The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-26 00:00:00

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. OTWAY asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, by what authority Dr. Peithrnan
was imprisoned in a cell in the King-street Police-sta-
tion, and detained in it from Sunday the 9th instant
until the afternoon of the following Wednesday, with-
out having been brought before any justice of the peace,
or the charge on which he was detained made known to
him ; and to call the attention of the house to some
judicial proceedings, in the private room of the magis-
trate at Bow-street, with reference to this case. The
honourable member entered into a detail of the circum-
stances of the case as they had transpired at the Bow-
street Police-court; and having visited the unfortunate
doctor in one of the cells of the court, the hon. member
said he could support the complaint as to the bad condi-
tion of those cells. They wera alike a disgrace to the
magistrate who, as it were, presided over them, and the
public, who paid for them. The proceedings at the police
court in reference to this case were of a most arbitrary and
unconstitutional character, for they were conducted in
secret, and the unfortunate doctor was committed to Han-
well upon the certificate of two Government officials, with
out any chance of obtaining his liberation. Had these pro-
ceedings taken place in Naples, the press would have
teemed with complaints about it, and since the case in-
volved the liberty of the subject, he had a right to de-
mand some explanation of the matter. The lunacy law
and lunatic asylums were made a vehicle for frittering
away the principles of theconstitution, and he hoperlnext
session there would be a searching inquiry into the whole
subject.
Lord PALMERSTON said there was no doubt that
this unfortunate gentleman had for some years laboured
under fits of insanity. His particular delusion was that
he had large claims upon the State, and for the purpose
of enforcing his supposed claims, he had perseveringly
endeavoured to intrude himself into the presence of the
Sovereign. Under these circumstances he was confined
in a lunatic asylum ; but supposing he had recovered full
possession of his faculties, the Home Office consented to
his liberation ; but no sooner did he regain his liberty
than he resorted to his former proceeding of trying to
force himself into Buckingham Palace. He was accord-
ingly given into custody and conveyed to Bow-street po-
lice station, where he underwent an examination, and
eventually, upon proper evidence, ho was sent to Han-
well as a confirmed monomaniac. The noble lord justi-
fied the whole proceedings, and contended that it was
necessary for the good of the State and the safety of the
Sovereign that they should be taken in all there cases.
At the same time, if a sufficient security in some way
could be given that the misconduct should not be re-
peated, he should be happy to order the liberation of
this unfortunate person, with regard to whom nothing
bad been done which was in anyway contrary to the
law.

Mr. HENLEY, without going into the merits of this
case, which he believed reflected no discredit on the
noble lord, argued that the lunacy law required amend-
ment, so as to prevent persons from being locked up
against their will, except upon competent authority and
after the fullest public examination.
Sir J. V. SHELLEY was glad to hear from the noble
lord that steps would be taken to render the black-holes
attached to the Metropolitan Police-courts more fit for
the reception of human beings. (Hear, hear.)
The subject then dropped.
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Sir G. B. PECHELL wished to inquire what regula-
tions had been made for the payment of the wages due
to the representatives of the officers and seamen of her
Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror.
Sir J. GRAHAM said these ships not having been
beard of for more than nine years, it was concluded that
they were lost, and the Admiralty, upon proper evidence,
and receiving proper security for refunding the money in
the event of the ships turning up, had uirected the ar-
rears of nine years' pay to be paid over to the represen-
tatives of the officers and men. There were 24 officers
and 102 seamen attached to these ships, and of
these numbers nineteen representatives of the
first class and 88 of the second had claimed and obtained
the pay.

After a few words from Captain SCOBELL and Sir J.
TROLLOPE, the subject dropped, and the house went into
a committe of

SUPPLY.
The vote of 25,0001., to supply the deficiency in the
Admiralty Fee and Rentes Funds. occasioned by the de-
falcation of the late. Registrar of the Court, gave rise to
considerable discussion, but it was ultimately agreed to
without a division.

A vote of 45,0001. to defray the expenses of claims
arising out of the abandonment of the Orange River
Territory was agreed to, after a short conversation.
On the vote of 2,0001. for the Lawson °observatory
at Nottingham,
Lord SEY MOUR objected to vote money for a local
purpose of this kind. This Observatory might prove a
benefit to Nottingham, but it would confer no national
advantage, and rather than call upon the State to con-
tribute this money, the locality should raise it. (Hear,
hear.) Besides, the value of the instruments in this
Observatory had been considerably overrated. (Hear.)

Mr. E. DENISON was bound to admit that the
Astronomer-Royal had given an opinion that this obser-
vatory would not contribute to the advancement of
science generally, while a discredit had been thrown
upon the estimated value of the instruments ; and feeling
that if the local subscriptions were to be asked over
again they would not be granted until the latter point was
cleared up, he should be glad to know if the Government
could furnish him with any information upon the point. He
believed the instruments were not worth the sum they had
been valued at, but he understood the Government had
instituted an inquiry into the matter, and he should be
glad to know what was the result of that inquiry ?
Mr, WILSON entered into an explanation of the
circumstances which had induced the Goverment to
propose, this vote. They were told that while the instru-
ments were worth 10,0001. the locality was prepared to
subscribe towards the establishment of the observatory,
and as upon inquiry it was found that the observatory
would confer great public advantage in promoting agri-
cultural science the Treasury consented to propose this
grant. Of course, however, that undertaking wasgiven up
on the uaderstanding that the instruments were worth
10,000/. ; but it now appeared that they were not of
that value and he must therefore withdraw the vote.