The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-18 00:00:00

LUNATICS BILL.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY moved the second
reading of this Bill. The Noble Earl said that a late
event had drawn public attention to the necessity of a
measure of this kind—that necessity had increased ten-
fold since the last session. The Bill was founded
mainly upon the report of the Commissioners of Lunacy,
who were appointed to inquire into the subject in 1848.
Several instances had occurred recently of dangerous
lunatics roaming about the country, who could not be
taken charge of in consequence of the defect in the law,
unless they had committed some overt act of outrage.
The Bill before the House merely provided that if any
person of this description was observed going about, any
person would have the power to go before a magistrate,
and having made a deposition upon oath of the danger-
ous character of the individual, the magistrate was re-
quired to order him to be brought before him, and then
to have the alleged lunatic submitted to the examination
of two medical men, who were to report upon his case.
If they reported him to be sane, the person would of
course be discharged from custody, but if they reported
him to be insane, the magistrate was thereupon re-
quired to order him to be transmitted to a lunatic
asylum.
The Duke of RICHMOND wished to know what pro-
vision the Noble Earl made for the expenses attending
the maintenance of these lunatics?

The LORD CHANCELLOR agreed fully to the prin-
ciple of the Bill, but as it was one of the greatest import-
ance ho would ask the Noble Earl to postpone the second
reading of it until the next session, which would be soon,
and when they would have ample time to consider it in
all its details. The measure, in its present shape, was
open to some objections, which, if ample time were al-
lowed for its consideration, could be removed without
detriment to its principle.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY consented to adopt the
suggestion of the Noble and Learned Lord.
The Bill was accordingly withdrawn.
SUITORS IN CHANCERY RELIEF BILL.
Toe LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the second
reading of this Bill, said it was framed upon the report
of the Commission appointed to inquire into the sub-
ject. The measure had come up from the other House,
and he believed that the general principle of it was ad-
mitted. It might be truly called a Bill for the re-
lief of suitors in Chancery. Although they would
be relieved from a great amount of the burden that had
hitherto attached to. them,
.he was, however, sorry to say
that the eempensa.tion which it would be necessary to
give for the abolishe offices would exhaust a reat
p rtion
ofpm the. money d that would be saved by the g
pro-
p.- Osed reulations. It must, therefore, be
full benefit a considerabof
le
time before the. suitors could have the
that relief which the Bill was calculated to giv® them.
The measure proposed to abolish fees and copy money,
and, in lieu thereof, to substitute stamps. It would
place upon the Consolidated Fuad the salaries of the
Chancery judges, amounting altogether to 28,0001. It
would abolish a considerable number of offices, and re-
duce the salaries of those which it would be necessary to
continue. A great saving of the public money would
thus be effected. There was an important proviso in the
Bill, under which the poor man who had become a lu-
natic would be treated differently to the rich man who
had become a lunatic. The expense to the former would
be considerably less than that to which the latter would
be subject. Such expense would b. e regulated by a per-
centage upon the property of the individual. He hoped
that no impediments would be thrown in the way of
the Bill, but that it would be allowed to pass without
amendment.
Lord LYNDHURST said he fully agreed in the prin-
ciple of the measure, but in Committee he intended to
move two or three amendments, to prevent any injustice
being done to the parties under the Bill.
Lord CR ANWORTH said that the Bill proposed to
give compensation to certain clerks, who had been trans-
ferred from the Court of Exchequer to the Court of
Chancery, such compensation to be calculated only for
the time they have been in Chancery. He suggested
that the compensation should be calculated from the
period they had been in the Court of Exchequer.
The Bill was then read a second time.
MILITIA BILL.

Their Lordships then went into Committee upon the
)itilitia Bill, when clauses up to 5 were agreed to.
The Duke of liICHMOND said that 145 no was not