If every individual promoter, male or female, of fifteen years old and upwards--without reference to the possession of property in any way--would, in view of the uncertainty of life, place such a request in his or her writing-desk, cremation would speedily prevail. The change from burial will otherwise be a protracted one, since few persons have enough strength of mind to run counter to the general custom, fearing the indignation of other relatives of the deceased. The weakest persons, however, have still a greater repugnance to doing anything contrary to the expressed wishes of the dead. If, therefore, such a wish can be exhibited, it will not only, as a rule, be religiously complied with, but all friends, whatever their own opinions, will be amply satisfied.[216] [216] This is urged by Mr. Baker, the author of the 'Laws relating to Burial,' in a letter addressed to me. _BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CREMATION._ SIR THOMAS BROWNE--_Hydriotaphia, or Urn-Burial._ 1658. DR. J. JAMIESON--_Origin of Cremation._ Proc. R. S. of Ed., 1817. GRIMM--_Ueber das Verbrennen der Leichen._ Berlin Acad. Sc., 1849. DR. J. P. TRUSEN--_Die Leichenverbrennung._ Breslau, 1855. HERMANN RICHTER--Article in the _Gartenlaube_, No. 49. 1856. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS (C. COBBE)--_Burning the Dead, or Urn-sepulture Religiously, Socially, and Generally considered._ 1857. COL. T. MARTIN--_Specification of a Cinerator, for use of Brahmins and other Hindoo Castes, &c._ Poonah, 1864. PROFESSOR COLETTI--_Memoria sulla Incinerazione dei Cadaveri._ 'Memoria letta all' Accademia di Scienze e Lettere di Padova,' January 11, 1857. Reproduced in the _Gazetta Medica Prov. Venete_, 1866. DR. J. P. TRUSEN--_Denkschrift zur Leichenverbrennung._ Namslau, 1860. DR. GIRO--'Sull' Incinerazione dei Cadaveri.' Padova: _Gazetta Medica Prov. Venete_. 1866. THE REV. A. K. H. B.--_Recreations of a Country Parson._ 2nd Series. 'Essay concerning Churchyards.' London, 1866. DR. DU JARDIN--'Studii e Proposte sulla Cremazione.' _La Salute._ Genoa, 1867. LIEBALL--_Der Welt Verderben durch Leichenbeerdigung und das neue Paradies durch Leichenverbrennung._ München, 1868. PROFESSOR CASTIGLIONI--_Sulla Cremazione dei Cadaveri._ Firenze, 1870. DR. DU JARDIN--'La Guerra e le sue Vittime; l'Incinerazione ed il Seppellimento dei Cadaveri.' _La Salute._ 1870. H. W. HEMSWORTH--'Incremation by State Regulation.' _Rectangular Review._ October, 1870. J. LEFORT--'Remarques sur l'Altération des Eaux de Puits par le Voisinage des Cimetières.' _Bull. de l'Académie de Médecine_, t. 36. 1871. PROFESSOR GOLFARELLI--_Discorso sullo stesso Argomento._ Firenze, April 1871. PROFESSOR GORINI--_I Vulcani sperimentali._ 1872.