St. Lucia, W.I., Nov. 1850.
_North Sides of Churchyards_ (Vol. ii., pp. 55. &c.)--In a chapter on the
custom of burying on the south side of churches, in Thompson's _History of
Swine_, published 1824, I find the following mention of the north side
being appropriated to felons:
"The writer hereof remembers, that between fifty and sixty years ago, a
man who was executed at Lincoln, was brought to Swine, and buried on
the north side of the church, as the proper place in which to bury a
felon."
I have heard it stated by several inhabitants of the parish, that it is
only within a few years that burials began to be made irrespectively on the
north side. Whilst speaking of things in connection with this church, I may
mention for the {75} interest of antiquaries, that only a short time ago,
the sexton discovered a very curious fresco of the Virgin on one of the
pillars in the north aisle. There is an inscription beneath the figure, but
so very indistinct, as not to admit of being deciphered.