The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-19 00:00:00

-N.T
t .1.

No. 16,644.

OYAL NORTHERN LUNATIC ASYLUM.
REPORT by the COUNTY COMMITTEE, as presented to
the Gen6ral Meeting of Subscribers, held within the Castle of Inver-
nesis, upon the 14th November, 1845.

The increasing prevalence of lunacy through the county of:lnver-
riess, and the obligation tmon the !veal authorities, to confine at the
expense of the parish of domicile, all persons thus dangerously
afflicted, compelled this project as a matter of ordinary prudence, and
apart from all consideration of general philanthropy. Accordingly,
at the Annual County Meeting of the 30th April, 1843, the project
was submitted to the public. It was resolved to endeavour to afford
the benefit of the Institution to all the northern Counties, standing,
as they did, under circumstances of equal necontty ; and a Committee
was appointed to solicit subscriptions on this enlarged and general
footing. They commenced their duties; but circumstances for some
time were adverse ; and they had the deep misfortune to lose, almost
at' the outset of their labours, one of their most influential, zealous,
mid valued members, by the sud-ten death of Mr. Fraser, of Newton.
Keenly alive to the true benevolence of the undertaking, he was
lending it the liberal assistance of his example and of his energies up
to the period of his death ; and that melancholy event naturally
affected, for a time, the exertions of those associated With him in the
Committee. Thus the project remained in temporary eaeyance. But
It seemed soon evident that unless active aucasures were again re-
sorted to, there could be no reasonable anticipation of a successful
issue. A public meeting of the heritors, magistrates, and clergy, was
called accordingly, upon the 10th day of December, 1844,' and the
necessity of an immediate canvass was admitted, and pressed upon
the Acting Committee. They undertook the.task. The funds at that
date amounted to 1,5001„, and to-day they stand on the list as 4,7001.
This Buhl is almoSeentirely the result of private contribution ; for
only one parish, that of Dornoch, in Sutherland, has entered a sub-
scription, and only • one-public body, the Caledonian Bank of Inver-
ness, has given a contribution ; —the parish of.Dornoch has taken one
share of 21/. ; the Caledonian Bank has given a subscription of one
hindred guineas. Apart, indeed, from these two sums, the contri-

fnitions have been entirely from the hand of private I;enevOlence.
The town and neighbourhood of Inverness have given most liberally,
and many of the districts of the county with an equal hand. Under
very trilling exceptions, the Committee have, as yet, been prevented
from prosecuting their solicitations throughout the northern counties.
-- . .

Several, however, of the most Influential proprietors of the north are
amongst the contributors ; and this circumstance warrants the hope
that the canvass which is to be immediately corgikenced may be suc-
cessful. The Committee, through two of their number, have applied
for subscriptions in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and
London, confining, uulesa in one or two instances, their application to
those connected by birth, or profession, Or trade, with the northern
counties: They regret to say that they failed in many quarters
where they had the best reason to anticipate success; but, again,
there were instances where the claira of enlarged benevolence, apart
from any local feeling, was willi'.igly admitted. There were indi-
viduals who appeared to consider it a privilege to have an opportunity
of- contributing to an object tending so obviously to alleviate the
miseries of the poor.
Such, then, is the amount of the realised funds, and such is the
source from which they have been to a very considerable degree de-
rived. The Committee Lave nb hesitation in stating to the sub-
scribers their belief the. the subscription will be soon considerably
augmented. An important addition may be reasonably anticipated
from the northern counties, and the result of an influential communi-
cation with India May be looked for with confidence. In closing this
part of the suhject, the Committee have to mention that, whilst in
London, thtor had the advantage of communicating with the Lord
Advocate upon the proposed scheme ;—that his Lordship became
himself a subscriber, and that he obtained for tke Institution the
benefit of the royal patronage. It is hoped that such royal counte-
nance may be the means of assisting the subscription in directions
whore otherwise it might not have penetrated. In any event, it in-
vests the undertaking with an additional interest and importance, and
guarantees to the public an efficient constitution and management
—requiring as It does that that constitution shall receive the approval
of the high officers of the Crown.

The Committee have made it their endeavour to obtain the best
advice as to the site of the proposed Institution. They have re-
quested the assistance of Dr. Malcolm, of Perth, a gentleman emi-
nent in the treatment of the insane, and whose opinions were ma-
tured during an extensive continental -tour amongst similar institu-
tions, preparatory to the erection of Murray's Asylum, in the neigh-
bourhood of Perth, with which he has been from its erection, and
still is, intimately elnnected. He selected four sites as eligible—one
on the property of Mr. Baillie, the proprietor of Culduthel ; another
on that of Mr. Mackintosh, of Raigmore ; a third at the Hut of
Health, on the estate of Inshes; and a fourth on the lands of
Charleston, the property of Mr. BaMie, of Dochfonr. With the first
of these proprietors, Mr. Baillie, of Culduthel, the Committee have
been in communication ; but the terms of feu demanded by him are
quite impracticable, and therefore the site upon his property adjoin-
ing the Quarry, and close to the marsh with the Raigmore lands, is
out of, the question. The Committee have also communicated with
Mr. Mackintosh, bat wAhout any result—that gentleman requiring
to know from them thd-amount of feu that will be given, and the
Committee naturally enough begging to be informed what is to be
asked ; and here the negotiation stands with Mr. Mackintosh. Of
course it will be the duty of the subscribers immediately to open
a communication with Mr. Robertson, of Inshes, and Mr. Baillie, of
Doehfour, and thereafter to select from those equally eligible sites
that which may be obtained upon the most eligible terms.
In these circumstances of realised Rinds and anticipated increase,
the County Committee have considered themselves required to delay
no longer the commencement of the Institution. The necessity for
its erection is every day forcing itself upon their attention. The num-
ber of lunatics confined at the expense of the several parishes is every
day increasing, and the operation of the New Poor-law Bill must
necessarily add to the number. That Bill directs a course by which
reluctant parishes may be compelled to the humanity of providing
suflicient accommodation for their lunatic poor; but it affords no
assistance towards securing such accommodation. The more stringent
the obligation upon parishes, the more important to them should be
the erection of a local and inexpensive Institution, such as that pro-
posed. This is obvious,- and will undoubtedly force itself upon the
understanding of all such burdened parishes.

The Committee, impressed, with these important considerations,
submit their proceedings to the general subscribers, and suggest
that, without any delay, the necessary steps should be taken for the
organisation of the Asylum.
They cannot close the account of their proceedings without ex-
pressing the obligation under which the Institution is placed to se-
veral gentlemen in the south connected with this part of the country.
In Glasgow, Mr. Leith, formerly inspector of the Caledonian Banking
Company, most efficiently assisted the canvass; and in London the
same beneficial office was with equal liberality discharged by Mr.
Mackenzie, American merchant, and by Mr. Macgregor, of Cheap-
side. To Mr. Young, of The Sun newspaper, the cause is eminently
Indebted, for the liberality with which he uniformly admitted the
necessary advertisements in a free and prominent access to the co-
lumns of his important journal.
Reported by
W. 11. COLQIIIIOI.7N, Convener of the County Committee.
Total amount of subscriptions'as at this date 4,673/. 13s.
Ata General Meeting of the Subscribers towards the erection of a

Lunatic Asylum at Inverness for the benefit of the northern

counties, called by advertisement, held on the 14th Nov., 1845,
WILLIAM ERASER TYTLER, Esq., Vice-Lieutenant of the
County, Chairman ;
The Chairman having addressed the meeting, moved the following
resolution, which was unanimously agreed to :
"That the following noblemen and gentlemen be now appointed a
Committee, with power to them to nominate from their own number
a Sub Committee, for the management of all matters connected
with the erection and establishment of the Northern Lunatic
Asylum, and, in particular, to draw up rules and regulations, to be
submitted to a General Meeting of Subscribers, to be held at In-
verness, on the earliest day in January next that the Committee may
appoint—Mr. Colquhoun, convener."

INVERNESS-SHIRE.
SUBSCRIBERS OF 50/. AND SUBSCRIBERS UNDER 501.
UPWARDS. W. H. Colquhoun, Esq., S.S.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Sea- Provost Sutherland
field _ J. M. Grant, Esq., of Glenmoriston

The Right Hon. Lord Saltoun
The Right Hon. Lord Lovat
H. J. Bailey, Esq., M.P. for the
county
J. Morrison, Esq., M.P. for thei
burgh
Wm. Fraser Tytler, Esq., of Bal-
nain
The Mackintosh
J. E. Bathie, Esq., of Culduthel.

J. M. Grant, Es-q., Joint-Convener
of the county
Thos. Ogilvie, Esq., ditto
J. B. Fraser, Esq., of Reelick
iD.Grant, Grant, Esq., of Bught
lA. Forbes, Esq., of Culloden
J. Ross, Esq., Berbice Cottage
Dr. J. I. Nicol
Patrick Grant, Esq„ Ballifeary
C. Waterston, Esq., manager for
the Caledonian Bank
J. Mackenzie, Esq., banker
Alex. Forbes, Esq., chemist.

ROSS AND CROMARTY.

Sir J. J. R. Mackenzie, Bart., of Sir Hugh Fraser, of Braelangwell,
Scatwell I K.C.B.
The Hon. Mrs. Stewart MackenziedD. Davidson, Esq., of Tulloch,
of Seaforth I Convenor of the county
J. Matheson, Esq., of Achany, T. Mackenzie, Esq., of Ord
M.P. 'John Hay Mackenzie, Esq., of
Col. Bathe, of ltedcastle, M.P. I Cromartie

T. Mackenzie, Esq., of Applecross,lDr. J. Mackenzie, Kinellan
M.P. for the county !D. Kennedy, Esq., of Bogbain
A. Matheson, Esq., of Ardintoul. Ge,rge Cameron, Esq., Sheriff-
Substitute, Dingwall.
SUTHERLANDSHIRE.
His Grace the Duke of Sutherland James Loch, Esq., M.P.
David Dundas, Esq., M.P. for the George Gunn, Esq., factor for the
county,

CAITHNE;

Duke of Sutherland.
SS-SHIRE.
Sir G. Dunbar, of Hempriggs,
Bart., and J. Gregg, Esq., She-
riff-Substitute, Joint-Conveners
of the county.
SHIRE.
Gen. Sir J. Rose, of Holme,K.C.B.
H. Davidson, Esq , of Cantray
Wm. Mackintosh, Esq., of Geddes
J. I. Grant, Esq., of ViewileM
Gen. Gordon, of Lochdu.
Resolved further, that the above Committee continue in office till
the 30th of April, 1847.
The Mackintosh moved that the thanks of this meeting be ten-
dered to Messrs. Mackenzie and Colquhoun for the exertions they
had made in procuring subscriptions for this Institution ; and that
acknowledgments be also offered to Mr. Leith, formerly inspector of
the Caledonian Bank, now in Glasgow ; to Mr. Young, of The Sun
newspaper; Mackenzie, American merchant ; Mr. Macgregor,
Cheapside, all of London, for the efficient assistance they afforded
the deputation in their canvass in these cities ; which motion was
seconded by the Rev. Mr. Clark, and unanimously agreed to.
On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Clark, the thanks of the meeting
were also unanimously voted to the County Committee, who had
hitherto conducted the business of the proposed Institution so
successfully.
The meeting reselve that these resolutions be published in the
Inverness newspapers.

George Trail, Esq., M.P.

NAIRN
The Right Hon. the Earl of
Cawdor.

WM. FRASER TYTLER, Chairman.
The thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to the Chair-
man, for his conduct in the chair.
WM. R. GRANT, Interim Secretary.