§ COLONEL BARTTELOTsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What steps have been taken by the Lord Chancellor, in accordance with the request of the Governors of St. Luke's Hospital, as appeared in "The Times" of February 27th, with a view to inquire into its management; and, whether the Commissioners in Lunacy have made any inquiry; and, if not, whether the Government intend to order them to make such inquiry?
MR. BRUCE, in reply, said, he had been informed by the Lord Chancellor that not being a Visitor of the hospital, and also on the ground that some complaints with respect to the arrangement of it might be brought before him in his judicial capacity, he had not thought it proper to institute an ex parte inquiry into the matter. The Lunacy Commissioners had repeatedly inquired into the management of the hospital, and had made certain recommendations, some of which had been acted upon and some not. They had reported that, in their opinion, the situation of the hospital was not very fit for its peculiar functions. He might add that the powers of the Commissioners and of the Home Office over this hospital was very different, and were very much less than that which they possessed over lunatic establishments generally.