The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-24 00:00:00

LUNATIC ALYLU M.

The report of the Building Committee of the County
Lunatic Asylum, stated that it was now capable of accom-
modating 570 patients, at the rate of 7s. per week each.
The committee recommended that the parishes should be
allowed to send a number of patients, in proportion to their
respective rentals. The annual rental of the whole county
was 5,000,0001., and allowing 500 patients for the parishes,
that would give one for every 10,0001. The receipts of the
past year amounted to 16,658/. Os. 7d., and the expendi-
ture to 15,524/. 125., leaving a balance of 1,1331. Bs. 7d.
in favour of the Asylum, being upwards of 1,0001. more
than that of the preceding year. The report of the phy-
sician urged the necessity of sending patients as early as
possible after the first symptoms of insanity appear, as in
protracted cases the best treatment seldom succeeds. The
average number of inmates for the last year was 564—0 f
which 122 were new cases, 49 were cured, 6 were dis
charged at the request of their friends, and 8 had died
(one of them by his own hands). The convalescent were
employed in various ways, which, while it was advantageous
to the county, facilitated the recovery of their own health.
Colonel WOOD observed that the county had expended
a very large sum of money in erecting an asylum for those
unfortunate persons, and the great object was to effect
cures.--(Hear.) If any plan, therefore, should be adopted
which would retard the admission of patients, that object
would be frustrated. Some arrangements ought to be made
to keep vancancies for the immediate reception of persons
before they were past the chance of recovery. That could
be done by sending the confirmed lunatic to private asy-
lums, and next county-day he should bring the matter be-
fore the Court.
Sir PETER LAURIE said it was unfortunately the practice
with parish-officers to keep their lunatics until they were in-
curable, and then send them to the county asylum as a der-
nier renort. If the poor people could be sent thither at
once, great good would result ; he hoped that would be
effected, and to see the day when another story would be
added to the building, so that none might remain unaccom-
modated.
It was agreed to defer the further consideration of this
report until next county-day.

COUNTY PRISONS.
From the reports of the visiting Justices it appeared that
there were in the House of Correction on the sth inst.
680 males, 244 females, and 13 children, making a total of
937 prisoners. In the New Prison, Clerkenwell, on the
same day, there were 150 males, 61 females, and nine
children, the total being 220 prisoners. They were gene-
rally healthy, and well-behaved. The number of disorderly
women had decreased from the average of 150 to 70.
Several parishes had applied for permission to inspect the
prison accounts. Their communications were read and re-
ferred to the Committee.
A county rate of one halfpenny in the pound was made
for the next quarter.
Mr. M'WILLIAM proposed the following resolution

" That it Le made a standing order of the Court, that all
the designs for bridges, prisons, and buildings, of whatever

kind or nature, executed or hereafter to be executed at the
expense of this county, with all the plans, elevations, sec-
tions, working drawings, and specifications, surveys, and re-
ports, required in the course of the several works, being exe-
cuted by contract or otherwise, be put together in a series
of numbers from one onwards, and fastened together at one
end, or one edge backwards, in a portfolio, and also a
general and complete plan or plans and sections of the
drains, cess-pools, and water-pipes, and a schedule of the
whole ; and that the same be delivered to the Clerk of the
Peace, having been first satisfied as being complete by the
magistrates or commissioners under whose immediate super-
intendence such buildings, &c., may have been executed,
before the final adjustment with the architects as to their
commission thereon ; also that all agreements, contracts,
conveyances, bonds, securities, and papers of legal or equit-
able proceedings, of whatever description or nature, relating
to or in any way connected with such buildings, shall be
put together in a series of numbers from one onwards, with
a schedule thereof, in chronological order, and delivered to
the clerk of the peace, having beon first certified as being
complete by the magistrates or commissioners under whose
immediate superintendence such works and papers may have
been prepared and executed :—The whole to be by the
clerk of the peace deposited in a proper place within the
Sessions-house at Clerkenwell, and kept as being records
of this county, before the final adjustment with the law-
agent, attorney, or solicitot, as to the payment. oflia_hills of
costs."—Agreed to.
Mr. HALSWELL, the chairman of the committee ap-
pointed as to weights and measures, said they had no for-
mal report to make, but he could state that the profits to
the inspectors had been greatly overrated.
From the returns of the inspectors of weights and mea-
sures, it appeared that up to the sth inst. 7,797 certificates
had been issued ; 171,508 weights, and 297,906 measures
had been stamped ; 35,663 false weights and measures had
been rejected. The total amount of fees received was
2,9751. 9s. 4,Vd.
Mr. DYER, jun., wished to know whether any additional
inspectors would be appointed.
Mr. BROUGHTON was well acquainted with the fact that
there were great complaints from the tradesmen about the
delay they experienced in getting their weights and mea-
sures stamped. More inspectors had not been appointed
under the impression that the proceeds would not pay the
expenses of those already in office. Now that it was mani-
fest that the reverse was the case,he thought the committee
should give their attention to the question whether the ap-
pointment of additional inspectors would not be desirable
It was agreed after some discussion that the subject
should remain in statu quo for the present, and that the
inspectors should make a formal return up to the sth of
April next.
After the disposal of some routine business, the Court
adjourned.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.

HALLIDAY V. BEST.

In this case, which was sent by the Vice-Chancellor for
the opinion of this Court, it appeared that John and Eliza-
beth Best were married several years ago, and that in 1818
she left her husband, and committed adultery.,. She re-
turned to the house and lived with him, and then quitted it
again, and again returned. This happened three or four
times ; but after the 11th of August, 1818, he did not re-
ceive her back again. The question was whether, under
these circumstances, she forfeited her dower ?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (with whom was Mr. Lum-
ley) appeared to argue that the dower was not forfeited.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, on the other side, contended
that it was perfectly clear that the wife had forfeited her
dower.
The Court took time to consider the question.
SOLLEY V. WILSON.

This was an action Vof trespass, brought to raisa the
question whether the new buildings of the eastern wing of
Somerset House were liable to be rated to the rate im-
posed by the Commissioners of Sewers.
Mr. RoaEas appeared for the plaintiff, to contend that
he was not liable to the sewer-rate.
Mr. BLACKBURNE, on the other side, contended that the
plaintiff was clearly liable to the rate.
The COURT postponed its decision in this case.