For twenty-one years the criminal lunatics of Scotland have been, with only one or two exceptions, confined in a branch or separate building of the General Prison, called the Department for Criminal Lunatics. This department was opened in October, 1846, under a public grant; and due inquiry having been made throughout the kingdom, all prisoners of the criminal lunatic class confined for life or during Her Majesty's pleasure were transferred thither in terms of Act 2 and 3 Viet., c. 42, and 7 and 8 Viet., c. 31.