§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums in Ireland, in which they point out the serious evil caused by the present system of indiscriminate committals by magistrates of persons as dangerous lunatics, who do not properly come under that description; and to inquire, if it is the intention of the Government at once to provide a remedy for this serious and rapidly increasing evil?
§ MR. CHICHESTR FORTESCUEsaid, in reply, that the subject had not escaped his attention. He agreed with the noble Lord that the matter had become a very serious evil, as the magistrates had unfortunately been in the habit of committing lunatics, under the character of dangerous, many who did not come under that description. He had prepared a Circular, which was about to be issued to all magistrates, on the subject, and he hoped that would go far to cure the evil.