The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-08 00:00:00

(Stamped id. Additional) [ l' %% OPENCE.

RAFUBAL TO LICBRB3 4 PRIVATS ASYLUM.

At the Elise: Quarter Sessions, at Chelmsfozd, on
Tamtay, C. 0. Round, Esq., in the chair, application for •
license for Me,. Allen's private lunatic asylum at High
Beach, which had been refused at the previous session, was
renewed, in the shape of • long memorial, which described
the hones and the situation as well adapted for the purpose,
and stated that there were now fourteen patients, with an
establishment of seven persona. It then quoted favourable
extract& relating to improvements that had been made in the
institution, several of which have appeared in our paper ;
and added, Mrs. Allen had nothing on which to support
herself and four children but what she derived from this
establishment, therefore the withholding of the license
would be the ruin of her. Since the report as to the suspect-
'ion of the license had appeared in the county papers she had
received letters from the friends of various patients, retracts
from which were given, all expressing satisfaction with the
treatment and regret at the prospect of the asylum being
closed.
The Chairman called attention to • letter from the Secretary
of the Commissioners of Lunacy, and also to • report front
Dr. Campbell, ono of the commissioners, on the subject of
this asylum. The letter stated that Mr. Whiteman had at-
tended them on the subject, and it amend ft was a matter
that required some notice at their bands. He requested the
chairmen to state to the court that ell the comeniestonere had
agreed with the statement of Dr. Campbell at the close of his
report.
Mr. Whiteman explained that what be asked of the com-
mission.* was that as all these patients would in November
have been tamed adrift in the winter seems, they should
Irithenstios at ins law .bill,that seam wee beengin
baktre this court.
The statement of Dr. Campbell was teed. It consisted of
extracts from the reports of the virile from 1848, and pre-
sented a very unfavourable picture of the asylum, winding
up with this observation—" It is to be feared that no coral-
dams cm be placed in the promises of Mrs. Allen, and that
ebb is not a proper person to be licemed for the oars of Manse
patients."
The Rev. Mr. Cockerell said ha was not present at the last
session, or he should have given a statement of his own with
respect to this asylum, which be had visited for fourteen
years. Re called upon them to dismiss from their minds the
damaging reports previous to 1855, when the license was re-
newed, Mrs. Allen promising improvement, and it had been
improved, for the report. since that period ware not so
damaging. If the tout would consider this matter they
would see that these inturnedi de houses were very desirable,
for be did not think the court wished to pauperise a
whole class of persons by insisting that they should go
into the county asylum. The lettere (extracts from
which were read) be had there, and could vouch
that they were all genuine, and he also had othees
which be could produce. He noticed some of the cases
referred to by Dr. Campbell, and said the state in which
these partite ware found was owing to their peculiar Mats
of monomania. He had made it his particular boausess to
look to the state of this house, and though be did not knew
whether the coat would think itself bound to abide by
the decision of the oommiesioners in London, he thought
something was due to those visitors whom they themselves
appointed. lie had a report from their own emdkal men,
appointed and paid by that court, which he hoped they
world allow to be read ; he had also a letter from Dr.
Rowe, who spoke highly of this house, and said he was
prepared to play another patient there. Dr. Align, In
fact, who established it, was one of those who hatrodeeed
the system of not subjecting the patients to restraint ; end
no complaints of cruelty had been made. They had of late
paid great attention to the ventilation, and the place was
much improved. As to the poor patients themselves, some
had pulsed 34, 33, or 32 years in the establishment, and to
take them away from all the associations they had formed
there would be hard indeed upon them. There had been no
establishment More fros from the diseases which prevailed
in the neighbourhood. As to Mrs. Allen, of course the
mart would not consider her interests in opposition to the
interests of theta pone individuals ; but the bad laid out
something like 600 f in improvements since the Hoene. was
renewed in 1855 ; and he would call attention to the fact that
amongst the charges against Mrs. Allen there was not one
of unkindness to the patients. The rev. gentleman reed
several letters, speaking in high terms of the cars and treat-
ment of the patients, and concluded by moving that the
UMW be granted.
A letter was read from Mr. MoNab, the surgeon appointed
by the court, stating that there ware thirty rooms allowed for
the occupation of the establishment, which had, in his
opinion, greatly improved in ventilation and drainage ; the
linen was clean and comfortable ; and, with the exception et
two old and incurable cases, the inmates were all as com-
fortable and happy as It was possible to make them, consis-
tent with their safety.
Mr. Ileathcote seconded the motion. He bad been over the
house with care and diligence, and found it in the state just
described.
The Rev. J. Lewis said, as a matter of public duty, he
felt bound to oppose this license, and he thought after the
report of the commissioners of lunacy it would be impossible
for this court to renew it. They had these complaints not
only in 1856, but in 1867 and 1868; and, therefore, the
house was now just what it was when they refused the
license four years ago. Mrs. Allen that, undertook that
there should be a great reform in various matter!' bat not
one of them conditions hod been complied with. He knew
that cleanliness, good furniture, books, and &MOSSO:MO
were the best possible things for cure in an establishment of
this kind ; and after what he had heard he could nut vote
for this license. It wee said it would be hard foe the
patients to be removed, but it was not for them or even
for their relations, but fur this court to decide—the respon-
sibility rested with them, and they must exert their power.
There wee one other observation he would make, which
was this—that he thought no woman, under any circum-
stances, ought to be at the head of an establishment of
this kind ; and in the report of the Irieh commission made
by two English commiraionene this opinion was expressly
laid down.
The Rev. T. Knox said they had a condemnatory report
from the commissioners of lunacy, and favourable letters from
gentlemen who were sprinted by this court ; this placed
them In a difficulty ; but be felt bound to pay great deference
to the repot of the co.mmiseioners, and when be found that
in 1848 the house was St times visited and 16 times con-
demned, and reed the report in subsequent years, wound up
by paying that the promises of Mrs. Alien were not to be re-
lied on, he could not resist so demnatory • statement asthma,
' Mr. Gurney Fry repeated what be said loft session as to
the mate of the house. Sixteen pttients, who formerly occu-
pied two honeee, were crowded into one, and several of the
bedrooms were no better than citeets, and very badly venti-
lated. The furniture was bad, the place touch out of order,
and there was an air of poverty about it which impressed
him with the opinion that it was not in the condition it
ought to be to receive patients. It might be that Mrs.
Allen's family depen4ed upon it, but they bad a higher duty
to perform to the 16 patients, and after the report of the
oommiesionere he did not think it possible that the limas
could be renewed.
Mr. Whiteman argued etrongly, from all the circurnstusees
cif the case, in favour of the motion, regretting that through
his absence from the county he was not present last session,
because be had visited the house every three mouths, sod he
thought his teeth:nosy might have prevented the lioense being
withheld. They bad heard of crowding, but there were only
14 patients in 30 rooms, and as to the ventilation, it was now
equal to their own asylum. Fairoread was now the only
home, but some of the reports that had been read referred to
other homes. Nearly all these people had paned that period
when hope of cure was gone. It was stated there must be a
resident medical man, but that was impossible. (Hear, hear.)
With the charge that these cismes could pay, the thing wee
impassible. lie contended that the report of their own
medical adviser vastly outweighed that of the commie-
Moneys of lunacy. The court renewed the license in 1815;
therefore all that had passed previcesaly was condoned, and
they were not petrified in withholding this bonne on the
grounds that had been urged. Ilia knowledge of what mated
last session wis derived from the county paper, which so
fairly reported all their proceedings there, and he found the
grounds there stated were, that there was an air of dut and
poverty about the building, but no one was accused of the
grave offence of creelty ; there was no want of food, want of
recreation, or anything of that kind ; and therefore he
thought the court would do wisely not to pay attention to
the gentleman who had rent his written report from London
bet rely on their own medical officer, whose report they heti
just heard read.
Captain Lased said It was from the statement of the local
visitors that the license was Mopped, and thinking there bed
been strong proof dusted of tMee patients, he opposed its
renewal.
Mr. Tower believed he wee best dolnr his duty by grant-
ing the license. After what had passed he dare say this
asylum would be as well managed as any in the kingdom.
If not he should say smash it again another year.
Mr. }Lebow thought the court would stultify itself, if,
after that condemnatory report, they were to grant tha

license.
Mr. Whiteman—Who are the oommiseloners
Mr. Rebow said—Why, gentlemen who were appointed by
the nation, end paid by the nation, and certainly gentlemen
who had no local interest,. in the nos. This seemed to
be almost en eleemosynary application, for it woe said the
have was the only mien. Mrs. Allen had to support herself
sod four children, end he could only put it in the light
of Vote for Bumble for beadle, because hohas a wife and 12
children."
Mr. Marsh denied that the question wee put to the court
seen sppeal for the interests of Mrs. Mien, though it was
I true her husband expended most of his money In eetablish-
I lug this asylum ; but they said there were thirteen or four-
teen persons, who were attsched to the place, end they
would be outraged in their feelings if the court scattered
them, because this place was not equal to the palate built
by the county money. (No, no.) There were three
pleases of these unfortunate persona to be provided for—
th. nob, who ware disposed of in privets please, and they
beard nothing of them ; there wen the poor, who wage
taken into the public asylum ; but there wee another
class, such as those belonging to ruined tamales

and others who could not pay beyond a certain
mum, and what were they to do with them ? Were
they to go into the county asylum ? That was not the
place they wished to go to. The society wee not the society
they expected. For them they must have these middle-
claw asylums ; and they must be of an inferior description
no doubt to that of the greet asylum ; but be believed Mrs.
Allen would take this as a warning, and that are would be
taken for the proper management of the house in future.
Even Mr. Davis mid he thought the license ought to be re-
newed for 10 patients.
Mr. Davis—With a resident medical officer.
Mr. Marsh said they could not have that. He supported
the granting of the limn for the aka of the path ate rather
thin that of Mrs. Allen.
The Chairman alluded to wthit pored at the lent seasion,
and asked if scything bad occurred nom to alter the case?
They bed • report from sin individual who had sot a tittle
of interest to the matter' and he said, "It to to be feared
that no emitter's) can be placed in the promises of Mrs.
Allen, and she is not • person who can properly be say
trusted with • limnse for a place for the reception of Wens
persona." The letter of the secretary lb the commissioners
went on to say that this yes the opinion of the whole hoard.
If after that the wart could go the length of reminding It.
own deed, be humbly submitted it would do • very weak
act. (Hear.)
It was proposed that the question as to renewing the
Howse for ten should be put, but Mr. Davis said his sug-
gestion was made on condition that there should be • resident
medical man. The chairman, therefore, conceived the matter
stood as span the application of Mrs. Allen, and he put the
question PI to the granting of the Ithense, when there op-
pared—For granting it, 1; against it, 18 majority against
dr moral el do bar" 7.