The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-16 00:00:00

wiamewornt PRISON.

The Her. Mr. Hothead, the chaplain of the Hot= of
Correction at Wandsworth, made hia report, which was
reoeireal.

ALARMING INCREASE 01 INSANEIT.

The next humus brought before the court was a report
of the committee appointed to take the necessary steps to
lrovide au additional asylum for the reception of the pauper
unatics of the county, such asylum being absolutely
necessary on account of the large increase in the num-
ber of persons requiring au asylum of that description.
The county of Surrey has at present one large lunatic
asylum at Tooting, in which there are now nearly one
thousaod inmates, and although the establishment is very
much crowded, it is still found quite inadequate to receive
the requisite number of patients, a great many of whom
are at present in private asylums and other places. The
Court of Quarter Session., after a full consideration of the
subject, appointed a committee, of which the Hon. F.
Scott, M.P., is the chairman, to take the necessary steps
to purchase laud for the erection of an additional asylum
caieble of containing u many patients as are at present in
the asylum at Tooting, end this committee now made their
report. It wan to the effect that the committee had been
actively Gouged in carrying out the wishes of the court,
and they had agreed to purchase DO acres of land belonging
to the London Necropolis end National MausoleutnCompany,
at Woking, which was coosidered a most eligible posi-
tion for the erection of the.aaylum. and the Commissioners
of Lunacy had approved of the spot as a site. The price the
committee had agreed to pay for this land was 701. per acre,
and they had borrowed 11,0(101. of the Globe Insurance
Company at 4/. 7s. per ceta, opus the security of the county
rates., in order to enable them to complete the transaction.
The report also stated that while the money was unem-
ployed the committee had placed it in the London Joint
Stock Bank upon call.
Mr. Garrett inquired whether the county was receiving
any interest for the money while it was in the hands of the
London Joist Stock Back. (Hear, hear.)
The Hon. Mr. Scott said the hank paid them 2; per cent.
Mr. Austin said that on behalf of the ratepayers of the
county he could not help protesting against the course that
bad been taken bf the committee in borrowing a large sum
of money like this at 4/. 7s. per cent., before it was actually
required, and then lending it out again to • private bank at
2t per Bent. (Hear, hear.) It appeared to him that the
proper course to have taken was to have waited until they
wanted the money, anal have taken it up as it was required,
and then they would not have been in their present position.
Mr. Boysen said he should be glad if the chairman of the
oommithee would, if it was in his power to do so, give the
court some information as to the period the building was
likely to take in its erection, and also the amount of money
that would be required to complete it. (Hear, hear.)
The Hon. Mr. Scott sail he was sorry he was unable to
give the court any information at present upon these sub-
ject& All be could my was that the committee were anxious
to proceed as quickly as possible, and that they would be
very glad to be timed on by the court.
Mr. Boyles saki it was very necessary the asylum should
beerectW as speedily as possible, as there were &large num-
ber of patients ready to be admitted.
The report was then agreed to, and the court, after dis-
posing of some routine business, adjourned.