The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COifMONS, July 14.
LUNATICS ASYLUM (IRELAND) BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Upon the reading of the 14th clause, which empowers the
Lord Lieutenant, under certain circumstances, to direct the
enlargement of asylum►,
Sir W. SOMERVILLE complained that there was a great
deficiency of accommodation for pauper lunatics in the Rich-
mond Asylum at Dublin. There were, at present, 41 appli-
cations for admission from the county of Meath alone, which
could not be attended to, in consequence of the want of room.
Sir T. FREMANTLE would give his attention to the
subject, and endeavour to apply a remedy to the evil com-
plained of.
After a few words from Lord CLEMENTS; and Slr R. FER-
GUSON the clause was agreed to.
On the reading of the next clause,
Sir T. FREMANTLE, in reply to a question from Sir
R. Ferguson, said that he did not think it would be advisable
to act upon the suggestion of the Member for Waterford
(Mr. V. Stuart), and to admit into the asylums persons who
could afford to pay. He thought if that suggestion were
adopted the paying patients would be preferred to the paupers,
for whose relief the institutions were designed.
Clause 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 were agreed to.
On the reading of clause 22

Colonel RAWDON said, that although he thought the
delivering of clinical lectures was calculated to retard the cure
of lunatic patients, he would withdraw his notice of amend-
ment in the hope that a sound discretion would be exercised in
the application of the clause.
Sir T. FREMANTLE said that the clause was drawn up
with a view to sufficient caution with respect to what the 11,in.
Baronet opposite alluded.
After a few words from Lord ASHLEY in support of the
clause, it was agreed to.
On the reading of clause :23,
Sir R. FERGUSON said that he considered this the most
important clause in the Bill. The Government had taken to
themselves every possible power in this case. They had taken
the power of building as many asylums as they thought fit, and
of making what rules they had thought fit. But they had left
the important subject of inspection altogether unprovided
The inspectors of prisons were so placed that they could not
discharge efficiently, and with due protection to the lunatics, the
office of inspecting the asylums as well as prisons. He would,
therefore, press upon the Government the necessity of making
an ample provision for frequent and careful inspection.
Lord CLEMENTS concurred in what had fallen from his
Hon. Friend, and hoped that the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir T.
Fremantle) would give some definite statement upon this sub-
ject before the clause was finally determined on.
Sir THOMAS FREMANTLE was sorry that he could not
at present lay down any distinct proposition on the subject,
but he had no doubt that it would be necessary to make here-
after some larger provision for frequent and adequate inspection.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said, that if the inspectors of pri-
sons were to have the inspection of all the lunatic asylums, the
days of their visits would be regularly anticipated, and the ap-
pearance of the patients prepared for the examination in the
manner most creditable to the managers.
Lord C. HAMILTON took the same view as the Hon.
Baronet (Sir W. Somerville), and hoped that the Government
would take measures to secure an efficient system of in-
struction.

Colonel RAWDON said that the evidence contained in the
reports before the House showed how little the present system
of instruction availed for the protection of the inmates.
After some further desultory conversation, the clause was
agreed to.
Cause 24, being the interpretation clause, was agreed to
without discussion.

Clause 25, which limits the operation of the Bill to Ireland,
was agreed to, as was also the 26th clause, which provides
that the Act may be amended.
The preamble was then agreed to, the House resumed, and
the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.
SECOND READINGS.
The Turnpike Acts Continuation Bill, the Loan Societies
Bill, the Highway Rates Bill, and the Militia Ballots Bill,
were severally read a second time, without discussion, and
ordered to be committed to-morrow.
The House then adjourned till Five o'clock.

The House resumed at Five o'Clock.
LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY.

On the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON, the consideration
of the Lords' amendments to the Liverpool and Manchester
Railway Bill was postponed till to-morrow.
MONMOUTH AND HEREFORD RAILWAY.
The Monmouth and Hereford Railway Bill was read a third
ime and passed.
BRIGHTON AND LEWES RAILWAY.

Mr. LA SCELLES brought up the report on the Brighton,
Lewes, and Ilastings Railway ( Hastings, Rye, and Ashford
Extension) Bill.
The South-Eastern Railway ( Tunbridge to Tunbridge
Wells) Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Lords' amendments to the Keyingham Drainage Bill
were agreed to.
The report on the Yoker Road Bill was brought up.
White's Charity Estate Bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed.
SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.
The South Wales Railway Bill was read a third time, and
passed.
Ellison's Estate Bill was read a second time, and ordered to
be committed.
GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY.
The Lords' amendments to the Great North of England
(Clarence and Hartlepool Junction) Railwayßill were agreed to.
FORTH AND CLYDE NAVIGATION.
The Lords' amendments to the Forth and Clyde Navigation
and Union Canal Junction Bill were agreed to.
Sir J. Y. BULLER presented petitions from Devon against
certain clauses in the Justices' Clerks Bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented petitions from
the attorneys and solicitors practising in England and Wales,
and also in Ireland, praying that they might not be required to
take out an annual certificate.
Mr. ELLICE presented a petition from Glasgow against the
Sewell Poor-law Bill.

Mr. REDHEAD YORKE said that he had to ask the
Secretary of State for the Home Department when the order
of liberation was sent to Norfolk Island in behalf of Joseph
Mason, who was transported upon a conviction for burglary at
the York Spring Assize,', 1843, which conviction turned out
to have been altogether and entirely unjust ; and he had also
to ask when the said Joseph Mason might be expected in
England ?
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that notice having been given
of the question by the lion. Member, he (Sir James Graham)
had made the necessary inquiries, and was enabled to say that
the order for his liberation had been sent out on the Ist of
January last. To the second question he could not give a de-
cided answer, but no doubt existed that he would be sent home
on the first opportunity.