Commons Sitting of 5 April 1814

PRIVATE MAD-HOUSES.
Mr. Rose, pursuant to notice, proceeded to move for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal and render more effectual the provisions of the Act of the 14th of the King. He prefaced his motion by a short detail of the grievances which existed about the commencement of his Majesty's reign, and which had been discovered by a committee appointed to enquire into the state of Private Mad-houses in the United Kingdom. He mentioned some of the most aggravated cases of persons being confined in these receptacles who were in a state of perfect mental sanity. Amongst others, a person was found who had his wife confined in one of these houses, and who, when asked whether she was mad, replied "O, no; but I consider the place as a kind of Bridewell." In fact, it had been found that the practice was, to admit persons without any enquiry whether or not they were deranged. It was astonishing that ten years actually elapsed after the report of the committee which he had mentioned, before any remedy was applied to that flagrant evil. At length, in 1774, an Act had been passed, which, however, was now found to be very inadequate to prevent the evil. As a proof of this, he had a statement in his hand, concerning the situation of persons confined in some of these houses. In one instance, the apartments allotted for persons confined were found to be cells on the ground floor, nine feet long and five broad, the walls of which, as well as the ground, were wet with damp The whole furniture consisted of a box containing some straw or blankets by way of a bed. The Act required the certificate of a surgeon, amongst others, before a person could be received into a private madhouse. There were actually cases in which it was found that the surgeon's certificate

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was signed by the keeper of the house. The object of the Bill which he meant to bring in was, to remove the defects of the existing Act. It would go to provide, that the magistrates in the different countries should periodically visit the private mad houses within the respective counties, and make reports on the subject, on pain of severe penalties. He then moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Act of the 14th of the King, respecting private mad-houses.
The motion was agreed to without opposition, and Mr. Rose afterwards brought in the new Bill, which was read a first time.

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
Mr. Thomas Courtenay reported from the Committee of Supply the following Resolution, which was read and agreed to:
That a sum, not exceeding eight millions, be granted to his Majesty, towards paying off and discharging the Exchequer bills issued for the service of the year 1813, charged on the aids of that year, outstanding and undischarged.

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS.
Mr. Thomas Courtenay reported from the Committee of Ways and Means the following Resolution, which was read, and agreed to.
That, towards making good the supply granted to his Majesty, there be issued and applied the sum of eight millions, part of the amount of monies in the Exchequer, and remaining to be received on the 1st day of April, 1814, to complete the sum of twenty-one millions granted out of the produce of war taxes for the service of the year 1813.

CORN LAWS.
Lord A. Hamilton presented a petition from certain persons in the county of Lanark, praying that no alteration might be made in the Corn Laws.
On the question that it should lie on the table,
Mr. Baringtook that opportunity to express his hope, that the discussions on the subject of the corn laws would not be put off, as in the last session, until the middle of summer, when members were called upon to vote on a question which it was not possible to have time to digest. Considering the imperfect nature of the information hitherto obtained, and that
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every thing of importance relating to the subject was yet to be learned, he hoped that some effectual measure would be adopted in good time.
Mr. W. Fitzgeraldsaid, that he had no difficulty in stating, in as far as he knew, what was likely to be done on the subject. An hon. friend of his, the member for Queen's county (sir H. Parnell), had been chairman of the committee; and it was at the desire of that hon. baronet, that all the accounts relating to the business had been moved for. When the matter had been discussed before the Christmas recess, it had appeared to every one, that it would be unfair and unwise to enter into the discussion in the absence of many of those members whom the subject most concerned. He knew that it was the intention of the hon. baronet to bring the matter under due discussion as soon as possible after the recess.
Mr. Baringsaid, what he thought necessary was, that there should be either a fresh committee, or that evidence should be taken at the bar on the subject.
Mr. W. Fitzgeraldsaid, that in the absence of the hon. baronet, he felt it impossible to say what course would be taken.

ADJOURNMENT.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that from the present state of public business, he believed it would not be inconvenient if the House adjourned for the Easter vacation to-morrow instead of Thursday. If any gentleman had any private business which stood for Thursday, he begged him to state it.
No member rising, the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice, that to morrow he would move that the House should adjourn for Easter recess.