The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-18 00:00:00

ainuurr.

THIS Mats°, USED UP. Maus. Howe, Gordon. BMA,
Culleuford, Rogers, Clark and C. Mathews 11n. IL Pits.
williem. —THE GOLDEN E. Yr. C. Illatbews —OUOL AS
A CUCUMBER. Mr. C. illatheera.—MY HUSBAND'S GHOST.

LYCZUg.

TRL Emirs°, UNCLEBABY. Mr. Wlddlootab sad
Miss C. Leelereu.—Sta DI WWI°. a Lore Story. Mows.
reelsta. Brougham, Lmary. Martel. And Jorisa Moos
Terry, Lavestia adll9nrsatay, and Mrs. Lee.

TM. warm, THY alitif.4.-ltr. J. Taylor and lime.
Pleoet—After which Tom King, the Champion of England. with
LB ewomd, Boa Tyler, will appear on the Mega —THit GLUT
GHOST UTlL'T.—tkaieledlog with THIS SOITLK.

AIM WATER. AT LONDON BUM&
Me DAT kfaciass. 712. 36 . Maws. Ali. 7m.
lamina°, limbs .Ailwaose. 912.1765.

LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18.

Ir is the object of civilization to promote
toleration, and yet it is a melancholy fact that this
is not always its result. The Protectionist whoa few
years ago would have treated the advocate el free
trade as a traitor to his country, now looks down
upon those who advocate protection not only as
unfit to exercise political power, but as irrational
idiots, and yet the same man still continues to op-
pose the most obvious reforms in other matters with
bigotry and virulence. The plainest propositions
of science and politics are complacently denied by
the very individuals who, if circumstances were to
compel them to admit and to act upon their
truth, would consider them as self-evident, and
treat those who continued to deny them with
exemplary severity. It is human nature to be
impatient of contradiction, but it is mere pride of
knowledge which refuses to make allowance for
those who have not had the means of instructing
themselves. It might seem reasonable to believe,
that no one, who had a moderate knowledge of the
feelings of British colonista, would venture to
revive the idea of transporting convicts
to our dependencies, and yet, only the other
day, it was gravely proposed to recur to this
system. It is now many years since the improved
method of treating lunatics was adopted, and yet
it seems to excite surprise that half-educated men
in remote districts in the country should continue
to treat such uufortunate objects according to the
ancient system. Nevertheless, if the position and
opportunities of these half-educated persons are
compared with those of the eminent men who
have lately dealt with the subject of transporta-
tion, our surprise ought to cease. The petty
farmer or stonemason in Cornwall is, of course,
infinitely inferior in knowledge and ability to
eminent judges and quondam Colonial Secretaries,
and yet it is surely much more surprising that the
latter should insist upon sending our convicts to
our colonies than that the former should confine
their lunatic relations in loathsome garrets without
clothing, and without the ordinary decencies of life.
Happily, however, those, who are led astray by
antiquated superstitions in politics, may be over-
ruled, by tho more rational portion of their coun-
trymen. They can do little practical mischief.
But the revelations, which have lately taken place
in the neighbourhood of Cornwall, show, that
ignorance, as to the treatment of lunatics, leads to
very different results. In the little village of
Flushing, near Falmouth, it appears that, for the
last ten years, a respectable man has had in his
custody a lunatic brother. The horrible
manner, in which this wretched being
has been treated, may be best ascertained
from the description of Dr. Brim; who
visited the place of confinement, a few days
ago, in company with two of the Lunacy Commis-
sioners. Having passed through a back doer, and
up • flight of stone steps, they found a door to the
left. The latch was raised, and the door was
opened, but the stench was so intolerable that
Dr. Brass and his friends could not enter.
At length, having entered, they found them-
selves in a room seven feet by twelve.
The place was dark, for the single window
was closed and covered with • coloured blind.
There was neither fireplace nor means of ventila-
tion ; whilst the wet on tho ceiling hung in drops
as large as horsebeans—as if it had been some
cavern in the mountain side. The walls were
abominably defiled, whilst the floor, thinly covered
with dirty straw, was in the same condition. It
was, in fact, a mere cesspool. The flooring was
so rotten that Dr. BYRNE pushed his foot through;
whilst gnats of air rushed up through the aperture
between the skirting-board under the window
and the floor itself. Of furniture there was
nothing but • truckle, a pewter quart-pot, and a
frying-pan without the handle. In such a den as
this it would have been strange to find even a bog
or a hyena. But there lay an object far more
revolting. Doubled up on the buckle, with his
bead resting on the frying-pan, lay the lunatic
ROBERT PORTIA. His naked body was covered
with three old bags, which were in the meet loath-
some condition. He was satisfying his hunger in
• way which it is impossible to describe. But
when the covering was withdrawn be was seen to
be •cripple—his knees drawn up close to his chin—
his feet crossing each other—his kneesand hip joints
stiff. So filthy was the wretched creature's condition
that the medical man could not even touch him.

And it was necessary for the visitors to go
into the open air from time to time in order to

endure the

of the dungeon.

It is needless to pursue the details further. For
several months the poor creature had occupied the
place where he was found, but for ten years pre-
viously he had occupied another scarcely less
loathsome, whence he was brought in a wheel-
barrow. That he was a well-bailt man,
nearly six feet in height, who had been
reduced to the condition of a beast by ill-
treatment, is unquestionable. Indeed, the report
11 of the authorities of Bodmin Asylum establishes
the fact that if his melancholy infirmity could not
have been cured, his condition, at all events, might
have been materially improved. lie is described
as " perfectly quiet, harmless, and tractable ;"
I and although he is " incapable of conversing
" coherently," he is still capable of un-
derstanding much that is said to him. Per.
haps, the most unfortunate fact, connected with
the case, is that the poor man had ample means to
support himself comfortably, and that it was only
by the ignorance of his friends that the necessary
horrors of this situation were aggravated. That
the populace of the neighbourhood should be ex-
cited at seeing the lunatic in his miserable
helplessness and bearing the details of his
prison-house is natural enough. But those who
know anything of the ideas which still prevail
amongst the masses on the subject of lunacy need
feel no surprise. In old times madmen used to
be chained up like wild beasts, and even within
the last few years the assizes have borne witness
to the prevalence of such ideas. It is idle
to suppose that any Government organiza-
tion or inspection can absolutely prevent
the occurrence of such cases. The people must
be thoroughly instructed before such things become
impossible. It is strange, however, that such a
sae as this should have remained unknown
until a casual physician brought it to light. It is
strange that no curate or benevolent lady should
ever have heard of it, and stranger still that the
parish officers should have taken no steps in the
matter. It has indeed been alleged by Mr.
CHARLES READE that some two years ago he
brought this very matter before the Poor.law
Board, and that they promised that PORTER should
receive better treatment for the future. Nothing,
however, was done. But in their neglect the
Poor-law officers seem to have followed the example
which was set to them by their Scottish brethren.
The atrocities towards lunatics which were over-
looked in Scotland necessitated the passing of an
Act of Parliament. And if any change of the law
could prevent the repetition of such incidents as
have lately occurred in Cornwall, such a bill would
have our hearty support. But the scheme is im-
practicable. The population must be enlightened,
and we may hope that the horror which has been
excited among the people of Falmouth and
Flashing will do something to bring about this
result.

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