The Record has given circulation to a report that the
Govern- ment, alarmed by the avowal of some of the members who voted in the slender majority against Mr. Osborne Morgan's Burial Bill, that they cannot be again trusted to give the same vote, have put it about that they wish for some kind of compromise. Whether this be so or not, it seems certain that a few of the leading London clergymen,—out of their own wish for a compromise as we believe,—had a conference last week with a few of the leading Dissenting ministers, and that at this meeting it was thought that a working compromise would be attainable. It does not appear, however, that the Bishop of London or any otiler ecclesiastical authority approved the conference, and as far as we know, it committed nobody except those who attended it. The Record believes that it was agreed at this conference that churchyards might be thrown open to all Dissenting funerals where the person conducting the service is either the minister of a recognised body, or appointed by him for the purpose, —this safeguard being introduced to prevent scandals in the way of noisy or public demonstrations at the open grave. We imagine that as yet the Government has had nothing to do. with the matter, but we have no doubt at aU that some compromise would be wise, and not much that even Mr. Disraeli's Government might profit by the relenting disposition evinced by some of his supporters.
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