The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-10 00:00:00

tan)wiiAL pAttLiA-TuEivr.

-ROUSE OF COMMONS, July 9.
LUNATICS ASYLUMS AND PAUPER LUNATICS
BILL.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
The clause was then withdrawn for the purpose of being In-
troduced in an amended form on the bringing up of the repot.
Clause 45 was agreed to, as were also clauses 49, 50, and 51.
On clause 52 being read,
Lord DUNCAN objected to the hurried manner in which
tie Bill was being passed. He also complained that the town
councils and magistrates had not been recognised by any of the
clauses.
After a few words from Mr. VERNON SMITH, the clause
was agreed to, with verbal amendments.
Clauses 52, 53, and 54, were agreed to, with some verbal
amendments.
Clause 55 was then proposed and agreed to, after some slight
discussion as to its wording.
Clauses 56 and 57 were then agreed to.
Clause 58 was then proposed.
Mr. WAKLEY objected to the free access of the overseers
and guardians to the lunatic paupers, which was allowed by the
clause. He thought that they would go on parties of pleasure
to the country, under the plea of making an investigation.—
( Laughter. )
Lord ASHLEY moved that the words " at all reasonable
times " be inserted after the words " free access."
The clause was then passed as amended.
Clauses 59 and GO were agreed to.
Lord ASHLEY then moved the postponement of the fur-
ther consideration of the clauses, to give an opportunity of
swearing in a Member.
'The motion was carried, and the SPEAK Eit took the Chair.
Sir J. DUCK WORTH was immediately introduced by Lurd
Lincoln and Sir J. Y. Buller, and having taken the oaths, took
his seat in the House as Member for Exeter.
The SPEAKER then left the Chair, and the House went
again into Committee.
Clauses 61 and 62 were then agreed to, as also were clauses
down to 70.
Clause 71, which makes provision for the discharge and re-
moval of lunatics from asylums, and for a penalty of 50/. on
officers for allowing them to escape, or to be at large without
permission, was objected to on the ground that the penalty was
tco high.
The clause was amended, and the insertion of the words
" if not more than 20/., and not less than 10/.," and agreed to.
Clauses up to 74 were also agreed to.
Clause 75, which provides that in case of the death of a
lunatic its cause should be stated, and sent to the clerk of the
peace and the Commissioners of Lunacy, was proposed.
Mr. DUNCOMBE objected to it, on the ground that in
every case of the death of a lunatic information of the fact
should be sent to the Coroner, who should hold an inquest on
the body, and proposed that the clause should be so amended.
Lord ASHLEY said they should recollect that they were
dealing with public lunatic asylums. He could not see the
necessity of holding an inquest in every ease, however necessary
such a step might be where death occurred in private asylums.
Mr. WAX LEY had had considerable experience as to the
necessity of the amendment during the period he had held the
office of coroner. He con-idered that it was also necessary
as a species of supervision on the Commissioners of Lunacy.
Whenever a criminal died an inquest was invariably held on
his body, and he saw no reason why this should not take place
on the death of a lunatic. If half a dozen rate-payers
were empowered to visit an asylum, and inspect
the body of a lunatic, he should not press the necessity of hold-
ing an inquest. They ought to give these unfortunate persons
all the protection in their power.
Mr. V. SMITH was in favour of adopting some middle
course respecting those dying in private as well as in county
asylums. It ought not, however, to be made peremptory,
because many lunatics died from a long course of disease, and
not from any other cause. Besides, the friends of the lunatics
might have a great objection to the holding of inquests on the
bodies of their relations. He objected to it being left to rate-
payers, who might be incompetent for the discharge of the
duties which would thus devolve upon them.
Mr. DUNCOMBE thought the holding of an inquest ought
nots to be left to the option of the friends of the deceased. The
same protection extended to the rich ought to be extended to
the poor.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it 37
Majority against the amendment
Mr. WAKLEY moved that the names of the parties present
at the death of a lunatic should be inserted in the schedule
specified in the Bill, which would be signed by the medical
officers of the asylum.
Lord ASHLEY offered no objection to this proposition, and
the clause was, as amended, agreed to.
On the next clause being proposed,
Mr. DUN CONI B E inquired why Bethlehem was to be exempt
from the operation of this Act?
Lord ASHLEY was understood to say that there was
a special Act of Parliament now in operation applying to the
hospital of Bethlehem.
Mr. T. D UNCOAI BE thought that if Bethlehem were exempt,
St. Luke's ought also to be exempted. He believed that the
Noble Lord was afraid to grapple with the monopoly existing
in the institution of Bethlehem.
Lord ASHLEY said that Bethlehem was an institution
distinct from all other lunatic asylums in the country. It had
been established by royal foundation, and was under an especial
government of its wan
Mr. DUNCOMBE still thought that this Bill ought to apply
to Bethlehem Hospital.
The clause was then agreed to.
On the first schedule being proposed,
The Earl of ARUNDEL suggested that some provision
should be made for the spiritual instruction of lunatics who
had any glimmering of reason in their minds.
Lord ASHLEY was afraid that provision being introduced
into this Bill respecting religious opinions of the lunatics
might much impede the effectual working of this Bill.
The Earl of SHELBURNE thought that such a provision
would have a tendency to lead to religious persecution.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE thought the suggestion of the Noble
Earl (the Earl of Arundel) ought to be entertained. Provi-
sions similar to that. suggested by the Noble Lord were always
introduced into Acts of Parliament relating to prisons. Why,
then, not be introduced into this Bill?
Mr. P. HOWARD said, that when a man was not abso-
lutely raving mad, it might be of advantage that religious in-
struction should be afforded.
The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to be
received on Friday.
RAILWAY STANDING ORDERS.
Mr. GREENE moved that standing order No. 123, re-
quiring reports on railway Bills to be discussed upon every
Tuesday, be suspended to the end of the present session.
Agreed to.
MANCHESTER AND ALTRINCHAM RAILWAY.
The Lords' amendments to the Manchester and Altrincham
Railway Bill were agreed to.
MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILW AY.
The Lords' amendments to the Manchester and Birmingham
(Ashton branch) Railway Bill were agreed to.
ASHTON, STALYBRIDGE. AND LIVERPOOL
RAILWAY.
The Lords' amendments to the Ashton, Stalybridge, and
Liverpool Railway Bill were agreed to.
LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.
The Lords' amendments to the London and Brighton
(Horsham branch) Railway Bill were agreed to.
NORTH WALES RAILWAY.
The Lords' amendments to the North Wales Railway Bill
were agreed to.