments hinder each other, to run into one, and thus to become worth some Act since August 1850; also Correspondence between the Treasury, Board of Health, practical attention. and Commissioners of Woods relative to the Purcbase of Cemeteries and Abbey