494 report — 1879. 



had existed for centuries at Ghent. In an equal population for those in asylums 

 and lunatic wards in workhouses, the English figure was 8,636, the Scotch 9,438, 

 and the Irish 11,616. The English boarding-out figure was 1,620, and the Scotch 

 2,097. Under the power of sending paupers to private asylums 609 were provided 

 for in England. In Ireland there were no paupers boarded-out or sent to private 

 asylums. The adoption of the Scotch law in Ireland would provide for 2,097 

 boarded-out, the adoption of the English law for 609 in private asylums, or 2,706 

 in all. Of the Irish 3,000 neglected lunatics 2706 would thus be provided for : it 

 followed that the non-assimilation of the laws was almost the sole cause of the 

 3,000 neglected lunatics in Ireland being in the state they were in. As to the 

 protection of the property of lunatics, the Scotch Law Commissioners and Scotch 

 Lunacy Commissioners had for years suggested that the County Court judges 

 should have the jurisdiction of appointing care-takers of lunatics' property when 

 of small value. In 1865, the English County Court judges had got this jurisdiction 

 in the case of minors ; in 1877, the Irish County Court judges had got it for 

 minors also. In the past session a Bill was brought in by Mr. Ramsey, Mr. Baxter, 

 Sir Graham Montgomery, and Mr. Dalrymple to give the Scotch County Court 

 judges similar jurisdiction as to lunatics. Lord O'Hagan brought in a similar Bill 

 for Ireland, but no Bill was brought in for England. The Scotch and Irish Bills 

 have been printed but not passed. If there was a uniform code as to the whole 

 three kingdoms of the law as to lunatics, this delay in legislation need not have 

 occurred ; and such assimilation as this and other branches of law is one of the 

 most effective means of diminishing the block of business in Parliament. 



