The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-03 00:00:00

ALLEGED LUNATIC'S FRIEND

:)OCIE. Y.
TO 'ME EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stn,—The attention (,f the committee (:f the "Al-.
leged Lunatic's Friend Society" hiving been attrac.tett
by a statement in one of the morning papers, tnat
the Government of the United States had applied to
Dr. Forbes Winslow for an analysis of the law of
lunacy in this country, the committee thought it
their duty to apply to Abbott Lawrence, E,q., the
American Minister, for an interview, in order to oh-
, viate the possibility of any of the gross defects in the
laws of the mother country being engrafted upon the
institutions of the Federal Republic ; and at the same
time to request information as to the state of the laws
in this respect in the United States, so as to further
the amendment of the lunacy law in this country, to
which this society have so long called the attention of
the Legislature.
The deputation were received by Mr. Lawrence
with the greatest courtesy, who was assisted by the
presence of Mr. M'Curdy, Charge d'Affaires from
the United States to the Court of Vienna, in detail-
ing the practices which prevail on the subject in his
!)wn state of Massachusetts, as well as in the adjoin-
ing state of Connecticut, Mr. M'Curdy's.
The result of a long and interesting conversation
with these two distinguished Ministers may not be
unacceptable to your readers, and cannot do other-
wise than advance the objects which the society has
in view.

Mr. Lawrence explained that, from the nature of
the constitution and powers of the Central Govern-
ment, it was not probable that any application had
been made to Dr. Winslow--that certainly none had
been made through him, but that possibly one of the
states of the Union had applied to him, or more pro-
bably'some individual in one of these states.

After hearing the atrocious state of the lunacy law
in this country as regards private patients, or patients
in private lunatic asylums, Mr. Lawrence assured
the deputation that, though there might be imperfec-
tions in the American system, there need be no ap-
prehension entertained that the abuses of the laws
here would be adopted in any of the states of America,
or that they would put on our old-fashioned, and, he
hoped he might soon say, cast-off clothes. He believed
there might be some few private asylums in the Union,
but, generally speaking, each state had its own public
asylums, and every large town an asylum partly sup-
ported by the Government and charitable contribution,
and partly by the relatives and friends of the private
patients, who could receive every degree of accommo-
dation according to their means. That pauper pa-
tients were received into these asylums upon applica-
tion from the proper authorities or from the parties'
friends to the governor, after an examination by him
or by the medical officer of the asylum; and that if,
by chance, any patient was improperly confined, and
the authorities of the asylum came to a wrong conclu-
sion on the case, every facility was afforded for ob-
taining an inquiry and suing out the writ of habeas
corpus, from the weekly inspection of visitors, and
the frequent visits of friends of the patient at the
asylum.
That private patients were confined when imbecile
or idiotic, or furiously mad, or spendthrift, and so
justly deprived of the management of their property,
either by the application of their friends to the select
men who are yearly appointed from all classes to
govern their cities, or else at the instance of these
select men after due notice given to the alleged pa-
tient's friends—that in either case due notice was
given to the alleged patient, and the three parties
were confronted together; that, even in that case, if
a patient was confined, and a conservator or com-
mittee of his estate appointed, he could apply by the
proper course of law for a regular inquiry into his
case, and that in all these proceedings little or no
expense was incurred.

The advantages of this system, as compared with
that prevailing in these kingdoms, are so apparent
and so great—a system so simple and so just—that I
trust our Government will feel compelled to adopt or
improve it, and adapt it to the lunatic establishments
i❑ this country, from a sense of justice and humanity
on the one hand, and of economy on the other. For
very shame and jealousy they must be induced to
take pattern from Brother Jonathan in this respect if
they wish England to retain her exalted position of
lawgiver to the world and the mirror of equity and
justice.—l am, Sir, yours, &c.,
JOHN PERCEVAL, Hon. Sec.

January 28.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, FEB. 1.
The Queen, accompanied by his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, rode out on horseback this morning in
the private grounds.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
Prince Alfred, attended by Mr. Birch, drove out this
morning in a pony phaeton, iu Windsor Park.
The younger members of the Royal Family took
walking and pony exercise.
His Excellency M. Van de Weyer, the Duchess of
Sutherland, and Lady C. Levison Gower, the Marquis
of Lansdowne, the Marquis and Marchioness of Salis-
bury, the Marquis of Anglesey and Lady Adelaide
Paget, the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, the
Earl and Countess of Wilton, Viscount and Viscountess
Sidney, Sir John Romilly, and Sir James Clark, left the
Castle to-day.

Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
did Sir George Hayter the honour to inspect the picture
which he has painted of her Majesty taking the corona-
tion oath.

The royal dinner circle this evening included her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent, Baroness de Speth, Lieu-
tenant• Colonel Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Phipps, and Miss
Georgiana Bathurst, and Mr. Birch.
The Queen's private band attended after dinner in the
Castle, and performed the following selection:—
Overture, " Ludovic" .. ... Herold.
Duetto, " Die lustigen Weiber ♦on Wiad-

sor"
Finale, 2d Act, " Zauberflote"
Andante ed Allegro, " Sinfonia, No. 3"

Otto Nicolai.
Mozart.
Mozart.
SUNDAY.
The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
walked this morning in the Slopes.
The Royal Family took their usual airings.
The Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince
Albert, his Royal Higness the Prince of Wales, ha.
Royal Highness the Princess Royal, the Ladies and
Gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic household
attended Divine service this morning in the private
chapel.

The Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley officiated.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent also at-
tended the service.

Lord Charles Fitzroy has relieved Major-General
Wemyss in his duty as Equerry in Waiting to her Ma-
jezty ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. Alexander Gor-
don has relieved Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Seymour in
his duty as Equerry in Waiting to his Royal Highness
Prince Albert.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of gent, attended
by Baroness de Speth and Sir George Couper, arrived
in town on Saturday morning from Frogmore, and
visited the building for the Exhibition of the Works of
Industry of all Nations. After inspecting the build-
ing, her Royal Highness went to Gloucester House and
visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester.
In the afternoon her Royal Highness the Duchess of
li-nt left Clarence House, St. James's, on her return to
Frogmore.
A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday afternoon,
at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were Lord
John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Sir Georg• Grey, Vis-
count Palmerston, Earl tirey, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Sir John Hubhouse, the Earl of Carlisle,
the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere. the Marquis of
Clanricardo, and the Right Hon. Fox Maule. The
Council ►at two hours.

A deputation, consisting of Mr. Masterman, M.P., Mr.
Mitchell, M.P., Mr. Foster, M.P., Mr. Hastie, M.P., Sir
James Duke, M.P., Mr. H..fierkeley, M.P., Mr H. T.
Hope, M.P., Mr.Jaines Stames, jun., Mr. J.G. Shaw, and
Mr. C. J. Thomas (Bristol), Mr. Charles, Mr. Boyd,
(Glasgow), Mr. M•Kean (Paisley), Mr. John Johnson
(Runcorn), Mr. R.Wheen, Mr. J. Wheen, Mr. Crossfield
arrington), Mr. Lund, Mr. Casey (Liverpool), Mr.
Alibrusen (Newcastle), Mr. Anderson, Mr. Simpson
(Wakefield), Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kinirea, Mr. Arthur
Soames, Mr. Dick (Leith), and Mr. Butt (Gloucester),
had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on Saturday, at his official residence in Downing-street,
to present a memorial for the repeal of the soap duties.
A meeting of the Committee appointed by her Ma-
jesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, to con-
sider the question of the prices of admission to the Ex-
hibition, was held on Saturday, at the Board of Trade.
There were present Earl Granville (chairman)? rd
Overstone, Mr. Cubitt, Mr. Gibson, Colonel Reid.
.aknde
Mr. Bowring (secretary). Mr. Cole and Mr.
attended.
anMinrt.e4rlvrienwottw,
iPtliressiidreGnteoorfgteheoCreojll,eogne
viewatwteitnhdeEdarl Grey,
rey,
liome-effice. so fa
tSuur rdgaeyo, n
as ,t hvaade
address from the
011MSra.tjur.dLaZaist'tRh lhadoni aai -no% etnecr.
Mr. Burchell, ddat the
Home-office, on "a'uni 'fordshire to
inhabitants of Bushey, Lori, .be presented to
Bru,isabyey-grange,
George Grey,
ton,.
the Queen, through Secretary Sir
respect-
ing the Papal aggression.
Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, and Mr. Pressly, had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, ou Saturday, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
Dispatches were sent off on Saturday, from the Colo-
nial-office, to the Governors of the West India islands.

.JERUSALEM LITERARY SOCIETY. Lovers of
Biblical literature will hear with pleasure that his Royal
Highness Prince Albert has been pleased to transmit,
through Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, a
cheque for 2U., as a donation to the funds of the above so-
ciety. It is in contemplation, as soon as a sufficient number
of subscribers be enrolled, to publish a journal of scientific
research, whose pages will be open to contributions on all
subjects relating to the Holy Land. Subscribers' names
will be received by the society's agent, R. Mason, Esq., High
street, Tenby.

WATER SurrLy.—Thomas Graham, Esq , Pro-
fessor of Chemistry at University College, Dr. Miller, Pro-
fessor of Chemistry at King's College, and Dr. Hoffman, Pro-
fessor of the Agricultural College of Chemistry, have been
appoinetd Commissioners to inquire into the qualities of the
several waters now in use in the metropolis, and also the
supplies proposed for the future.