The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-02 00:00:00

LUNACY IN IRELAND.

Mr. BLAKE, at peat bagth, called attention to the
defects in the moral treatment of insanity in the public
lunatic asylums of Ireland, and to the recommendations
contained in the report of the COMMiSiiOIIOIIII of Inquiry
into the State of the Lun►tic Asylums of Ireland (18.56).
Mr. BUTT called attention to the last report of the In-
spectors of Prisons in Ireland, and to the expediency of
adopting measures to prevent the detention of persons nom.
mated as dangerous lunatics in the common gaols in Ire-
land.
Sir E. PEET, gave replies sod explanations upon both
subjects.
THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Mr. COBDEN rose, amidst loud cheers, to offer some
observations on the administration of the noble lord the
member for Tiverton, is relation to the legislation and state
of parties in that house. After some prefatory remarks
with maid to the state of parties and his own position as
hem* on the question, the hon. member said—
It
is almost a pity that we cannot talk this
matter over is private ; but I assume that if
we bad a great fate day, as they used to have is
ancient times, when great chiefs appeared at the head of
their follower with their banners flying and their iusignia
displayed ; if, I say, we had such • bite day, with our chief
at our head, sad with his flag bearing our old party cry,
" Economy ! Non-intervention! Reform!" it would give oc-
casion to a great deal of hilarity. (Laughter and cheese.)
Now of these ancient mottoes of our party I am inclined to
attach the first importance to the principle of economy, be-
cause the other two may be said to have had for their object
the attainment of that end. Now, has our party fulfilled
this pledge and ancient policy of economy! Do my hoe.
friends around me know to what extent we have sinned
melon the true faith in this respect? Are they aware
that this so-called liberal party—the representatives of
econciny—have beau by far the most extravagaut govern-
ment—(cheers)—that has ever been known in this country
in time of peace ; that we have signalised ourselves
as a party in power by • higher rate of expmdi.
tare than was ever kerma before, except in time of war.
I don't mean only that we have spent more money, because
we might possibly have gabled so much more wealth that
the amount spent would have been proportionately less.
But not only have we spent more money absolutely, but we
have been extravagant relatively to the numbers and the
means of the people. We have lately had a return laid
before parliament which throws • little light upon the sub-
ject. It is a. report which was moved for by the hon.
baronet opposite, who has taken so much interest in the
subject. It is entitled, " A return of taxation per head ;"
and it gives the amount paid by each individual at
four different periods extending over 30 veers. In
the year 1830 the taxation per head was V. 4s. 11d.
In 1840 it was 1/. 18s. 2d. There you have first realised the
fruits of the Reform Bill. (Ironical cheers.) In the year
1850 it was on the average 2/. ls. sd. ; and in 1860 it was
21. Ba. Id, per head, being a higher amount in taxation per
head in 1860, during the existence of the present govern-
ment, and whilst this party was in power, than bad been
known for 30 years before, in time of peace. Not only have
we spent more money per head, but we were informed some
year ego by the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, who
was at considerable pies to investigate the matter, that the
taxation had iaereaaed faster than the wreath of the
country bad increased between the years 1843 and 1859.
(Hear.) He showed that our expenditure had increased
in more than a duplicate ratio to the wealth of the coun-
try. So that this so.ealled party of economy has been the
most extravagant of the present generation. (Chem...)
Now there is another illustration of this which I wish to
bring home to my hon. friends. How has this money been
spent. and upon what has it been spent ? I will give you
an illustration of the increase which has taken place in our
expenditure during the last four years; and that will
enable us to compare (for I am sorry to say it will be nose.
nary to make a edema breast of our shortcomings) the
amount of the expenditure of this party with that of the
right hon. gentleman opposite. Now, I find by the esti-
mate* for the year 1862-3, moved for by my right hon. friend
the Chancellor of the Exchequer in tin budget of this year,
that the charges for the army, the militia, the navy, the
fortifications, including the packet service, which was com-
prehended iu the estimate of the right hon. gentleman op-
posite, amounted together to 29,916,000/. I have also the esti-
mate of the right boo. gentleman the member for Bucks
when he was Chancellorof the Exchequer in 1838 ; and T find
that his estimate for the year 1808.9 for the same items—the
army, the militia, the envy, the packet service, and the
fortifications—was 21,610,01111.—(opposition cheers)—or
8,306.000/. less than our estimates. (Cheers.) lam glad
to Ind that my boaourable friend behind me (Mr. Hadfield)
has courage to cry," Hear, hear," is so cheerful& tone. Now
in making this comparison I have included the 12,000,000/.
for fortifications which we have voted this year. It is
very convenient for some bon. members to put this money
out of sight because it is not down in the estimates. But if
this sum of 12.000,0001. is to be paid this year, surely so
much is withdrawa from the available resources of the
country—(hmar, hear)—and most fairly COlllO within the
expenditure of the year. We have therefore increased our
expenditure for these items in four years over the expendi-
ture of the party opposite by upwards of 8,300.0001., or at
the rate of more than 2,000,(X)0/. • year. (Hear, hear.)
How has this arisen? Upon what ground can it be that we
have increased this warlike estimate by 4,000,0001.
in the last four years, at a tine when there
has been a contently-increasing tendency to peace
between this country sad other powers? How has this
arisen! This brings me to refer to the noble lord at the
head of the goverment. (Hear, bear.) Now one or two of
my friends have said to we before I begin my speech this
evening. "I hope you wOO% be personal"—(e laugh)—sod
I have been warmed to keep my temper. (A laugh.) Now
I hope I um in a good temper—(hear, hear)—and certainly
don't intent to be more personal thee I can possibly help.
But the liable lord himself represents a policy. Not that
I wish to absolve those who join him from their
share io the responsibility. But the Chancellor of
the Exchequer may not be wholly responsible for
these estimates. He may have had his motives for
assenting to an increase of expenditure is some directions
in the hope that it may he compeosated for in other ways.
No doubt amongst fifteen men acting together there must
be compromises of this kind. (Hear, hear.) Bat so far as
regain the comb why this expe.diture has been coming on,
I cannot leave oat of sight the noble lord himself, for this
reason, he won't allow me to leave him out, because be him-
self is always one of ehe foremost when anything of this
sort is brought forward. I have no hesitation in saying I
place the whole of this inn-reseed expenditure to the credit
of the noble !pert. (Cheers.) I say he has been the primum
mobile is this matter. (Cheers.) He has always
Teen one of the foremost in encouraging expert-
diens for the last twenty year. (Hest, bear.) I have
.• sometimes eadeanored to estimate in my owe mind what
the 'noble lord has cost this country—(laughter)—ever since
that Byrne bovines is 1840, which lint occasioned n per•
inansot rise is oar sohimates. when in conjunction with the
late Admiral Nader be onstaatly stimulated the late Sir
Robert Peel, and worried him into increasing the estimates
Taking ins wenn kis Chien wars, his Affghan wars, and
all his expedition- here, there, and everywhere ; taking ;