With the increase of population in these towns the churchyards have necessarily become, too small; and this, we trust, will, at no distant period, lead to general cemeteries, which may at the same time, be rendered very ornamental. The churchyards of the villages and country parishes are also almost every where too small; and, as the author of Necropolis Glasguensis (Glasgow, 8vo, 1831) observes, they are generally in a neglected state. We regret that the resident clergy do not seem to partake in our views on this subject; otherwise they might do much, with very little trouble or expense: for we are sure there is no gardener or nurseryman who would not supply such trees as might be wanting, and even plant them; and the expense of mowing the grass, if the parish could not afford it, we doubt not would be volunteered by the resident ploughmen or other workmen belonging to the parish: A little smoothing of the rougher parts or the surface; a walk, or walks, judiciously led round and through the area, and neatly gravelled or paved; and a few trees and shrubs, by no means two of a sort in the same churchyard, are all that is wanting. We are justified by the general character of gardeners for liberality and patriotism, independently of what they did in the case of Burns's monuments at Dumfries, and at Kirk Alloway, and in Kirk Alloway churchyard, in concluding that these articles and labours would be readily supplied by them; and masons, we are certain, would not less willingly assist in repairing the walls or tombs; and road-makers in bringing in gravel, or in Macadamising or paving the walks. The editor of the Scotsman observes (29th of June, 1831) that the neglected state of the churchyards in Scotland is a disgrace to the country; and we agree with him in thinking that this originates chiefly in the "deficiency of sentiment which belongs to the national character." We would therefore strongly recommend the improvement of churchyards, for the sake of cultivating a feeling, in which it is thus publicly acknowledged by a Scotsman, that (we) his countrymen are deficient.
