Mr. Rosetook the opportunity of observing, that all who read the Report must feels atisfied of the indispensable necessity of legislative interference. In no country were there any set of people so unprotected as the unhappy persons to whom the Report referred. The way in which they were usually confined, was that of criminals; and their treatment was in general worse than the ordinary treatment in gaols. The number of persons appointed to take care of them, was in most cases utterly insufficient; in consequence of which the greatest severity was too frequently resorted to. He trusted that the subject would be fully considered by honourable members during the recess, 1145 and that all would be disposed in the next session to give their assistance towards the formation of a measure calculated to diminish the existing evil. That in many cases those who were afflicted might, if properly treated, recover their sanity, was very evident. One strong instance was mentioned in the Report, of a poor insane woman, who, having for some time been chained down to the floor in a parish workhouse, disturbed all the other inmates of the dwelling by her cries; and who, on being removed in consequence to a more proper place of confinement, was, by proper treatment, perfectly cured in the space of five months.
§ The Report was then ordered to be printed.