The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-01-16 00:00:00

. ; a' ii , t , It I. k. . , p E' , . I ti• . . ! 1 , I I f t I l k : L 1 THE STATESMAN. Committee of the House of Commons, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or improbable ?—lmprobable. In what degree do you consider it as improbable ? -=lt is highly improbable, but not in an eitreme degree. Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless ?—No. Is it your opinion that the prospect of his Ma jesty's recovery is all but hopeless ?—No. his Ma jesty, from the middle of July last till about the se aid week of Decc:nber, appeared to me to be more uniformly disordered in his mind than he has been since that period; had the same degree of disorder still confirmed, I might perhaps consider his Ma jesty's condition as almost hopeless, but the subse quent improvement, slight as it has been, makes me think altogether more favourably of the termina tion. In what has that slight improvement consisted ? It coniists in a greater power of conversation, and in having laid aside some erroneous notions with which his Majesty had been before possessed. Is it to be understood that his Majesty's mind is not sfs Much impressed with the errors which had imssession of it before, as it was in the middle of the month of July last ?—The errors to which I allude, bad grout. up in his Majesty's mind, between the middle of July and the end of August ; from the se cond week in December, his Majesty's mind has ap peared to me to be clearer, and freer from error, than it had boleti in the latter part of August. Do the errors which existed in his Majesty's mind before the middle of July last, still continue to exist in the same degree that they did formerly ? The er rors and general character of his Majesty's disorder, since the middle of July, have appeared to me alto gether different from what they were in any previous part of his Majesty's illness; and though some ideas may still remain, which possessed his Majesty's mind early in Ms disorder, the greater part of them have grown up since the middle of July. You are understood to say, that those errors that Lave possessed the mind of the King, between the middle of July and the second week in December, were quite distinct from those that had possessed it previously to the middle of July ?,—Yes. And you are understood to say, that those errors were removed, or von much diminished at least ? Some of them have been removed. State whether the errors which possessed his Ma jesty's mind before the middle of July, still continue to possess it ?—I believe I must go into some history of his Majesty's complaint, from as long ago as Fe bruary last to the end of April :—llis Majesty had appeared to be getting materially better in the months of April, May, and June, there was very little of dis order exhibited • early in July there seemed to be a fresh accession of disorder, so distinct in its character, from his Majesty's previous state, that I look upon it as indeed a new complaint. . . Did the old complaint continne to subsist along with theuew complaint ; or ►shen the new complaint manifested itself in the mind, did the old complaint seem to be extingaished ?-- il•en the new complaint arose early in July, -though h►s Majesty was not well from his former disorder, yet I am not conscious that there were an► particular errors that at that time rested upon his mind. Do any of the errors that possessed his Majesty's mind before the middle of last July, now possess it ? His Majesty's mind is still possessed with the same sort of false reasoning ; but I am not aware, that for some time previous to the commencement of the pre sent disorder in July,there were any false facts upon his Majesty's mind. Then the error of his Majesty's mind, as you are understood to state, previous to July, was merely that of false reasoning ; are you to be understood that that was the sole error of I►is Majesty's mind previous to that ?—I think for two or three months previous to July, that had been the state of his Ma jesty's mind. Does that propensity of the mind still continue ? —Yes. Did that false reasoning extend itself to many sub jects, or did it confine itself to a few ?--It was prin cipally confined to a few ; but there were many sub jects upon which his Majesty's judgment could not be trusted. Does his Majesty's mind continue to be engaged upon those particular subjects on which you say it was principally engaged at that period ?—Yes. When his Majesty's mind runs upon those sub. jectg, on which you sav it was principally engaged, is it subject now to the same false reasoning it was then ?—Yes. You have said, that you consider his Majesty's recovery as highly improbable; have you ever known any person circumstanced in mental health as the Ring is now circumstanced, and of the same age as Lis Maj esty, IrcOVer from an illness such as his Ma jesty's —I never knew any person under the same circumstances of disorder and age as his Majesty. How long have you been of opinion that his Ma jesty's recovery was highly improbable ?—Perhaps from the latter end of August. [Withdrew. Dr. 'Noires Muwao called in, and examined. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to ren der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia ment, or of attending to any kind of public business? —I think his Majesty's state is such as to render him incapable of coming to his Parliament, or of doing any public business. What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health?---The present state of his Majesty's bodily health is tolerably good. What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health Majesty's mental health is insane. Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and bodily health, during his present indisposition, as far as it has cane under your observation, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is pro bablo or improbable?-4 think his Majesty's reco very is improbable. te 'what degree do you consider his Majesty's re covery to be improbable ?—I think it to be very im probable. Are you of °pillion that it is hopeless 2—Certainly cot. On what do you found your opinion that his Ma jesty's, mental situation is not hopeless?—His Ma jesty has no symptoms of fatuity • if his Majesty had those symptoms, } s h ou ld certai nly consider it as a hopeless ease.' • , , Do )ou consider that in all mental disorders, not accompanies by fatuity, there always some hope ?—I certainly think there is a chance of re covery. In the course of your practice, ha . ve you frequently had hopes founded upon such reasoning realized ? Certainly. Have you ever known a patient circumstanced as his Majesty is, as to mental disorder, and period of life, recover ?-1 have known patients older than his Majesty recover. • With the same degree of mental disorder ? Not with the same degree of mental disorder • I have seen very few cases of persons so old as his ila jesty. 130 you conceive that the peculiar situation of his Majesty, circumstanced as he is, with regard to his regal dignity, has any effect upon his distem per ?-1 think there is a vast deal of irritation about his Majesty, which is seldom seen in patients in ge neral. Do you conceive that any degree or portion of his Majesty's disorder, is ascribable to his being a King ? —I think, certainly, that the anxiety and cares of Government may possibly have contributed to the disorder. At this moment do you think that the sense of his own situation, as being the Sovereign of the country, has any elect, one way or other, upon the state of his mental health ?—I should think not. Does his Majesty skew any anxiety on the subject of public auairs ?—I have had very few opportuni ties of seeing his Majesty ; during my presence with him, I have not observed any thing of the kind. Do you conceive that his Majesty's station has, or has had, or is likely to have any, and what effect upon his mental disorder ?—I conceive that his Ma jesty has not suffered .from his high situation, ai far as I have had an opportunity of observing, during my attendance. Do you think that the reflection upon his own re gal state, when his mind is in a state of progress to wards recovery, might have any effect either in re tarding or accelerating that recovery think it might have some effect in retarding that recovery. Bow long 117,0 is it since you first saw his Majesty ? —The first time I saw his Majesty was on the 9th of October. Have you seen the King regularly from the 9th of October ?—I have been at Windsor ten different times ; the first seven weeks I was there once a week, went on the Friday, and came hack on the Satur. day ; the three last visits once a fortnight. • Haveyou witnessed any improvement in the King's mental state latterly ?—I am not aware of any im provement. [Withdrew.] Dr. SARI= FOART SzststoNs, called in, and exa mined. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to ren der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia ment, or of attending to any kind of public busi ness ?—lt certainly is. What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health ?—Upon the whole, very good. What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health ?—A state of great derangement. Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and bodily health, during his present indisposition, as far as It has come under your observation, are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable, or improbable ?—lmprobable. In what degree do you conceive it to be improba ble ?—lt isdifficult, perhaps impossible, to say. Are you of opinion that it is hopeless ?—I am not. Ilow• long have you attended the King ?—From the 9th of October. • Upon what do you ground your opinion, that the King's recovery is improbable?—On the different at tacks, and the repeated attacks that his Majesty .has had; his age; and what I have observed occasionally of the symptoms of the disease under which he now labours. Did you ever see any person as old as his Majesty, find labouring under the same degree of mental de rangement, recover'—Several. Did you ever see any person as old as bia Majesty, and who had so long laboured under the same degree of mental infirmity, recover ?—I have seen persons as old as his Majesty recover, after, I think, a longer duration of the disease/inn the present attack. After as many repeated attack, as his Majesty has had ?—With respect to the number of attacks, I have had occasion, in hospital practice, to see persons, who have gone through a long life, occasionally sub ject to attacks of this kind; I have known persons attacked ten, twelve, or more times, and recover from each of those attacks. And died of age at last ?—Yes. Not in a state of insanity ?—I cannot immediately recollect instances, but I believe I may venture to say, that I have known some die of other disease, and not in a state of insanity. Their last attack having come upon them at the age his Majesty has now attained ?—That is hazarding a great deal ; it would require time and reference to re cords to answer that question; but I certainly have; seen patients as old,and much older than his Majesty, recover from attacks of this kind. You say that you consider his Majesty's recovery 1 as improbable ?—I do. You say you have known persons as old as his Ma jety, and labouring under an equal degree of mental derangement, recover ?—Yes. Then why do you think his Majesty's recovery im probable ?—Because the number of recoveries of per sons of that age is very small in comparison with the number of recoveries of those that are younger, the instances of recovery become less in the advanced periods of life. In St. Luke's Hospital, we find that to be so much the case, that for the last three years, it has been resolved to admit no person above the age of seventy; before that we were not restricted in point of age ; and, in the course of about thirty years, there have occurred (for I looked over the Reports) about seventy-eight instances of persons of seventy years and upwards who had been admitted, and of that number only about sixteen had been discharged from tha books of the Hospital as cured : whereas, taking the whole number of patients, dur ing that period, the number amounting to above six thousand,, about one half, or very nearly half, have recovered, but only one patient in five of that ad. vanced age have recovered. Is not the state of his Majesty's constitution a n d genus' health remarkably strong considering the pe riod of his life ?—His Majesty's constitution is so good, that I should rate him as a man of sixty, in point of health, now at this moment. Have you perceived latterly any symptoms of im provement in his Majesty's mental health ?—I have thought, for the last month, his Majesty detailed anecdote, and seemed inclined to listen to what was said to him by those about him, rather more than he did at the beginning of my attendance. Do you consider that as any material symptom of improvement ?—I have thought it rather a favour able sign. Do the symptoms of his Majesty's present disorder differ is any respect, a .Olin what, from those which ' you bad an opportunity >bf observing when you at tended his Majesty in his illness in 1804 ?—The state of his Majesty's ideas is very different from what it was in 1804 ; the fact is, that the symptoms of men tal disease must be, in a great degree, the ideas of the patient; it is not like a bodily disease, you can judge of the state of a man's mind only from the ideas he gives forth, and they are, in many respects, very different from what they were when 1 attended . his Majesty before. IDo the differences which you observed in his Ma ljesty's present and past state lead you to form con clusions more or less unfavourable to his ultimate re covery ?—More unfavourable. have you ever discovered any symptoms of fatuity in his Majesty's case ?—I have not. Do you, on account of the absence of that symp tom, think less unfavourably of his Majesty's re covery ?-11lore ihveorably. Have yoga been in the habit of classing the different description^ of mental disorder ?—That is a matter of so much difficulty, that I have not attempted it any more than the common distinction of mania and me lancholia; low spirits and high spirits, or more or less irritability. Do you conceive the loss of sight in his Majesty would have any effect in retarding or accelerating his recovery, or rendering it more or less probable ?—The number of cases of blind persons that I have met with, who have been insane, has been extremely small ; they do not amount to more than seven sr eight ; they have been all of them unfavourablecases; and it is difficult to say what effect blindness may base, with respect to the treatment of an insane per son ; in some points it may he favourable, but in ge neral one would suppose it was rather unfavourable. You cannot guide and manage the patient as well as if be could see. Do you mean by unfavourable cases,cases in which the patients do not recover ?—Yes. Do yen conceive that the reflection upon his regal state, when his Majesty's mind is in a state of pro gress towards recovery, might have any effect what. ever in retarding or accelerating that recovery ?-11is Majesty has appeared to retain a consciousness of his regal state, and that seems to have given a peculiar feature to his disorder, and makes it in some degree different from that of an ordinary case; but I should find it very difficult to say how far that would retard or promote hi: recovery ; it makes the case rather more difficult to conduct. Have the goodness to state, whether you consider his Majesty's perceptions as clear and distinct ? His Majesty's perceptions, with respect to any ob ject that is presented to him, are correct; but he has a number of ideas floating in his mind that are ex tremely erroneous. But he judges of the objects im mediately around him, his food and those things, with great precision ; speaks of the goodness of a dish, whether he likes it not, and knows eve► y thing presented to him ; so far his perception is correct. ' Does his Majesty's memory appear to be at all af fected ?—His memory is firm and good. Do you draw any inference from that circumstance, with respect to the probability or improbability - of recovery ?—That is certainly a favourable circum stance. [Withdre w. - - Luna, 13 die Junuarii, 181 2 . The Right Hon. CHARLES LONG in the Chair. Dr. Sir HENRY lixcronn, Bart. called in, and exa- mined. Is the stite of his Majesty's health such as to ren der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia ment, or of attending to any kind of public bu.i ness ?—lt is such as to render biro incapable of com ing to his Parliament, or of attending to any kind of public business. What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily health ?—Not good, by any means. What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health ?—Extremely disordered. Adverting to the state of his Majesty's bodily and mental health, since your last examination before a Committee of the House of Commons, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or improbable ?—improbable. In what degree do you consider it as improbable ? —Very improbable. Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless ?—No. On what do you found the opinion, that his Ma jesty's recovery is not hopeless, though very impro bable ?—lt is very improbable, from the character of his present symptoms • from the duration of the dis order, and from his Majesty's advanced period of life ; but, above all, from the influence of his Ma jesty's peculiar situation and circumstances, upon his irritable constitution. But his Majesty's facul ties of perception and niemory are not impaired. When did you first form an opinion that the re covery of his Majesty was very improbable ? —ln the beginning of July last I thought it improbable; and the continuance of his symptoms since that time has made it very improbable, in my opinion. Do you expect that his Majesty will recover?—l do not expect that he will recover. Is his Majesty in a. state to converse upon public affairs?—Certainly not. Hu there been any period since your last exami nation, when his Majesty's life has appeared in im mediate danger ?—No. Is there any such danger existing now ?—I think there was not when I left Windsor on Saturday ; but I have reason to think that within the last four.and. twenty hours the King has not been so well. Had any fresh accession of disorder taken place before you left Windsor on Saturday, or had you reason to apprehend that it was coming on ?—His Majesty was under circumstances to makevue rather suspect that it was coming on, than that it had esta blished itself, Could you ascribe the aggravation of the sit p. toms that was coming on, to any particular cams —No. Is his Majesty's bodily health more impaired now than it was six months age ?—I do not think it is. Is his Majesty in a worse state of bodily health than he was when you were last examined ?—No. Have you observed any signs of amendment in !):s Majesty since the beginning of Dnember ?—'l,l it have been several occasions on which the violenc e his Majesty's disorder appeared to he so far abatcd, and his mind so cleared up, as to admit of his de. tailing anecdotes of past times accurately, but u4t to exercise a sound judgment on present circum. stances. Since the beginning of December, has his Majeo,. shewn generally more disposition to conversation His Majesty has frequently shewn himself rather mole capable of conversation. _ _ Ilas his Majesty, iu any of those conversations to which you have referred, adverted to the circurr. stances of his own situation ?—Yes. By watching the turn of his Majesty's thoaght, and the remark-- ble energy of his expressions, it is obvious that his mind has been deeply stricken by the supersei;cion of his authority. I think it is important to state tLis, because it has a greater weight in determining tI4 opinion which 1 have formed as to the great impre. bability of his Majesty's recovery, than the pa.rti.:u. lar s% toptoms of his complaint. [Withdrew. Dr. Jour' 'Mods called in, and examined. Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render Lim ion. pable of osom:ing iu persoa to his Parliament, or of attending is any kind of public busiaess I—His Majesty is incapable of doing either. What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily beat* ?—llit Majesty's bodily health 1 have thought somewhat improved since I saw his Majesty tirst, which was the 9th of October; but not within the last week. 11 hat is the present state of his Majesty's mental health ? - There Is a very great degree of derangement, and particularly horderiag on insanity, having very much the symptoms of sanit7 ; at the Aline time rather unusually and occasionally with delirious characters. Adverting to the state of his klajesty's mental and Wilt health duriug his present :inn, as far as it has ems under your observation, are you of opinion that his hlalest . s recovery is probable or improbable ?—Very improbable. . Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless?— No, certainly net hopeless. On what do you found your opinion, 'that his MAjestv's rem very isnot hopeless uiiuk It has not arrived at that tiv.o point, at which caws generally are hopeless; it his not so tie. cidedly that fixed character of insanity to rendetnit hopeless. Do you expect that his Majesty will recover i—No ; I do I , JI expect that his Majesty will recover. When did von leave Windsor /—This morning. What was his Majesty's state at the time you left Windsor ' A very indifferent state. IS it worse than it w as last week)—Tee think it Is Cen 4 ja" orse Mao it was last week. Has tbere been any aggravation of symptoms within the lost three days T-1 think there has • they have bordered more the symptoms of delirium, per haps mot to a pester degree than pe 1 have seen since the 9th of October, but, as compared a ith ten days or a fortnight before, there was then a better appearanc e. From the 9th of October to the Yid November, 1 saw his Ma jesty only three days. flow often do you visit his Majesty now?--I have been rest. dent at Windsor ever since the 18th of November, vs ith the in. terval of the list week I I returned otrSattistlay. There appe.irx, in a Report presented to the House of Com mons from her Majesty's lAottnell, to have been the correction ut an opinion giveu by one of the Physicians in his first exatniva tion ; were you the Physician wbu so corrected y•tur opinion '- 1 1 was. - _ _ - Were there any grounds upon which you could forms different opinion from that which yon gave in your first examination, be fore taemeond took place ?—I do not kno* . ti Oh regard to my own feelings, that I for seed a different opinion, but hound that I had nut t..ed a word with its prope r iinduitt, bring perhaps is the u , Aging me word tk . ipsur a more li: m t iusiuser team ought to nave been : I did hot mean that 1 did despair totally; bat one is perhaps apt, when speaking to the friend, of a person who ask whether they shall remain loi.ger or tea, or whether yon despair, to scy, I cenceive a person may recover, but I cacao' be without despair, or I cannot help despairing; but on bear ing read the words 1 had uses, " I cannot help despairing," with an esupnasis laid upon them, I was struck with them as con. vevine a meaning much stronger than I intended. 1 had net beep ,n the habit of attending the Odeeo's Council. Did you mean more by saying you despaired of the recovery, than that you did not expect a i ecovery /—No ; 1. did not. You attended the is on former Orem ? set, Is his mental state worse now than occurreclat any time during those previous illnesses when you saw his Majesty /—Very con siderably worse than I had seen his Majesty before. You stated mat you were called in on the 9th of October; haS your attendance upon his Majesty been prettv coustapt since that time ?—From the 9th of October I saw the King only to the lath of October, and was called in again on the Idtb of Novas bee; slime which I have attended his Majesty regularly. Since your attendance became pretty canstant, have you arse witnessed any thing approachieg to a lucid interval in his Mal jesty'S case ?—I have seen severa, times in which the King meld hold conversation extremely well for a abort tin: but Ins Ma. je•ty was always liahlo ta the disorder pressing upon the mini again ct any manna. The King um held certainly geed cow vermti Do those couversationa appear to von r.• oe a favonmli, teedene ?—Certainly, one cannot help !ialh . r.: a how from be::: - ing those conversations ; but it requires to g t. to a fv,rtuer ad vanced point to be able to say that it is rea i an aineudnient ; it is often what takes place when demur:ma ;1 goolaully ceasing. Then the derangement of the King's mind is not such as lc leave you without holm at any moment ?—lt dad yeMerday mach of a feverish tendency; it was more difficult to :titterer the King front the influence of disorder on his mind, net there is ge nerally a capecity in the King to answer any sort of questious. Since your attendance upon his Majesty, has there, in vout judgment, been any appearance of progressive impritivemen't ? I can hardly so well cull it progressive improvanient, as arca dotal ; there were many days on which then. Iva, a great de gree of quiet, that has taken place at differset tinicssince thei.34 ofalovember. Is your opinion upon she improbability of bit btajerity's re. coven a amnia now it Wai WI the 9th of Ootoirer P.-1s Is. Do von consider his Majesty's dist - weer, is vneral, ucarest allied to delirium or itistnizy i—For the most part. duris:g the greatest part of the time 1 have seen his .11ijeitty to his µµ++ pent indisposition, it has been nearest allied to insanity.—[Withdrew. Dr. ROUERT DARLING WILLIS called in, and e- amined. is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render him Isis capable of cosniux in person to his Parliament, or of :tticialing to any k•nd of ptiblic business ?—flis Majesty's state is not such as to enable him to come to ha Parliament, Or to atteud to any kind of public business. What.is the present state of his lifajestv's bodily health?—The present state of his Majesty's bodily health is by uo means good, though it may he considered, generally s; caking, better than under the circumstances of want of air as d exercise might have been expected. Phis morning his Majesty is in an extremely agitated and nervous state, which has been increasing for some I wee past. What is the present state of his Majesty's mental health liss-The state of his Majesty's mental health is worse at present thaw it has been at any time since his attack. Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental health 'into your last examination before a Committee of the House of Condoms-, are you now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is prstbaul: or improbable l—Extremely improbable. Are you of odiniots that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless ! I do not think it impossible; but I re Ily hardly know how to apply the word hopeless in a medical sense. it is only ap i dicaltk to a state somewhere between extreme improbability and impos sibility, but that is a state so extremely difficult to ascerthin. and in the greater puns er of instances will be transient, that I hardly know how to apply . the words. Ido not think it ins , possible, but it is in my opinion all but irapossible. 11 hen did you brst form your opinion that hi. Majesty's re covery was extremely improbable ?-1 began to have a very in different opinion of his Majesty's state soon after tbedbegissainil of the paroxysm in July ; asides the symptoms have never given way in any respect. my hopes have cosamaally deers swed. !s there any the, peculiar in tie aggravistedssympeasits winch have shewn themselves within the last three days T— /iodic% pe culiar ; nothing that we have not sees in wee:al sego:rated s. ates before, Are the symptoms themselves more aggravated th sn they have Wen 4 1 any livrviwts time?—No; I have soca 114 . :Anjest: is ghe same state several times. • - ;~ . ~~ !~. ~~. ,~ :I tot h L 1 r m