9 MAY 1885, Page 3

It is not easy to make out, from the probably abbreviated

account of Sir James Han eon's and Lord Justice Lindley's judgments, why they do not regard the fulfilment of those conditions precedent as essential to the jurisdiction of the Magistrates. As a matter of fact, the order of procedure ought to be most essential. In this ease, the alleged lunatic was seized without any authority, and was examined by the Magistrates while under the irritation of this wholly unlawful seizare,—a condition of things which might have rendered, and probtfy did render, the examination by the Magistrates one entirekr nugatory for the purpose of enabling them to form a clear judgment as to his state. We trust that this strange reversal of the decision of three Judges by two will be carried up by appeal to the highest Court.