The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-02 00:00:00

THE CRIMINAL LUNATICS BILL.

The Earl of BELMORE moved the second reading of
this bill, stating it was one which would greatly contribute
to the better regulation of the system at present pursued
toward criminal lunatics. It was a very short but a very
important one.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said that he did not
object to the bill; which he considered a very good one,
but be certainly did object to the third clause of
the bill, which gave the power to her Majesty's Secre-
tary of State to discharge any criminal lunatic. This
he considered a dangerous clause, and would urge upon
their lordships that the greatest circumspection should be
exercised in carrying out this important function. A
person committing a crime might be confined during
her Majesty's pleasure, and then, on the certifi-
cate of certain physicians, be let out to the
world again. It was a very serious question whether
when persons were guilty of the most horrible crimes that
they should be let out to the world again. He would im-
plore them to reflect what an affliction this might
prove to society at large. He was afraid that
by the sense of impunity which this clause
would engender, would increase the species of
crime which resulted from madness. He (the noble earl)
remembered that on ono occasion he had gone
over Bethlehem liJspital, that the very criminal
medical man who bad accompanied him had
stated that he knew twenty men at least in
that establishment who had said that if ever they got out
they would break his head, and that they should do it
with impunity. As they were already declared to be mad,
he thought it was the duty of the Secretary of State to
be particularly cautious in liberating criminal lunatics,
especially as they might have simulated madness for the
sake of screening themselves from the consequence of
their crime. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of KIMBERLEY would ask whether this bill
was not to extend to Ireland. There was an establish-
ment there at Dundrum, which was similar to other
similar establishments in England. He would call the
noble earl's attention to the subject.
The Earl of BELMORE said that ho was not exactly
prepared to answer why the bill•did not extend to Ireland.
He;believed that it formed one of the bills peculiarly
adapted to England.
The bill was then read a second time.
THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIP'S

BILL.
Tho bill was read a third time and passed.
THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Lord REDESDALE gave notice of a motion with re-
gard to the offices in Downing-street, relative to
what can be the advantage to the public of having these
enormous and expensive offices for public business.
They were paying a great deal for temporary offices. He
understood that the Foreign Office was to come down. He
should wish, when he made his motion, to know what
property had been purchased, and how much had been ex-
pended, and ask for a return of the amount of property
which had been purchased.
RUSSIAN AMERICA.

In answer to a question from a NOBLE LORD,
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM said that, in the absence
of the noble earl at the head of the Government, he might
state that information had been received from St. Petersburg
that negociations were on foot for the cession of Russian
America to the United States, but that be considered that
although such a project might create surprise, it would not
affect the interest of our British subjects.
The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tms EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
• PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Caledonian Railway and Forth and Clyde Navigation
Companies, Enfield Gas, and Great Eastern. Railv►ay
(Steamboats).
THE REFORM BILL.

Mr. D. GRIFFITHS gave notice that in committee on
he Reform Bill he should move an amendment, to the
effect that a well considered system of dual voting be in-
serted in the bill to act as a counterpoise against household
suffrage in boroughs?
BURLINGTON HOUSE.
Mr. LAYARD asked the First Commissioner of Public
Works whether the buildings to bo erected at the
back of Burlington House for the accommodation
of the London University were to be in the
same style of architecture as that edifice, and
whether the report was true that they were to bo in the
Gothic style; whether he would give directions for the
exhibition, in the library, of the elevation and plans of the
new buildings, in order that the members might have an
opportunity of inspecting them, together with the plans
furnished by Mr. Pennethorne.
Lord J. MANNERS said they were not to be in the
same style as Burlington House. He had no objection to
place the plans in the library.
THE CASE OF TOOMER.
•

Sir J. COLLIER gave notice of his intention, on going
into committee of supply, to call the attention of the
house to the trial of Tootner, and to move for papers
and memorials connected with the subject.
BRIBERY AT LANCASTER.

Colonel W. PATTEN called the attention of the house
to the petitions presented relative to the Lancaster bribery
inquiry, and moved that the petitioners be heard at the
bar of that hous3 upon their OIVII petition if they thought
fit.. lie contended that all thb evidence adduced
before the commission was obtained by an indem-
nity, and that many of the electors gave their evidence
thinking that the indemnity would protect them whilst
making their communications, and that the loss of the
franchise was not through the admissions that were made.
He had searched the journals to find what course the
house adopted in eases like that which he had
brought before it, but he could not find one
instance where the player of the petitioners had been re-
fused, but, on the contrary, ho had discovered thirteen or
fourteen instances where the petitioners bad .been heard
either by themselves or counsel at the bar. The hon. and
gallant gentleman concluded by moving that the mayor
and corporation of Lancaster be heard by their counsel at
the bar of the house against the clause in the Reform Bill
disfranchising the borough.
Mr. WALPOLE said if there was a justification for
disfranchising any borough, he thought it applied most
strongly to Lancaster, for the commission had elicited
that there were 1,408 voters in the borough, out of which
it was proved that no less than 928 were proved guilty of
bribery. If the house was justified in disfranchising
Sudbury and St. Albans, surely they were so in the case
of Lancaster, because he never knew a case where bribery
was so general. He could not give his assent to the motion
for hearing counsel against the proposed disfranchisement
of that borough.
The Marquis of lIARTINGTON thought it was
punishing the whole of the electors of the borough of
Lancaster too severely in disfranchising it, because
bribery had been proved to have taken place very
extensively at the last election. Sudbury and St.
Albans were treated with more leniency than that
because it was not until after bribery had been repeatedly
proved to have taken place at many elections that they
wore at last disfranchised.
Mr. HENLEY thought it only just that the parties
should be heard before they were deprived of their repre-
sentation.

-Sir R. PALMER said if sound justice demanded an in-
vestigation into tho matters that led to the ultimate dis-
franchisement of Lancaster he, for one, would not object
to the motion; but ar, in his opinion, such was not
the case in the matter now uncle) discussion. He did not
think it would be right to grant the prayer of the peti-
tioners.

(LEFT SITTING.)

LONDON GAZETTE.—This Evening.

WAR-OFFICE, MARCH 30.
Tho Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders
for the appointment of the following officers of the Royal
Engineers, viz. :—Lieutenant-Colonel Wilbraham Oates
Lennox, V.C., Lieutentant-Colonel Gerald Graham, V.C.,
and Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Charles Cooke, to be
ordinary members of the military division of the third
class, or Companions of the most, honourable Order of the
Bath.

WHITEHALL, MARCII 30.
The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Percy
Wernyss Phillips Nott, M.A., to the United Vicarage of
Kew with Petersham, in the county of Surrey, and diocese
of Winchester, vacant by the death of the Rev. Richard B
Bryan.