The Sun.
London, England, 1838-07-12 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

Yesterday a Commission of lunacy was held at the Swan
Inn, Weill= Green, Fulham, before Commissioners Winslow,
Blunt, and Murray, to inquire into the state of mind of Dame
Sarah Lydia Seymour, widow, formerly of Mitcham Hall,
Mitcham, Surrey, and now an inmate of Norman House Lu-
natic Asylum, at Fulham. Among the Jury sworn were Sir
James Williams, Sir John Hensler, Sir Henry Ellis, Captain
Fitzgerald, Captain Bogue, and a number of county Ma-
gistrates.
Mr. RessELL attended as counsel in support of the Com-
mission, and Mr. MUNROE on the part of Lady Seymour.
Commissioner WINSLOW briefly addressed the Jury before
the evidence was gone into in the usual manner.
Mr. RUSSELL addressed the Jury, and observed that the ob-
ject of the inquiry was Lady Seymour, the widow of Sir Wil-
liam Seymour, formerly a Judge of Bombay. Some time
since she accompanied her husband to India, where he died,
leaving her and an only child, who returned to this country
in 1830. Lady Seymour is the daughter of Sir Henry and
Laly Oaks, of Mitcham, and after consulting a medical gen-
tleman of considerable eminence, it was found necessary, as
well for the protection of her property, the principal part of
which was vested in the hands of trustees, as to prevent her
from committing personal violence and destroying herself, to
adopt the present course. As he had already told them Lady
Seymour returned from India in 1830, and soon afterwards
she exhibited symptoms of derangenient of mind. On that
occasion she was attended by Mr. Greenwood, a skilful me-
dical practitioner, and she complained to him of the loss of
power over her own mind. In 1835 her child was extremely
ill, and she consulted Mr. Greenwood on the subject ; and at
that particular period she betrayed such an altered mind, that
hewas induced to consult Dr. Seymour, a relation of the
family, with a view that proper steps might be taken to pre-
vent her from doing injury to herself, or those who were
about her person. Her mother died on the 24th of May, 1837,
some days prior to which event Lady Seymour became so de-
cidedly insane that it was found necessary to remove her to
the neighbourheod of Regent's Park, and from thence she
was removed soon afterwards to Norman House, at Fulham,
where she has remained ever since.
Mr. John Davenport Greenwood, surgeon, said—l formerly
lived at Mitcham and attended Sir W. and Lady Oaks' family,
and Lady Seymour. In 1830, when Lady Seymourretumed
from India, 1 observed that her manner was quick and con-
fused. Sbe frequently complained of pains in the head and
expressed fear that she should lose her reason. In 1835 her
son was very ill and was at Cheltenham. The medical gentle-
man attending him there strongly advised that the child
should not be removed, but, notwithstanding, Lady Seymour
insisted on his being brought to Mitcham, and she afterwards
told me she had done so against the wishes of the medical
gentleman, and she was afraid the child would die. The
child was in a dyitig state, and she refused to nurse it or give
the medicines that were ordered, and acted in direct opposi-
t'.on to the directions of the medical man. Sometimes she
would carry the boy into the open air, and at others spread a
quantity of toys before it. He also said, that she had read
medical works and knew how to treat the child properly. In
May, 1837, her mother, Lady Oaks, was very ill, and on one
occasion she called me aside as if she had something very
secret to impart to me, and said that her nurse and her sister
were administrring slow poison to her mother. Lady Seymour
added, that she had devoted herself to watching night and
day the preparation and administering the medicines to Lady
o.oas. On the 16th or 17th of the same month in the evening
Dr. Seymourcante down from London to see Lady Oaks, and
while I was present in the bed-room Dr. Seymour took up a
candle and was about leaving the room, when Lady Seymour
rushed towards Dr. Seymour and endeavoured to wrest it
from his hand and blew out the candle. She exclaimed that it
would be death to her mother to leave her in the dark. There
was another lighted candle in the room at the time. The
candle which Dr. Seymour took up was again lit, and Lady
Seymour then blew out both candles. On the following day I
again saw Lady Seymour. She was then decidedly deranged.
I alluded to the occurrence of the previous night, when she
laughed and said " Did I." She refused to take her food, and
was not only deranged, but in a state of violence that was
dangerous to herself. She endeavoured to get out of the
window, and continued for days to refuse her food, and it was
found necessary to force her to take it. I have seen her this
morning, and she appears to be tranquil.
Cross-examined by Mr. Munroe—Lady Seymour's child
recovered notwithstanding she did not comply with the direr
tions of the medical gentleman. Lady Seymour was very
coherent when I saw her this morning. She conversed about
what had token place the previous day. She said she had
hurt in r boy in attempting to get up the chimney.
By Commissioner Wieseow—During the whole of the time
from the beginning of May to the latter end of June she was,
in my opinion, decidedly insane. Lady Seymour was told in my
presence that this proceeding was to take place, and she nu-
swei cd very rationally that she was so much better that she
hopeo it would be unnecessary.
Dr. Edward James Seymour, surgeon, examined—l live in
Cherles-street, Berkeley-square, cud am a physician. lam
the o ily brusher of the lete judge Sir William Seymour.
I attended Lody Oeks in May, 1831, and her ladyship
exierei on the 24th of the' month. On the 16th or
17th of the month Lady Seymour was in a state of
extreme irritability and ext.iteraent. She frequently sent off
messengers on hersclnick at four o'clock• in the morning
with h vers written in en ineolterent strain, and not
honing ou the subject. On the evening of one ef the
Java I have mentioned, she rushed upon me as I was quitting
Lady Oaks's bed-room, and Lady Seymour _exclaimed vie-
-" Ssiz! the murderess, seize Dorothea." I said to
Sir Henry Oaka. Lady Oaks's son, that it was irnpessible for
his mo:her to reenter unless order and quiet was maintained,
and L,dy Seymour was then removed to her room and be-
came p,rfectly calm. From what passed between me and
Lady Seymour, I collected that she laboured under the de-
lusion that Mrs. Lloyd, her sister, intended to take away
Lsdy Oaks's life. I saw her again on the day following,
and she was then raving mad, and obliged to be placed under
restraint.
Mr. RUSSELL—Did she read medical books?
Dr. Seymour—l believe she read everything. She was a
very clever woman.
Examination resumed—l attended her at various periods
between June and January last. She was very excited
and irritable, and in the highest state of maniacal derange-
ment. In August last she had an intermission, and I was in
hopes she would recover, but she had a relapse shortly after,
and her state has been, I may say, uniformly insane.
Cross. examined—l have seen her once a week since she has
been in Norman House.
By Commissioner WINSLOW-1 believe her to be totally in-
capable of managing herself and her property.
By the Jury—l attended Lady Seymour as a friend and re-
lathe, and not in my professional character.
Dr. Horton had been acquainted with Lady Seymour from
her childhood. She was always very clever, and of a very
lowly and excitable disposition, out nothing that would iced to
the uncomfortable inference that she was inaccurate in her
mind. When I saw Lady Seymour on a late occasion at
Norman House she was sitting with a strait-waistcoat on;
her head had been shaved, and she had a piece of linen on
it, and her apliearance to me vas very distressing. She
recognised me, and after making inquiries after mutual
friends she asked after the Duke of Wellington, and told me
she was about to be married to his Grace. She asked me fur
any pencil, and said she wanted to write a letter to the Duke.
1 gave her my pencil, and after making two or three charac-
ters on a piece of pa:)er, she said, " There is the It tter," and
requested me to take it without offering any paper. On a
subsequent occasion she asked me to dine with her, which of
course I declined. She appeared to be excited on mention
being made of her son. She asked me to get a pair of slip-
pers made for Colonel Wildman. I asked her what size they
should be made, and she said, " Tell the shoemaker to make
them exactly the same size as Lady Seymour's, as the Colonel's
foot is just the same length."
A juror observed that Colonel Wildman had a very small
foot, and, therefore, that was no proof of her labouring un-
der delusion.
Mr. Commissioner WINSLOW—Does Lady Seymour labour
under any other delusion?
Dr. Horton—No, not that I am aware of; the principal
delusion appears to be in reference to the Duke of Welling-
ton ; and, with a view of trying her upon that point, I said
to her—the Duke of Wellington had a grand ball the other
night ; did you hear of it ? When she replied, " No, if
had been in London I dare say I should have known some
thing about it."

Mr. WINSLOW—HOW do you characterise the malady?
Dr. Horton--I am of opinion she is of unsound mind, and is in
a st-te of monomaniacal insanity.
Mr. Smiih, surgeon, was examined, and stated that Lady
Seymour would talk to invisible beings, and fancied that she
was connected with the Royal family, the Duke of Wellington,
and other distinguished persons of rank. On one occasion
she bit her attendant's finger very severely, and attempted to
get out of the window. Mr. Smith, after detailing other
delusions, concluded by agreeing in opinion with the other
medical gentlemen.

Sarah Francis examined—l am the attendant of Lady Sey-
mour; she is frequently in the habit of fighting, and at times
very violent. On Sunday morning I told her Captain Oakes
was coming to see her, and she struck me a blow under the
ear. She looks up to the sun and praises it. On Tuesday
Lady Seymour embraced and kissed use, and asked if I could
do without food. She says all kind of things about the Duke
of Wellington and Prince Esterhazy, and throws oranges to
them under the bed. lam of opinion that she is perfectly
insane.

Mr. N% INSLOW—When did she state anything about the
Duke of Wellington last ?
Witness—l cannot remember, but it is two or three months
ago. The witness added that yesterday Lady Seymour danced
and sang, and witness left the room for a short time, and on
her return found that her Ladyship had gone. On searching
for her witness found her up the chimney.
Mr. WrisLow—Does she know that this ingniry is going
on ?

Witness—Yes, she does.
Mr. WinsLow—Does she complain of it ?
Witness--She has done so ; she has said that it is a very
expensive proceeding, but if it will benefit her son she does
not care.

By the Jury—When she goes out in the carriage she is not
placed under restraint. She expresses very much regret at
being separated from her son.
Lady Seymour was then introduced to the notice of the
Jury by her brother. She is a woman of extremely prepos-
sessing appearance, and was stated to be in her 38th year. On
being seated near the Commissioners, Lady Seymour made
the following statement, in answer to the Commissioners' ques •
tions : —I think that I should very soon be able to take care
of my property. I do not think I am able at present, be-
cause all my friends tell me so. I first went to Norman House
on the 31st of January last. Before that I lived at Melina-

place, Regent's Park. I went there in July, and previously I
had been living at Mitcham. Ido not know any of the Royal
Family.
Mr. Commissioner Winnow—Are you acquainted with the
Duke of Wellington ?—No, I am not personally acquainted
with his Grace, but lam acquainted with his bravery. I have
been excited a great deal at different times, and I know I have
talked a great deal of nonsense. I recollect being at Norman
House yesterday, and getting up the chimney. I was frightened
at the time. I felt nervous from an occurrence only known to
myself, and I have no friend to unbosom myself to.
Mr. Commissioner Winnow—We are all your friends here,
and as we have to decide upon the state of your m'nd you need
not be reserved.

Lady Seymour—l thought I beard my son's voice in distress,
and I became irritated, and got into the chimney. I recol-
lect striking the young woman who attends me. I was not
accustomed to confinement, and I did not like being watched
and treated in the manner I was, and I became wretched. I
look upwards towards the sun occasionally, but I do not pray
to it or bless it. I saw my boy last on the sth of September.
I have, I know, not since asked to see him. I know pretty
well what my property consists of, but since my mother's
death I have not been able to look after it.

Mr. WINSLOW—But you say you were not able to take
care of it ?

Lady Seymour—l think I shall be soon.
Mr. WtrisLow—But now, do you think you are ?
Lady Seymour—Yes, I think I am ; but I would rather
delay it for a week or two. I have not been able to do any-
thing since my mother's death.
Mr. WINSLOW-I presume, Lady Seymour, you know the
nature of money ?
Lady Seymour—Oh, yes.
Mr. WtNsLow—Now, supposing we were to setyouat large,
how much money yearly do you think you would require to
maintain yourself and son ? Of course I mean in the proper
station in which you move?
Lady Seymour—Why, that question I cannot exactly an-
swer ; but I should regulate my expenditure according to the
amount of my income, after I had ascertained precisely its
amount.
Mr. WiNsLow—Do you think your mother, Lady Oaks, re-
ceived proper attention from your sister during her illness ?
Lady Seymour—Yes, I think she did.
Mr. WINSLOW-But were you not under a different impres-
i sion some time since?

Lady Seymour—Yes : I thought my sister annoyed my
mother.

Mr. WINSLOW—How did she annoy her?
Lady Seymour—l cannot recollect in what manner; but
that was my opinion at the time.
Mr. WirosLow—l believe your sister and the nurse used to
give Lady Oaks her food and administer the medicines to her ?
Lady Seymour—Yes, they did.
Mr. WINSLOW—Have you not been of opinion that both the
nurse and your sister have administered the medicines impro-
perly, and expressed yourself to that effect ?
Lady Seymour—l recollect the nurse telling me I had said
so in Melina-place.
Mr. WINSLOW—Do you recollect what you did when Dr.
Seymour was at your mother's?
Lady Seymour—Yes, I remember blowing out the candles.
Mr. WIN SLOW—Why did you do so ?
Lady Seymour—l was very excited at the time, having lost
my husband, and my boy having undergone a severe illness,
and being likely to lose my mother. (This was the answer,
as the reporter understood.)
Mr. WiivsLow—Do you recollect saying, " Seize the mur-
deress ; seize Dorothea ?"
Lady Seymour—l do not recollect that.
Mr. MURRAY—How do you spend your time?
Lad Seymour—ln reading and working with my needle.
Mr. WINSLOW—How is your child now?
Lady Seymour—l believe he is pretty well. I hear from
him sometimes, and the last time I heard he was in pretty
good health, but of course, that is not so satisfactory to a mo-
ther who is away from her child.
Mr. WrisLow—lf you have any complaint to make against
any person, we should be glad to hear it?
Lady Seymour—Thank you. The nurse is vio.ent some-
times. She does not appear to understand my character and
disposition. I think by this time I should have been much
better if I had received mild treatment. lam very nervous,
and I was much frightened at first by the screams of the other
inmates of the house where I am. I was not accustomed to
it, but no ,v I hope to get stronger and better in a week or two.
Mr. WiNsLow—At e you better treated now ?
Lady Seymour—Oh, yes. lam treated with much greater
kindne.s now, and I am perfectly willing to remain there for
the present.
Sir J. J. HA NSLER—Do you feel pretty well in health
to-day ?

Lady Seymour—Yes; I feel much better since I came out.
The air appears to have done me good.,
Sir J. J. HANsua—flow often have you been out since you
went to Norman House in Januhry last ?
Lady Seymour—Three times.
Sir J. J. 1-lANnEr, But why did you not go out oftenor if
it does Jou so much good ?
Lady Seymour-1 Lift know.
Mr. WINSLOW—If we were to set you at liberty what would
you do, and where would you go ?
Lady Seymour—l should like to spend two or three days
with rny brother here (turning round to her brother who was
seat. .d next to her), as I have not spent nt), time in his com-
pany for a long period, and I should then take lodgings some-
where, and hate my boy with me.
Mr Halsisell (a juror)—Do you defray your expenses at
Norman House?

Lady Seymour--No, they are paid.for
Mr. WINSLOW—Da you know. Col. Wildman ?
Lady Seyniour—Y,s, I do.
Mr. Wrsst.ow—Do you recollect reqttesting Dr. Seymour
to order him a pair of shoes?
Lady Seymour—Yes; perfectly well.
Mr. WrisLow—Why did
you do so?
Lady Seymour—Because I promised to work him a pir of
slippers, and I had not done so.
Mr. WissLow—How did you know the proper size that
would fit him?
Lady Seymour—His wife's foot and mine arc exactly the
same size, and the same shoemaker works for us both, and,
therefore, if Dr. Se) moor gave the order the shoemaker would
have known how to execute it.

Mr. WINSLOW—I wish particularly to ask you if you do not
dow consider it a very singular act fur a lady to get up the
chimney as you did yesterday?
Lady Seymour (lunghin7,)—Yes, perhr.ps so, but I was
very frightened, and I heard my son's voice.
you do it out of fun ?
Lady Seymour—Oh, no. _

The C qnrnissioners and Jury here intimnt"d that they
would lilt further trouble her Ladyship, and she accordingly
withdrew.

Mr. RUSSELL begged to call their attention to the fact that
Lady Sep-I-your had not complained of any of her relatives, but
on the contrary, had stated that they had treated her with the
greatest kindness. She had stated that she should wish to
spend a day or two with her brother, and he would inform the
jury that he was the individual wha hat sued out the Cotntnis-
sion, being desirous of protecting her Ladyship,
Mr. Munroe, like his Learned Friend, was engaged by the
relatives of Lady Seymour to watch this case, and would say,
without tviihing to offend, that a great deal of evidence had
been brought forward that really did not bear upon the case.
With regsrd to her irritability it was nothing more than any
lady would be subject ti who had boen visited with such do-
itystic calamities as Lady Seymour. It was admitted that
her Ladyship was a very clever woman, and read medical
works, and it was not uncommon for affectionate parents to
oppose the wishes of medical men in the treatment of their
children. He contended that the violence of manner was not
sufficient for the Jury to place this lady under restraint. Nay,
he might go further, and say, that eccentricity of manner
would no: justify them in returning a verdict unfavourable to
the lady's liberty.
Lady Seymour having expressed a desire to speak to the
Commissioners, was again brought in, when she asked what
time they would fix for her leaving Norman House?
Mr. WiNstow—The jury have not considered your case
yet, and the Lord Chancellor will fix the time when that shall
take place.
Lady Seymour—And my boy, I hope you will take care
of him.

Mr. WINSLOW —The Lord Chancellor will appoint one of
your relatives to protect your property, if the jury are of
opinion that you will require protection under this Commission,
and you will be able to consult with such relative respecting
your child.
Lady Seymour—Thank you, I am very much obliged to-you.
On the the suggestion of Mr. Halswell, the Commissioners ex-
plained to Lady Seymour that this was only a temporary pro-
ceeding, and that if she found herself better, supposing the
verdict was against her, she could petition the Lord Chan-
cellor on the subject.
Lady Seymour again thanked the Commissioners, and with-
drew.

Mr. RUSSELL then called Mr. Bowley, the resident sur-
geon at Norman House, who deposed that he had seen Lady
Seymour on some occasions quite as cairn and apparently sane
as she had just been, and on the following visit had seen her
most violent in her manner, and utterly incapable of talking as
she had done that day. He was of opinion that she was of
unsound mind.
The jury now retired to consider their verdict, and, after
being absent half an hour, they returned into Court, and Sir
James Williams returned a verdict that Lady Seymour seas a
lunatic, with lucid intervals.
Mr. WINSLOW said that the period of the lucid intervals
must be stated in their verdict, and that they must also state
whether she is a lunatic or not.
Several of the jury said they certainly did believe she was
sane during the time she was in the room.
The jury again withdrew, and, after consulting together for
some time, they returned, and said they could not agree
to a verdict without hearing further evidence; and the inquiry,
after some desultory remarks, was adjourned, to give time for
the production of other witnesses.

ORDINATION OF A MISSIONARY.--011 Thurs-
day evening last, a numerous congregation assembled in the Inde.,
pendent Chapel, Above Bar, for the purpose of witnessing the ceremony
of the ordination of Mr. Pratt, a young man residing in Southampton,
who is about to proceed to the Navigators' Islands as a missionary. The
Rev. Mr. Nott (the first missionary to the Society Islands), and the
Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of the London Missionary Society, with most of the
Dissenting Clergy of Southampton and its vicinity, assisted in the ser.
vice.—Hampshire Independent.

It appears that Lord Ward means to enter upon
the sports of the field in the coming season with great spirit. His lord.
ship has commenced by taking one of the most celebrated grouse
countries in the north, extending over 10,000 acres ; and a retinue of
keepers, &c., are now being engaged against the opening campaign,__
Wolverhampton Chronick.

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1838.