The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-08 00:00:00

should be given to the
justices now have.
The committee concur generally in the pensions of the
Lunatic Asylums Bill—a measure whieh bee not been rein.
traduced this session.

sis that which the

Private asylums are considered under various hada The
first is the suitableness of the house for the purpose for which
it is to be lionised, and its superintendence. It is to be feared,
the committee think, that some of the houses, both in the me-
tropolis and in the country, are not well suited to the pur-
pose, and they think it would be advisable that, except in
cases to be specially allowed by the visitors or commis-
sioners, the proprietor, or, in the ere of a joint ownership,
one of the proprietors, should, as regards future licenses, be
required by law, to reside on the spot. Under the second
head, namely, the circumstances under which the patient
may be placed under restraint, and the safeguards provided
for the propriety of his confinement, they observe that the
medical certificate should be clear in its statement, and
accurately framed. If such certificates were verified before
a magistrate, it would operate as a check on too hasty a
conclusion. Secondly, the committee recommend that
the certificate authorising the detention should be
limited in the fiat instance to three months—it
is now granted for an indefinite period. Thirdly,
they recommend that the order for receiving the patient
into the asylum should not be effective unless the
applicant had himself seen the patient within three months
of his signing the order ; fourthly, that a copy of the order
and of the medical certificates should be sent to the com-
missioners within twenty-four hours ; and fifthly, that the
patient should, ea soon as possible, be visited by the com-
missioners or by some persons acting directly under their
authority.

The next subject considered by the committee is the treat-
ment of the patient while in the asylum. The committee
think the late recommendation of the OOMM64OIIIITII that

it should be made compulsory upon the friends ol all private
patients to see them periodically deserves consideration.

The prima facie right both of receiving visits and of corre-
spending should, it is remarked, be secured to the patients,
and should never be refused by the authorities except
on specified grounds. A power might with advantage be given
to the COMM64IIOIIOrO and visitors of ordering the temporary
discharge upon trial of a patient in • private aaylum. It
would be an improvement in the law if the notice of re-
covery, of patients, which is sent to the commissioners or
visitors after 14 days' interval, were required to be sent
simultaneously with the notice of recovery which is Bent
to the relations.

On the dv►ntages and disadvantages of confining patienta
in single house* other than their own, there is considerable
conflict of opinion. In one thing, however, all the wit-
nessee are agreed, that this class of patient, ought to be
brought under supervision of the commissioners, and the
coalmines think it should be made penal for any medical
man to receive any such patient without apprising the com-
missioners of it.

With regard to Chancery lunatics, the following sugges-
tions which have been submitted to the committee
by Yr. Enfield appear to them worthy of adoption:
—" L To assimilate the powers of the masters in lunacy to
those of the chief clerks in chancery. 2. To give the
masters the opportunity of oral communication with the
superior judges when any explanation is required, or any
pending inquiries, in the same way in which explanations
take place between the chief clerk and the Vice-Chancellor.
3. To devolve on the master the duties of seeing that com-
mittee; of the person are only allowed so much each year
as they actually expend in the maintenance of the lunatics,
giving the masters liberty to allow salaries to ooramittme
whoa they see reason ; and, 4. To make periodical returns
to the Lord Chancellor of the condition of every case under
the charge of the Lord Chancellor as regards ootemit-
tees, their accounts, and their sureties." The commit-
tee think the best course would be to transfer the
duty of visiting Chancery lunatics, now visited leas fre-
quently than any other class of lunatics, to tho Commis-
sioners of Lunacy.

As respects criminal lunatics, the measures which have
been recently taken and the slate asylum which is being
erected at Hroadmoor will, the committee think, ensure
better classification and supervision. The commissioners
may advantageously be required to visit this state asylum,
but the discretionary power of partially or entirely Teetering
a patient to liberty should be vested in the Seeretary of
State fur the Home Department.
The foregoing recommendations would probably require
some alteration in the law as regards the commission ; but
as the commissioners are of opinion that they could dia-

charge the increased duties without any permanent addition
either to their number or to their staff, the committee
abstain from any recommendation on the subject.

Lastly they advise that ell eats of parliament relating to
this subject should be coosulidated in three statutes, one
with reference to public asylums, another with refer.
once to private asylums, and another with reference to
chancery lunatics, and that the amendments suggested in the
report should he incorporated in the consolidated statutes.
The report proceeds from the pen of Mr. Walpole, who
was the chairman of the committee. The witnessed exa-
mined this session were Mr. J. Elmer, a clerk in the office of
the misters in lunacy, Mr. Gilbert Bolden, Dr. Charles
Hood, Mr. J. T. Percival, and the Earl of Shalteshury.

The Earl and Countess of Craven have left
Charles•street for Ashdown Park, Berks.
The Earl and Countess of Cork have left town
for their seat, Marston House, Somereetehire.
The Earl and Countess of Durham have left town
to pass a few weeks at Weymouth.

Lord aml Lady Woreley have left Purtmaa-equare
for the Continent.

Lord Raveuaworth and family have left Fulham
for Ravmunrorth Omitle, Durham.

Lord ilrougloun has left Grafton-street for
Brougham Hall, his lest in Woatmoreland. lady Brougham
leaves on Saturday to join the noble and learned lord in
the North.

Lord and Lady Tredegar and family have left
their residence in Portman square for tredegar Park, Mon-
mouthshire.

Lord and Lady Muucaster have left town for
Naocaster Castle, Cumberland.

Lady May has left Farrance'a Hotel for Lyming-
toe, Hants.

The marriage of Captain the Hon. William
Edward Saukville West, Grenadier Guards, youngest son of
the Earl and Counter l)elawerr, with Kiss Georgians Dad-
well, youngest daughter of the late Mr. George Daiwa%
of Kerinsfort, county of Sligo, Ireland, was celebistad yes.
today at the church of St. George, Planoverequare.

Lord Lyons, her Majesty's Moister to the
United States, has received the complimentary degree of
1,161). fr^"l Dkvard University, the oldest collegiate In-
stitution in the country. lid mon &gra had been con-
ferred upon Lord Napier, who, unlike his successor in
office, was present to receive it. The president of the
university (Yr. Felton), In conferring this academic honour
bestowed upon the recipient, " virum henoratissimum,
roatimo (minium consensu, regium spud (Aerates mantras
respublicas legetum." The compliment was ratified with
greet applause by the numerous and learned audience,
11811,112 i whom Messrs. Everett, Douglas, Sumner, and
Sparks, the historian, were present on the platform.