§ Order for Second Beading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Attorney General.)
§ MR. EDWARD CLARKEsaid, this was surely not a measure of the same class as the one which had just been read a second time.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)said, it was not; but it had been thought advisable that some change should be made in the law with respect to the conviction of lunatics. As the law stood at present, lunatics charged with crime were found not guilty on the ground of insanity; and it had been wisely thought that people who were only partially mad at the time they found the resolution to commit a crime would be more deterred from so doing if the verdict was one of guilty of committing the act charged. The result would be entirely the same after the verdict had been taken; because insane prisoners would be detained at the pleasure of the Crown, as now. It had been thought better that this alteration of the law should be made, and there was no reason against it.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for To-morrow, at Two of the clock.