§ Lord Monteagle,in moving, pursuant to notice, for certain returns relative to Pauper Lunatics in Ireland, observed that up to the year 1817 nothing could be imagined more wretched than was the situation of lunatic paupers in that country. In that year, a committee of the other House of Parliament took the subject into consideration; and it appealed from the report of that committee, which was presented by the present First Lord of the Treasury, that that was only at that time accommodation provided for 100 pauper lunatics in all Ireland. In some counties no pro at all, it appeared, was made for 886 those unfortunate persons, while in others it was so scanty as to be totally inefficient to meet the evil. The late Mr. Dennis Browne, the then Member for Mayo, who gave evidence on that occasion, stated, that in consequence of the want of accommodation for pauper lunatics, those unhappy individuals were frequently secured in the following extraordinary manner:—A hole was dug in the ground into which the patient was plunged up to his neck, his head was then covered with a wicker basket, and he was left for a time in this miserable situation. In consequence of that report, a bill was introduced to provide for the erection of lunatic asylums in Ireland. The several counties were to contribute, in the first instance, to the erection of the buildings, and were afterwards to be assessed for the support of their unfortunate inmates. Under that act ten asylums were erected; and he believed it would be admitted by all who had paid attention to the subject, that no better managed lunatic asylums existed in Europe; but there appeared to be a tendency not to adhere to the system which was contemplated by the act of 1817. It appeared by the official reports that there were in many counties of Ireland a number of lunatics not charged with any criminal offence, and yet committed to the common gaols of those counties. They were there kept in confinement without that adequate superintendance—without the discharge towards them of any one of those moral duties which were contemplated by the Legislature when they passed the act of 1817. By the law as it now stood, individuals were liable to be committed by a magistrate as dangerous lunatics, although no charge was made against them as criminal offenders. Under this system persons were known to have been imprisoned from year to year in the gaols of Ireland without their cases being considered, or any steps taken to inquire into the circumstances which led to their imprisonment. The ill effects of imprisoning lunatics in ordinary gaols must be self-evident. Besides what was doe to humanity, there were other reasons which should induce their Lordships to pet an end to this practice. What, he would ask, must be the effect of allowing fourteen or fifteen lunatics to be confined in an ordinary prison? How utterly at variance was such a proceeding with anything like good government? Yet, that such a prac- 887 tice prevailed, could not be denied, how ever it might be condemned. By the report of 1840, it appeared that nineteen persons, who were lunatics, were confined in the county gaol of Sligo. How was it possible, when this was the case, that the gaol could be properly governed! If it were proposed that those unfortunate persons should be transferred from the gaol to the workhouse, he should oppose any such proceeding, as a total perversion of the principle on which the workhouse should be guided and directed. Those unfortunate persons ought to be sent to places where the moral treatment of the insane was properly understood, and where proper treatment with reference to their situation would be provided for them. As there was, he understood, at present a measure under the consideration of her Majesty's Government for the improvement of the Irish Poor-law, he hoped that in that bill they would effectually provide for the reception and care of the lunatic poor of that country, and that they would not sanction the confinement of those persons in the district workhouses. The noble Lord concluded by moving for the returns of which he had given notice.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, the facts stated by the noble Lord should receive the anxious consideration of her Majesty's Government, who, in considering the measure to which the noble Lord had referred, would bear in mind the suggestions which he had thrown out.
§ Motion agreed to.