The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-12 00:00:00

PANORAMA OF ATHENS.

Mr. Burford has just produced a spendid panorama of this
city, celebrated not only fur its arts and science, but for the
most magnificent site perhaps ever selected for the capital of
a country. It is a remarkable proof of the taste displayed by
the ingenious, refined, and learned Athenians, that even in the
infancy of the state, they should have displayed such judg.
ment in fixing upon this spot for a city, whose fame was to
eclipse all others, whether as regards its temples, its public
buildings, or the celebrated men to whom it gave birth. The
view is taken from the hill of Musasus, near the singularly strik-
ing monument of Philopappus. From this spot a most excellent
prospect is obtained of the Acropolis and of the su:rounding
plain. On the summit of the Acropolis are seen the far-
famed ruins of the Parthenon, splendid even yet, in their last
stage of decay, and on either side on the plain below, in
singular contrast, the modern city of Athens, and the elegant
palace, lately erected by King Otho for his residence. Looking
around we have distant views of the Sgean Sea, the Port of
Piraeus, and the islands of Salamis and Corinth, the prospect
being closed by Mount Parnes and the snowy range of the
Cythapron. The celebrated Pnyx, the beautiful Temple of
Theseus, the Areopagus, the River Ilyssus, now a mere rivulet
—and, in short, almost every place and monument in the
neighbourhood of the Acropolis, celebrated in verse or in his-
tory, is rendered in this panorama directly from nature. The
wholes is painted with consummate art, the nearer objects
being relieved with almost magical effect, and the more distant
painted with that soft and tent:er touch which so well imitates
nature. The varied effects of light and colour on the surrounding
hills contrast finely with the quiet tone which pervades the
greater part of the level, and with ►he cool tints of the distant
-ea. Altogether this is one of the best painted panoramic views
Mr. Burford has hitherto presented to the public.

_ HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 11.

The SPEAKER took the chair at quarter past Twelve.
Mr. BENNET was introduced by Sir John Tyrrell and
Major Beresford, and took the oaths and his seat for West Suf-
folk, in the room of the late Col. Ruihbrooke.
On tEe Motion of Mr. CARDWELL, it was agreed that the
House, at its rising, should adjourn to Monday.
Mr. T. DUNCOMEE then moved that the House should
now adjourn.
Mr. WARBURTON then rose to address the House, when
Mr. T. DUNCOM BE moved that the House be counted.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, but there being forty
Members present,
Lord ASHLEY then moved the order of the day for the
House going into Committee on the Lunatics Bill.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE then moved that the House should
now adjourn.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House divided,
when there appeared—
For the motion
Against it
Majority against the motion ........-32
The Speaker and the four tellers made thirty-nine Members
present, and such being the case, the Speaker vacated the chair,
and waited till a Member arrived, when he again counted
the House, and there being forty Members in attendance, the
House proceeded with the business before it.

LUNATICS BILL.
On our admission into the gallery, we found
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE on his legs, condemning the Luna-
tics Bill in the strongest terms, and stating his intention, if
the Noble Lord opposite persevered with the Bill, to move that
it be postponed to next session. This was too important a
measure to be discussed in so thin a House, and he should
therkore move it be counted.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House was
counted, bat there were 40 Members present.
On our re-admission to the gallery we found
Sir JAMES GRAHAM en his legs, stating that it was at
his request that the Noble Lord, who had framed the Bid, with
the sanction of the Government, had undertaken the conduct of
the Bill. He considered the measure as much the measure of
the Government as if he had introduced it himself. This was
the reply he made to the Honourable Member, in consequence
of his charee of amateur legislation. He had, no doubt,
his Noble Friend, if allowed to make his statement, would be
enabled to show that a great saving would be effected by the
Vommission to be appointed under the Bill.
itself intoonthe a questionommitbteee oingn theput Lunatics
tattiohes
Bill, House should resolve
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he had a petition to present from
an individual, complaining of the treatment of a Mr. White, a
poor brother of the Charter-house, in a private mad-house,
although several persons had stated that he was not insane.
The petition was ordered to lie on the table.
Lord ASHLEY denied that the Bill was any job, and de-
fended the course pursued by the Commissioners. The Noble
Lord then explained what the state of the law had been up to
1834, and the appointment 'of the Commission. The
Act then existing was renewed every three years
up to 1842, when a Bill was brought in by his
Noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancas-
ter. He then proceeded to explain the nature of that Bill.
He then went on to say that the Commission was then ap-
pointed at that time ; that they reported there were
17 county asylums in England, 11 of which were
of a mixed character, and were supported by subscription
and voluntary contributions ; there were 99 houses which were
licensed by justices, 59 of which received private patients, and
40 received pauper and other patients. In the metropolitan dis-
tricts there were 37 houses licensed by magistrates, 33 of which
received private patients, and the remaining four pauper and
other patients. These were visited four times a year. There
were altogether 166 houses of this description, which were
visited once, twice, and a few of them four times a year. The
report on this Commission was presented to that House at the
close of the last session ; and as he had taken such a prominent
part in the investigations, and having been chairman of
the Commission, he had been solicited to bring for-
ward some measures to remedy the evils which
existed, and the result had been the two Bills which were at
present under consideration. The Noble Lord then explained
the details of his Bills, and said that, if the House
had carefully read the report of the Commission, they would
have little difficulty in giving their support to them. He also
proved that the expense of visitation would be considerably
diminished, though the labours of the Commission
would be very materially increased.—( Hear.) He then
dwelt upen the utility of unexpected and frequent
visitation, which would be provided for by these Bills. There
was no one better acquainted with the enormous evils which
existed under the law as it now stood than he
was, and he trusted that the Honourable Member
for Finsbury (Mr. Duncombe) would not throw any obstruc-
tion in the way of those advantages which would un-
doubtedly result to those unfortunate creatures if
these provisions were carried into effect. 'I he
Noble Lord then detailed several instances of the most
shocking cruelty which the Commission had reported on,
and which had been permitted under the existing law,
and he hoped that the House would no longer tolerate the
existence of those evils which were a disgrace .to the age in
which they lived, and more especially to this enlightened country.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved the amendment of which he
had given notice—" That the Bill should be postponed till
next session, there not being sufficient time this session to give
that consideration to the subject which it required." He
objected to the construction of the Commission. It should sit
perpetually, as the Poor-law Commission did. He did not like
these amateur Commissioners ; if they must have Commissioners
let them. be properly paid, properly responsible, and placed
under the supervision of the Home-office. At the present
advanced period of "the session this measure ought not to be
pressed forward with such haste It would be better to
postpone the measure until next session, and then to insti-
tute a searching inquiry. This measure would not
correct • any of the abuses he had complained of
Persons might still be incarcerated by interested
parties, upon the production of a certificate signed by
two medical men. An inquiry ought to be made,
to ascertain if this was such a measure as these unfor-
tunate people required for- their protection, and such a measure
as the nation had a right to expect from that House. The Noble
Lord had made no allusion to the petitions which he (Mr. D. )
had presented. Let them look at the petitions of Mr.
Perceval and of Mr. Lewis Phillips. Did the Noble Lord
mean to say that Mr. Phillips was insane? He (Mr. T.
Duncombe) would inform the Noble Lord that Mr. Phillips
was as sane as any man in that House. How was it that the
allegations of that petition had not been inquired into? He
had made inquiries on the subject, and he believed every alle-
gation of the petition could be made out. ( The Ho-
nourable Gentleman then read the petition of Mr. L.
Phillips, which has already been published.) Mr.
Phillips brought an action against Dr. Warburton,
which, however, Mr. Chitty said could not be sustained, be-
cause he had been incarcerated with a proper certificate, but
he indicted Dr. Warburton and all the parties for a
conspiracy, and Dr. Warburton paid 1701. rather than let the
matter come into court. Mr. Prockter, one of the Commissioner!,
who had known Phillips, saw him in the asylum, and said he
could not release him until he had had their visit. A poor
woman in the next cell to Phillips had complained to the Com-
missioners, and had been brutally ill-treated by the keeper
in consequence. These things required that a searching in-
quiry should be made into the operation of the present law.
There were good things in this Bill ; for instance, the
power of visiting asylums for single patients. But he
objected to rendering this Commission permanent until inquiry
had been made into the working of the existing Commission.
This measure had been so smuggled through the House, that
the public were not aware that such an important measure
was under consideration. The Hon. Gentleman then referred
to the petitions of Mr. W. Bailey and Captain Digby,
both of whom he believed to be sane. He contended that
Captain Digby had been confined from interested motives,
and that he was not a fit person to be shut up. It
was horrible to contemplate the probability of a sane
man being committed to one of these dreadful asylums
on a certificate signed by two interested apothecaries,
without being taken before a magistrate, and without the
intervention of a jury. Captain Digby. was not released
until he threatened an action against the persons
who had incarcerated him, and as a proof that Dr. Stillwell
did not consider him very insane he would state that Dr.
Stillwell made him sign a cheque for his keep before he
was released. He complained that where parties came
before the Commissioners to prove the sanity of their friends
they were treated with haughtiness and arrogance. Capt.
Digby's relations, and some of them ladies too had been
thus treated by the Commissioners, ar.d if they
would grant him an inquiry he would prove it.
Captain Digby, if he were examined, would state the cruelties
which he had witnessed, and he did himself honour by the way
in which he had come forward. He knew it might be said that
Capt. Digby was insane. But he would direct their attention to
cases which had come before the police magistrates, and about
which there had been no doubt. (The Hon. Gentleman then
alluded to the case of Mrs. Finn, who, having been confined as a
lunatic, was released through the intervention of Mr. Broughton,
magistrate, who had stated from the bench his opinion that the
law required alteration.) Now this measure made no alteration
whatever in the law in this respect. Ile also objected to
the great allowances, and to the large retiring pensions,
awarded to the Commissioners and their officers. It savoured
of
then attempt at a job, and that alone ought to throw out
Bill.
On the amendment being put from the Chair, •
Mr. S. Crawford and Mr. Smith rose together, and, neither
being inclined to give way,
Mr. DUNCOMBE rose to order, and insisted on the
priority of Mr. S. Crawford's claim.
The SPEAKER having called on that Hon. Member to
proceed,
•
Mr. S. CR A WFORD said that, considering the late period
of the session, he thought the proposition of postponement not
only reas snable, but absolutely necessary, and he, therefore,
should second the amendment of his Hon. Friend the Member
SMITH regretted that the Honourable Member
whornasdbucrhyo
i‘
t:'i. V.chosen to introduce this amendment had not thought
fiotconsistent with his duty to consult the convenience
of theSpteiankgeru,ndaenrdthreeseprrveesednitsccuossiniornnist,iilol:l2ewßouillldwbeenmt into
Committee.—(
better
Committee.—( Hear, hear.) But the very objects of the
Member for Finsbury himself—viz ,to obviate or remove the
evilsexisting
promoted by allowing the measure to proceed without
delay. The comparison instituted between the two Com-
missions, the existing and the proposed, was strangely un-
tenable. The peculiar feature of the Noble Lord's ( Ashley's)
Bill was, that it sought to dispense with the present Commis-
sion, and create another without the anomalies or evils com-
plalncd of now, and its virtual. .effect would be to postpone the
unjustly. As to
t, theH ceates,aiifdtrue, certainlyl attached
powers of the very Commission which was so frequently
the anecdote told by the Honourable Gentleman respecting
Captain Digby, who was alleged to have signed a cheque when
in confinement, and on his liberation immediately going to his
and unjustly
the officer, but none whatever to the commis-
sioners.—(Hear,
r ) It fell whollir •
hear.) . without their juris-
diction, like that of mr. Phi lips
and and Mr. to the conduct Per-
cival was irrelevant_ of that body. He,
blame
er atnod stopping pay
therefore, trusted the House would refuse the proposition for
delay, and adopt a measure of such vast benefits and importance
•
to the public.
Lord DUNCAN moved the adjournment of the debate.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM surgested that the Hon. Member
for Bath should withdraw .his motion of adjournment, on
an understanding that the details of the Bill should not be dis-
cussed till Monday next, and that.anwhile the sense of the
House should be taken on the
n. Member for Finsbury's
amendment.
ointment of Monday
nient to h•
would be personally
named,inconve Im. but if Tuesday at
he would
twelve o'clock were on that .e)arywnise not to oppose
the Speaker's leaving the
chair
acceded to,-
This arrangement being strangers were ordered
divided,
House when
to withdraw, and the there appeared—
For Mr. Duncombe's amendment. .....
Mr. DUNCOMBE stated that the app •
Majority for the original motion .............. 66
—65
• rned to Five o'clock.
For the original motion. .. .. . ...... ..........................
The House then adjourned

The SPEAKER took the chair again at Five o'clock.
pRIVILEGE.
Sir J. Y. BULLER presented a petition from Mr. Phillips,
who stated that he had suffered much in practice as a surgeon,
and had been kept out of several lucrative_ situations in conse-
quence of the evidence of hlr. Jasper Parrott given before a Corn.
mittee of that H ,use. The petitioner prayed the House to take
his case into their most anxious consideration, and grant him the
means of meet:mg the evidence of the said Joseph Parrott, and
if such evidence should be roved to be falser to enable thereti.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAI MORNING, JULY 12, 1845.