The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-14 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY, TituallhAY, JAN. 13.
Commissions de lmratieo bigwig-end° having been direeted to
Mcssrs. EVAIZCE, PHILLIMOMZ, and Witchrin AD, these gen-
tlemen ow to do! at the office of the tinder-Sheriff of the county'
of Middlesex ; and a jury of that county was impannelled to hold
;he Irquisitioa with them.
The tint case wax that of Gasoline Hicks.
17— Hicks examined—ls brother to Caroline Hicks. Considers
her in a state of mental derangement ; she has been so for a con-
siderable time. She labours tender 111413 t extraordinary delusions.
Mr. PHILLImoNE—IV'euIa you hare the goodness to state some
fact which busied you to form this opinion.
Witness—She hitcies herself a deity, seal is always talking about
the deity, and heaven above. She was at one time under the care
of Mr. Pell, but is now confined at the NV hiteliouse. Bittinal-given.
Wimess, in answer to soma further questions, said that his feel-
ings were so much overpowered, he scarcely knew what he was
saying ; he begged, therefore, IA refer the Commissioners ar.d Jury
toy a faithful account of hip sister's state of mind to the nurse who
had attended her, and who %tau fully competent to give the fullest
information on every point totpihing the present inquiry.
31artba Deboom examined by Mr. PIItiLLINORE—IIas had the
charge of Caroline Hicks for nearly seven years. Believes it was
on the 18th May.lBlll. she first saw her. Considers her insane.
She is continually talking of spirits. and believes herself Jesus
Christ. lid frequently tuld !Amos that the spirit of her deceased
father appears to her.
Mr. Pitt I.l.lmonr.- Have you remarked any thing else extre-
ordinary in her conduct--how does she wish you to style her when
addressing her?
Witness—She wishes to be styled Jesus Christ, and she has been
=Ding Mr. Pell, under whose care she first WM., an experimental.
Mr. IVINGFIELD—Do you consider her capable of mantiging
her atilt irs ?

NI-kilt:SC—Certainly not. She does not know the use of pro-
perty.
Mr. PH ILLisoar —llss she ever had any touter?
What., —Yin, sometimes ; and when she gtts It she wasit glee
it to any person, bat Lesvos it after ber—in fact lose* it. mime.%
kmught her here to.day under the impression that she was going to
take a ride, and to see, perhaps, a few gentlemen.
Miss flicks 0,214 now introduced. ;he was supported by her
brother and the last witness ; the former had scarcely hatted in
his sister when he burst into tears, and was subsequently removed
by sonic diends. After Miss Hicks occupied the seat that had
been prepared for her she was examined by Mr. Phillimote to the
following effect :

Putenzatoae—Pray, Madam, are you not a superior
Being
Miss Hicks—Oh. yes!
Mr. PH11,11)1011E—In fact are you not a divinity ?
Miss II icks—Vertainly ; a most perfect Jesus Christ.
Mr. PHlent DIORE—VOU may now withdraw, ma'am; we feel
much obliged for the honour of your visit.
The Jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, found that she had
been insane from the 18th of May, 1818, and that since that period
she hail been incapable of conducting her affairs.
The next case was that of Mr. James Wells, who was brought
up from lioxton-house, Hoxton, where lie has been for some time
confined.
Mr. Eraxer., who acted as Chairman, asked Mr. Wells if he
had an objection to any of the Jury ?
Mr. Wells said, he hoped the Jury were dispassionate ; he
hoped they were married men; he had six children of tender arse,
and he wished the Jury to be composed of persons who would have
a strong feeling for a man in such circumstances.
Mr F.vaxer —Then I understand from you that you entertain •
no personal objections to any of the Jury ?
Mr. Wells—Certainly not ; I feel I come before highly-reimeet.
able persons. and so help me Clod I come before them divested of
actimonioue feeling.
The Jury were then sworn.
Mr. Wale, in addressing the Chairman, said, that he was at a
lo<s how to commence his 'thine., whether to say—" Gentlemen
Commissioners, and Gentlemen of the Jury," or " Mr. Chairman,
and Gentlemen of the Jury."
Mr. Pitt neurons—Had not you better wait until the witnesses
are examined—until a cane is made out against you ?
Mr. Wells- —I feel obliged, and ritual adopt your suggestion.
Doctor Haslam examined by Mr. NICHOLS—IS a member of
the College of Physicians; has had three interviews with Mr.
%{-ells, in company with Doctor latterdale. Mr. Wells told him
that he was impressed with intuition, bordering on inspiration ;
that he had a communication with a preternatural power, and that
this inspiration was independent of external experience.
Mr. Welts—You mean of common sense and understanding.
Examination continued.—Mr. Wells also told him that he was
qualified to detect the various species of insanity, and administer ef-
hcent remedies in all cases of mental derangement. He .said the
high and violent state of madness was caused by animakuke of a
where colour—that melancholy madness prozeetled from animalcukr
of a reddish brown, and was a dry rot in the brain : and that that
lunacy was caused by around substance attached to the uppermost
part of the brain, which made lunatics always walk in a circle, but
that others went straight forward. lie said an efficient remedy
for insanity was port wine mixed with water ; there should not be
much of the latter ; if these were boiled together, and drank hot,
there was no fear but that the moisture conveyed to the stomach
wcuW exhale into all the brain, and destroy the anintalerdre which
produeed • testiness. Witness fo-ther said that he wee iaierased by
Mr. Walla that he had expounded the mystery of the Trinity
that he derived his knowledge front the lit Chapter of Genesis, and
that a manifest type of the Trinity existed in the human body—
that the heart represented God the Father--the brain God the
Son—and the soul the Holy Ghuet. The witness was also told by
Mr. Wells, that all disease. of the body could be reduced to mor-
bidity, tormidity, and frigidity.
The witness turd he did nor understand this last theory, but per-
hami Mr. Wells might explain at.
ale Wells said he would : and indeed he was taken by surprise.
He expected that his brother would be first examined, and that an
ortunity would be afforded him of explaining his most lament.
able disorder, the heaviest affliction ever suffered by man ; it was
an extraordinary defalcation of mental power.
Doctor Ha:dimes examination was again resumetl—Mr. Wells
told him that if he were wholly uncontrolled he would enter as the
lowest patient at a madhouse in York, called the Retreat, and kept
exclusively for Quakers; that he had hit on an improved way of
treating lunatics ; that the upper crust of a loaf was a sovereign re-
medy; that one ounce of that crust was equal to two of the lower,
and to four ounces of the pith or crumb ; that the mouth was the
great source of animakake, and that lest these mix with our food,
we should bolt the morsel the moment it entered the mouth. The
witness, in conclusion, said he did not consider Mr. Wells of sound
mind ; be laboured under a liability to act front those delusions
with which he was possessed.
Mr. PHILLI3IOIIZ intimated to Mr. Wells, that now he could
ask Doctor Haslam any questions he pleased.
Mr. 'Wells said he was convinced the Doctor mistook something,
but he would not attribute it to wilfulness ; it was perfectly pos.
Bible for a man to forget in going from one room to another.
Mr. WINGFIELD—It will be for you to shake his testimony.
Mr. Wells—l confess I laboured under considerable mental de-
rangement, owing to an abscess that formed in the back of my
neck—the most severe case of insanity that occurred since man was
I man. He would not stop to say whether it was from the capillary
'nerve or the papillary one. Pray, Doctor (said he, addressing Dr.
Haslam), how large do you consider the smallest nerve?
Doctor Haalem—Perhaps about as large as a silk thread.
Yee. tthout that. He wan first deranged from reading the Racy.
eloperdia Lando/len:is, which contained some theories of Spurzheim
and other members of a Craniological Society.
Mr. WtsorteeD—ls it your wish to admit a derangement of
mind ?
Mr. Wells—Certainly not now ; but I beg my brother may be
called.
The Rev. David Brook Wells was then called and examined by
Wells.—Witness signed the certificate fur his admission to a
mail-house at Loddon, near Norfolk.
Mr. \Fells—Why did I go there? Was it not that I might
construct a private madhouse on my own principle ? es,
gentlemen, said Mr. Wells, it was that I might do an, for
then my thoughts took a different turn, an awful presenti.
merit of derangement ; it wan a low derangement. I assure you,
gentlemen. High madness is a most delightful sensation. It was
after the Marquis of Londonderry committed suicide; and to ,
guard against a similar act, I removed every thing that could have
been used by me for that purpose; the tangs, poker, knife, scis-
sors; in fart, I feared something wrong. I was before that aware
of the horrible and awful abuses of private madhouses. I heard of
the 'case of Mr. Smith, Clerk of the Peace of the city of Peter-
borough. It wan impressed on my mind—that may disturb me—
why do I give this history of the revolution of the brain? It is
that I may tell you what occurred to me whilst at school at Ely.
It was this--two boys held a dog before me ; when I approached,
they let him fly at me.—l ran—l screamed—l am sure I
ran over three hundred yards, or thereabouts. I got a great
fright. It caused, not a concussion, but a rupture of the brain.
Hut how did I find it out. I was one day walking, and an auda-
cious boy said to me, " You are three parts of an idiot, you are
not a lawyer, as one brother of yours, nor a brewer, as another;
you are merely a common plodding grocer." This struck me
tiocibly, and with horror. I was anxious to construct a madhouse,
and have been confined. Wan not the great Howard imprisoned
in France for wishing to construct a prison an his own principle ?"
Mr. Wells went on to state that he was confined twelve weeks at
Lothlon House, and that he was chained in his bed. He felt then as
if he had committed murder; and indeed there were other objections
to the treatment of persona confined there; they lived too well :
they got too much pork.
Mr. EVANCr—We are not now inquiring into the state of
31 ulhouses—had not you better examine your brother ?
The examination of the Rev. ale. Wells was accordingly resumed
—ltemembese his brother getting a fall, after which came on a
alight derangement of mind ; was intoxicated when he fell; an
immediate change took place in his habits he was constantly em-
ploye) about visionary projects, about building a madhouse, and
making a tour through the country to reform the discipline in Lu.
vatic Asylums.
The witness was examined at some length by Mr. NICIIOI.II.
II is evidence went only to detail conversations he had with his bro.
thee at three interviews with him. In conclusion he was asked,
whether these delusive notions of his brother were not calculated
to give a tone to his actions ?
Mr. PHILLI MOUE thought this question might be more pro-
perly put to a medical gentleman.
Mr. 'Wells said it was impossible he could be coraidered in.
sane by the Jury—he, who got an interview with the mighty Cob-
bett, through the influence of his brother's name, Samuel Wells,
the great Sicilia& character of Huntingdon. He would tell the Jury
how he succeeded in getting this same interview. He breakfasted