The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-06 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS (THIS DAY).

KEEPING ♦ LUNATIC ASYLUM WITHOUT A LICENSE.-Mr.
William Willis appeared this morning on the floor of the
Court, to an indictment charging him with having kept a
house for the reception of insane persons, not having been
first duly licensed according to the Act passed in the last ses-
sion of Parliament.
Mr. PHILLIPS stated that the present proceedings had been
instituted at the instance of the Metropolitan Commissioners
of Lunacy against Mr. Willis for keeping, contrary to the
Act, a receptacle for insane patients, without first obtaining a
license from them for that purpose, which was required by
the Act. The Commissioners, in the course they had adopted,
had no feeling of ill-will against Mr. Willis, who unfortu-
nately, by some misrepresentation or mistake, had transgressed
the law ; all they were anxious for was to uphold the statute,
and for that purpose, and that alone, they had instituted the
present proceeding.. He had been informed by his learned
friend, Mr. Adolphus, who appeared for Mr. Willis, that that
gentleman was not aware at the time he did it that he was
transgressing the Act, and that he was now ready to enter
into his own recognizances not to disobey the law in future.
As this was all that the Commissioners required, he was ready
on their part to withdraw all further proceedings.
Mr. ADOLPHUS fully concurred with the statements of his
Learned Friend Mr. Phillips, as to the motives that induced
the Commissioner to bring the matter before the Court ; he
also agreed with Smollett, that prisons and bastiles would be
useless, if receptacles for insane persons were tolerated, where
they might be immured, without even the knowledge of their
friends. The truth, however, was, that his client Mr. Willis
had applied to the Commissioners for a license ; but some de-
lay having taken place in granting it, he bad in the meantime
admitted two patients, and by that means brought himself
within the meaning of the statute. He felt exceedingly sorry
in having offended against the law ; but he did it under the
apprehension, that the fact of having applied for a license was
quite sufficient.
The CHAIRMAN said there could be no doubt the Commis-
sioners had a great public duty to perform under th• Act, and
they had only performed that duty in bringing the present
case before the Court. There was no charge here against
Mr. Willis of having ill-used his patients ; but taking it that
Mr. Willis (which he bad no doubt was the case) had always
been kind to the unfortunate creatures under his care, still he
must not be allowed to break the law with impunity.
Mr. PHILLIPS begged it to be understood by the Court that
there was not the remotest thought on the part of the Com-
missioners that Mr. Willis had ill-treated his patients. From
their knowledge of him they knew he was incapable of doing
so ; but their duty to the public compelled them to bring the
subject before the Court.
Mr. ADOLPHUS said, if there had been even a hint of cruelty
exercised on the part of Mr. Willis, he could have shown most
clearly that the whole life of that gentleman had been em-
ployed in endeavouring to soothe the sufferings of his fellow-
creatures who had been deprived of their reason.

The CHAIRMAN was convinced that Mr. Willis had acted
with the greatest humanity towards the whole of his patients.
He was sorry, however, to say that that had not been the
course of conduct pursued by every keeper of these asylums,
whose want of attention to their unfortunate inmates had ren-
dered the Act under which Mr. Willis was indicted necessary.
Mr. Willis then pleaded guilty to the indictment, and en-
tered into his own recognizances in 3001. to appear to receive
judgment when called upon.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that Mr. Willis must understand
that he was not at liberty to receive any patients into his house
except under the wise and judicious regulations laid down by
the Act of Parliament.
Mr. Willis said he would take care he did not do so in
future.

INSOLVENT COURT-(THIS DAY)

Edward Robinson Mivart, who represented himself as Clerk
to the Mendicity Association, applied upon his petition to be
discharged. He was unopposed. From the statement of the
insolvent, it appeared that he had taken the benefit of the Act
in the year 1824, and since then his family had been afflicted
with continued illness, by which he had been again involved in
difficulties. In the present case he had been arrested upon a
bill of exchange given him by a friend for his accommodation.
The insolvent was ordered to be discharged.