The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-08 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL,

At a Court of Common Council, held at Guildhall yester-
day, Mr Alderman Carter in the chair, as locum tenens for
the Lord Mayor, a report was brought up from the Special
Lunatic Asylum Committee of the proceedings under the
reference of the 15th of February last, to confer with the
justices of the city of London, and also with her Majesty's
Government, relative to the future management of the City
of London Pauper Lunatic Asylum, and to effect an arrange-
ment with the justices by which a joint jurisdiction would
be given to the justices, and that Court, stating that the
committee had conferred with the justices, and had sub-
mitted the suggestion that a committee of 12 be appointed
by the Court of Common Council to attend all meetings of
the committee of justices (visitors) whenever matters affect-
ing the conduct of business connected with the City of Lon-
don Pauper Lunatic Asylum was considered, leaving the
executive power where it is now vested. The committee had
also referred to the law officers of the corporation to advise
whether, under the circumstances connected with the pro-
viding and management of the asylum, the justices could
enter into any arrangement or agreement under any of the
clauses of the 16 and 17 Vic., cap. 97, or otherwise, so as to
introduce any member or members of the Court of Common
Council, as might be agreed upon, to join the committee of
visitors (justices) of the asylum, as subscribers or other-
wise, under the same act. A reply was received from the
committee of visitors by the asylum committee, stating that
upon reference to the act referred to abova, they found that
the justices only are legally qualified to carry out the provi-
sions of the act ; and the solicitor had laid before the com-
mittee the opinion of the law officers, advising that the jus-
flees of London had no power to enter into any arrange-
ments for introducing any number of members of the Court
of Common Council into the committee of visit ors of the
lunatic asylum. The committee feeling that no farther
steps could, with any prospect of success, be taken to en-
deavour to come to an arrangement with the justices, pro-
ceeded to carry out the former part of the reference, and
requested the chairman, in conjunction with the Remem-
brancer, to confer with Government upon the subject, and he
reported that he had conveyed to Sir G. Grey the wish of the
Court of Common Council that the Lunatic Asylum committee
should take necessary steps to introduce a bill into Parlia-
ment to amend the Lunatic Asylums Acts, by making pro-
vision to the effect—" That the corporation having taken
upon itself the erection of its pauper lunatic asylum, shall
have and exercise in the same manner as if power had been
given to it under clause 129 of the Lunatic Asylums Act,
1853, to give the notice therein specified, and as if such notice
had been actually given, all the duties and powers with re-
spect to the management thereof which were conferred by
the several Luhatip Asylums Acts upon other Corporations
in England, and the desire of the Court that her Majesty's
Government should assist the Corporation in the passing of
such measure. In reply to this, Sir G. Grey stated that he
considered it inexpedient to alter the general law of the land
respecting the government of pauper lunatics ; that similar
applications had been made by other cities which had failed
to give notice under the 129th clause of the Lunatic Asylums
Act of 1853, and had afterwards built their asylums, and
that he had been compelled to decline complying with such
request, and that therefore he could not accede to the wish
expressed by the resolution of the Court. But he further
stated that if the general law on the subjeCt should again
come under the consideration of the Legislature, he would
be willing to consider any application then made for placing
the goverment of the asylum in the hands of the Court of
Common Council, they having contributed the necessary
funds. The committee, under these circumstances, had
not at this period of the session felt it expedient to proceed
further without any additional instructions of the Court.
Mr Deputy JONES moved that the report should be re-
ceived.
Mr M`GEORGE move 3, as an emendment, that the report
be referred back to the committee, with power to confer
with the justices as to the best course to be adopted by the
Court to meet the necessary expenditure to be incurred in
the management of the asylum, and to report thereon,
which was agreed to.
A report from the Law, Parliamentary, and City Courts
Committee relative to the proceedings on the Thames Con-
servancy Bill in Parliament was read, and it was decided
not to offer any further opposition to th 3 bill.

Lady Wilson, wife of Sir John M. Wilson, Bart.,
Military Commandant of Chelsea College, expired at that
institution yesterday. The lamented lady was daughter of
Colonel John lioulton, of Fairleigh Castle, Somerset.
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