HC Deb 23 January 1807 vol 8 cc514-5
Mr. W. Wynne

moved, that a select committee be appointed to enquire into the state of the Criminal and Pauper Lunatics in England and Wales, and of the laws relative thereto, and to report the same with their observations to the house. It was a year and a half since he had called the attention of the house to this subject, which demanded immediate interference. The consequence of the attempt made by Hatfield on the life of his majesty, was an act empowering the judges in cases of acquittal on the ground of insanity, to order the person so acquitted to be detained in custody, until his majesty's pleasure re–specting them should be known. Under this act, several unfortunate persons were now lying in public jails; of all places, the most improper for their abode. He re–ferred to an instance in the county which he had the honour to represent, of a per–son who, having been tried for murder and acquitted, on the ground of insanity, had been imprisoned in the public jail, in which all possible care was taken of him that could be expected from persons igno–rant of the mode of treatment, peculiarly requisite for lunatics, committed another murder on a felon in the same prison. Pauper lunatics, as the law then stood, were maintained by the parish, so that it became the interest of overseers that these unhappy people should commit some out–rage by which the parishes might be relieved from the burthen of them. There were not less than 1700 pauper lunatics now in confinement. How to proceed, whether asy–lums should be erected to comprehend more than one county, or in what other way relief should be afforded, would be a proper subject of consideration for the committee which he proposed to institute.

Mr. S. Bourne

asked why the hon. gent. did not include in his reference to the com–mittee, the Criminal and Pauper Lunatics of Scotland and Ireland?

Mr. W. Wynne

replied, that in those countries there were provisions which ren–dered the necessity of any interposition of the legislature less pressing than in England and Wales.—A committee was then appointed.