The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY. AUGUST 4, 1845.

The attention of the country has of late been power-
fully directed to the condition of the lunatic poor.
Their claims upon general humanity have been ac-
knowledged—and in England have the immediate pros-
pect of being peremptorily enforced. The unpro-
tected condition of that afflicted class has long been a
disgrace to England, but as outraged nature has at last
vindicated her rights, we would not dwell upon the
past, but would anticipate for this humane legislative in-
terference a triumphant career of usefulness.
It argues somewhat for the existence of a kindly and
affectiodate feeling on the part of the Scottish
rich towards the poor, to find that during the
last twelve months a scheme has been in progress in the
very heart of that territory, whose primary object is to
afford refuge to the poor under such circumstances of
affliction, and which professes also to extend its accom-
modation on the lowest terms to those of a superior class,
We allude to the foundation of the Royal Northern Lunatic
Asylum. We are gratified to observe that his Grace
the Duke of SUTHERLAND is a large contributor to this
patriotic object.
It was said by Lord ASHLEY, in the House, whilst
introducing the English Bill now in progress, that iu
no European country were pauper lunatics in a more
degrading position than in Scotland. The north of
Scotland must, indeed, confess that she has permitted
her lunatic poor, scantily clothed and houseless, to tra-
verse her glens and mountains, dependant even for the
poorest sustenance upon precarious charity, bearing with
them,in inseparable companionship,terror and disgust. She
must confess that she has adopted no moral or sanatory
means towards impeding the course, or abating the vio-
lence of that fearful calamity in the individual mind, or
in the mind of the country. We would not attribute
this unseemly dereliction to any mean reluctance to defray
the expense of accommodating the pauper lunatic. The
north of Scotland is a poor country, but we believe her to
be honest and sensible ; and we doubt, therefore, if there
be any proprietor within her mountain boundaries who
would harbour so unseemly an idea. We are assured
there is not one who would commit himself to
the humiliating avowal. We attribute the un-
protected
position of those unfortunate beings,
to the- absence of any local asylum in the
north, to the consequent difficulty of obtaining accommo
dation even in remote establishments, and, in many cases,
to the absolute impossibility of obtaining such accommo-
dation in any locality, or•upon any terms whatever. In
this view do we consider this projected Institution
as valuable. Can its importance as a patriotic
Institution be over-estimated, when it is considered that
it will afford an ever-ready and inexpensive refuge to
the lunatic poor of the counties of Inverness, Caithness,
Ross, Moray, Sutherland, and Nairn ? Within these
limits the number of lunatics, in 1818, amounted to up-
wards of 700, and it is a melancholy statistical position,
admitting of no doubt, that lunacy is on the increase.
We are aware that this scheme may meet with oppo
sition from those who are inclined to maintain the pro-
priety of legal assessment for all such local objects. It
may be, that rather than act counter to their own
opinions, such individuals would make forfeits of the
considerable sums already collected for this object, and
would peril its ultimate attainment in the cherished
idea of an agreeable union among the northern counties
of a willing adoption by them of a heavy assessment ;
or of legislative interference to render such assessment
compulsory.
We believe that such ideas are Utopian and vain, and
we consider it proper to record, for the information of
general contributors, that those who act upon them can-
not benefit in a pecuniary form by the institu-
tion which they oppose. This asylum most pro-
perly offers no benefit to proprietors or
.parishes unless contributing to its funds, and the
contributor upon whom no legal burden could be laid,
but who gives for the gratification of his own generous
feelings, has the satisfaction of knowing that his dona-
tion is not directed to any unbecoming use, but is de-
voted exclusively to relieving the afflictions of the poor.
It is gratifying to know that, on the erection of this
asylum, the whole of Scotland will be provided
with ample lunatic accommodation of the best
character. In the towns of Dumfries, Perth, Aber-
deen, Dundee, ;Montrose,. and Edinburgh, there are
asylums conducted upon the most approved domestic
, system, and upon the most liberal public principles.
Therefore, should it be necessary, hereafter, for the
Legislature to interfere with the subject of lunacy in
Scotland, we may hope that such interference will be of
a very limited character ; not requiring the bur-
' densome erection of additional asylums, but alone
enforcing any further accommodation that may be re-
quired as an addition to the asylums at present in ex-
istence, and thus asserting the right of the public to the
over-ruling control of institutions -which transact with
the liberty of the subject.
We would most earnestly direct to this project the
attention of all those connected with and interested in
the north of Scotland by the ties of birth or attach-
ment. We observe with the sincerest gratification
that her MAJESTY has been pleased to permit the Insti-
tution to be called Royal, and we trust that her gracious
condescension may induce a more enlarged patronage
than it might otherwise have received. We refer to the
subscription list in our advertising columns, and we
• sincerely trust that it may yet be materially augmented.

Madrid papers to the 28th have been received.

The Gazette publishes a dispatch from Saragossa of
the 25th. The QUEEN was to have left that city on the
28th fir Tudela by the canal of Arragon, on the 29th
to arrive at Tafalla, and on the 30th at Pampeluna
The dispatch states that she is in the most perfect
health.

It was expected the Court would proceed from Pampe-
lan?. to Tolosa, and from .thence to San Sebastian,
where it would arrive about the 6th or 7th of August.
El Heraldo has the following in relation to the Ma.
laga conspiracy : •
" The conspiracy had ramifications at Rondo, Grenada, and
other places, and relied on the co-operation of some unworthy
officers of the provincial regiment of Jaen, and on the majo-
rity of the seigeaats of that corps. To arm the
.national
militia, plunder the commercial houses of Malaga, and,
with these forces. and resources, hasten to Rondo and
Grenada, in order to protect there the revolutionary
movement, commencing by the assastination of the
authorities—such was the plan of the conspirators. They
alas reckoned on a general rising in Catalonia and at
Valencia. A large house in the High-street was their head-
quarters, and the rebellion was about to break out at the mo-
ment General Caminero, who had long entertained sippicions
on the subject, received positive news of it, which is said to be
due to a sergeant. The General forthwith marched to the
barracks, ordered the troops under arms, fell upon the conspi-
rators, arrested several of them fiagrante delicto. and Alalaga
has thus been saved from a tremendous catastrophe. Among
the prisoners are a Commandant Don Manual de Lara, various
officers, a large number of sergeants, a merchant named Hervas,
the Advocate Cardero, and Canadillas, Saborio, and other indi-
viduals, well known in the Progresaista party.
It also states that Madrid was to have been the
theatre of a revolutionary movement. The political
chief of Ciudad Real having seized a treasonable cor-
respondence carried on between the Carlists of that pro-
vince, had thought proper to banish three of the princi-
pal chiefs of that party. Some changes were contem-
plated in the military department. General Asputoz,
the director of the Artillery, was to.be replaced by Gen-
eral LOIGORRY, and General SORIA, Inspector of the In-
fantry, by General ConDovA.
Petitions have been presented to the Commandant-
General of Malaga by Modcrados and Progressistas in
favour of those compromised in the conspiracy discovered
there; and the Captain-General of Grenada has been
prayed to stay the execution of the sentences until her
Majesty's pleasure be known.
A large body of troops were assembling ,at Vittoria in
order to prevent a Carlist eon], de wain on the Royal
Family. The Government print, El Herallo, announces
that the ship of war Manz snares, under the command of
the Infante Don Emagun, has been ordered from Malaga
to the coast of Biscay.
Great preparations were making at Bilbla to givo the
QUEEN a splendid reception. General NARVAEZ and
M. MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA accompany the QUEEN
on her tour. All the other Ministers had returned to
Madrid from Saragossa.
The Three per Cents. were rather firmer than at the
last quotation. They were done at 984 for cash, and
29* at sixty days. Amount, 26,200,000. Fives at 21k
cash ; 400,000 done. Passives, 7* from the 15th of
August. Amount, 4,000,000.

We have rcce:ved the Paris papers of Friday an

Saturday.
Those of Saturday allude to Lord PALMERSION.S