The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-02 00:00:00

LUNATICS' BILL.

On the order of the day for the second reading of the
Lunatic's Asylum, and Pauper Lunatic's Bills,
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that he was de-
cidedly opposed to the second reading of this
Bill. He wished the measure under consideration,
and the other measure on the paper also introduced
_by
the Noble Lord to be postponed, because they were
much too important to be brought on by a private
Member. He did not see why the House should saddle
the country with additional expenses. He did not think
that six Commissioners, each receiving a salary of 1,5001.
a year, with a retiring pension, were necessary. His
Hon. Friend the Member for Weymouth had moved fera
certain return relative to these companies, and he thought. t
would be necessary that the House should be in posses-
sion of that return before they voted away any more
money. He wished to know whether this was to be con-
sidered a government Bill or a Bill brought in by a
private individual. If the latter, he thought it of too
great importance to be left to the care of an Honourable
Member.—(H.ar, hear.) The Bill, as it stood,
was liable to objection, because it did not
give that protection to unfortunate persons confined in
privßtp asylums; which it ought to do, The tinder?
Secretary of state for the Home Department said on the
other evening that the Bill must be passed during that
session of Parliament or the Commission would expire,
but that was not the case, Ttlie CetnlP*9ll Tirelild not
expire till next session, and where, therefore, he asked,
was the necessity for the hurry of this proceeding? He
said that these expenses ought not to bt saddled on the
Consolidated .fund until the return ordered by his Hon.
Friend had been laid on the table, The public had a
right to know how the money had been expended on
former occasions, and were it but produced the House
would find that the CpmfoiiPPftrs were not the
extraordinary fine persons they were represented
to be. What did Mr. Perceval say, and he had
ample experience of the system eleven years ago.
lie P 414, 6,1 vie. tp the Pril'flte P.fsteto: lie
stated that this ,`ill wonld. not rpnik:oy the evils from
which he and others had suffered. He ,(Mr. T. Dun-
combe) gave every credit to the Noble Lord the Member
for Dursetshire for his knowledge of this subject, but he
would rather trust the statements mpt eby iildivifiuo4 like
mr; Vercival, who had had their knos.vledge founded on
experience, He protested against the indecent haste with
which the measure had been urged forward ; and, under
all the eircninstances, he should move that it be lead that
day six months.

CRAWFORD seconded the motion.
Lord AaILE-Y conipiairnd that the Hunourable
Member for Finsbury had nut resumed • the discussion
on the part of the salaries to the commissioners until
the Bill was in Committee. He could then state to the
Honouratre Member for Weymouth every de-
tail which it might require. The discussion might in
Committee be taken on the clause, but surely it was
most inconvenient then to open up the whole question
when !3° 140 time had already been consumed
it its eoniideraticol. Should the Honourable
Member for Finsbury consent to this course,
He believed he should be able to satisfy thp House and
the Hon. Member fur Finsbury that what be was ssAing
was no more than what was Just—was no more than what