The Sun.
London, England, 1833-08-31 00:00:00

COMMISSION DE LUNATICO

QUIRENDO.

Yesterday a commission was held at Gray's-inn
Coffee-house, to ascertain whether a young man
named Cuthbert Rowth was of unsound mind, and
incapable of managing his affairs. The commis-
limners were E Whitmarsh, C. K. Murray, and
- Blunt, Esqrs. The case excited much Cu.

riosity.
The Rev. Isaac Fidler deposed, that Rowth had
been a pupil of his about 12 months, from 182.7,
and during that period never exhibited any mind
at all, and was never capable of any act which be-
trayed the faculty of reasoning. Rowth had, how-
ever, as good a memory as was possessed by any
other boy in the school. If he worked at any par-
ticular sum in arithmetic he accomplished and re-
tained it accurately for a considerable time; but he
wi,s wholly incapable of applying any rule; and if
the least alteration was made in the sum taught to
him, he was quite unable to proceed. He could
repeat all the grammar rules better than any other
boy in the school, in consequence of excessive fagging;
but he never could tell how the rules were to be ap-
plied for the purposes of education, although the mo-
ment the cue was given to him by the first word,
on he would go from the beginning to the end.
He had no idea of the principles of religion, nor
of any other principles, but was just like a parrot.
If he missed a word in his lesson he stopped alto-
gether, and seemed as if conscious of his inability,
and totally incapable of substituting another of
similar meaning. Notwithstanding so glaring a de-
fect of mind, he improved in his education, so that
be could read as well as any boy in the school. He
took care of any money he might get, so that noe
body could rob him, but he had no notion of the
value of money. In the opinion of witness he had
no reflection, no power of combination ; in fact, no
mind at all. His ruling passion was selfishness, and
he manifested it by hoarding up every thing he got
in his box or his pockets. When he said yes or no,
he did so without reference to the question; and
yet witness never knew him tell a lie. Every thing
was mechanical with him. If taught a thing, he
would do it mechanically, not a vestige of mind was
traceable in the performance, but it was as regular
as clockwork. He was an isolated animal, and had
no power of giving or receiving amusement, neither
had he any apprehension, but he possessed the
power of imitation.
Mr. Commissioner BLUNT—In learning the Latin
language, was he able to distinguish between the
cases of substantives, arid the moods and tenses of
verbs,—could, he for instance, say that niusam was
the accusative of musa ?
Witness—Yes ? He knew the cases of nouns,
and the tenses of verbs from their terminations.
The sound informed him.
CommsstosEß—Did he construe passages into
English ?
Witness—lt is my practice to read over the les-
sons to each class, and I have found it necessary to
fag him hard before he could accomplish a transla-
tion, and in parsing, I fagged him too.
Juryman—Could he use a dictionary to aid him
in construing ?
Witness—Yes; when I have been with him I

have made him use a dictionary.
Mr. MURRAY (the Commissioner)—lf a verb was
in the imperative mood, could he tell the indicative
of the verb ?
Witness—He could; but it was all nieclianical,

y—Do you consider a parrot to be
g what you say he does ?
. do; I'd venture to say that a horse
to do it if taught.
- questions witness answered, that he
could not tell whether Rowth knew whether a
letter addressed to him was affectionate or angry ;
never saw him exhilirated or depressed, but had
seen him abashed.
Mr. David Mod—Knew Rowth for six or seven
years. Was at school with him. 'Witness's father
had him to see whether he could Jo any thiug with
him, but found him quite incapable. Witness's
father was in the haberdashery line in Fenchurch-
street. Rowth %%as constantly employed in putting
goods straight, and keeping them so. In one in-
stance he cut off some goods for a customer, and put
the money in the till without giving any change.
Used to go to church from habit, look in the prayer-
book, and behave well. Had no notion of religion.
What he once learned he continued to do with
great regularity. Sometimes called a shilling a six-
pence, and sometimes half-a-crown. Used to go to
the Post-office in Lombard-street with newspapers,
and knew where to drop them. Witness believed
him to be a sort of idiot.
John Newman, the son of a farmer at whose house
Rowth is now taken care of, stated that Rowth
amused himself by picking potatoes for the pigs,
and fetching wood. He would read when asked,
but did not seem to understand any thing. Lost
himself one evening, and was out all night, but could
not tell where he had been; said he had leaned
against a wall ; but said he would never lose himself
again. He was very dirty in his person.
Mr. Martin, a surgeon, and Dr. Munro had exa-
mined him, and found that he was very nearly an

idiot.
Rowth was then brought in and questioned. He
did not appear to have a spark of reason about him.
Every word he uttered corresponded with his ap-
pearance, which was decidedly that of an idiot.
The Jury then returned a verdict thut he was of
unsound mind.