The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-12 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

A writ de lunatico inquirendo was opened on Thursday,
at Hathern, before F. Winslow, Esq., and a jury of
seventeen gentlemen, to consider whether Mr. Robert
Bloor, of Bond-street, London, and of Derby, porcelain
manufacturer, was of sound mind, or whether he was
in such a state as to be incapable of managing his
affairs.
Messrs. Jessop and Barnaby appeared in support of
the writ.

The Learned COMMISSIONER, after explaining to the
jury the nature of the inquiry, stated that the medical
gentleman who had been attending Mr. Bloor, was of
opinion that the unfortunate gentleman was not in a fit
state to be brought into the room, but as it was essential
that he should be seen by some of the jurors, a deputa-
tion might visit him, and put such questions as they
might deem necessary.
The following witnesses were then examined:—
Mr. James Thompson said he had managed Mr.
Robert Bloor's businesF in Derby, for twenty-nine years,
and had seen him very frequently during that time.
During the last fifteen or sixteen years he had been sub-
ject to fits of mental aberration. In October, 1828, he
went with his wife to Broadstairs. He then acted very
strangely. He refused to leave London, although his
business required his presence at Derby. At the d..,,gre
of Mrs. Bloor, witness went to London, and f:-.,tind Mr.
Bloor at lodgings in Piccadilly. He w-.. 5 in bed, and
under the influence of liquor. Persuaded him to g' oto
Derby; he refused at first, h
ultimately arranged to
meet witness at his wars louse in Bond-street, agreeing
to proceed to Deity. When he returned to Derby, his
conduct worse—he insisted upon being supplied
!yid?. hriaor. He fancied that people were talking about him
In ',,ne streets, and that bullets were flying through the
windows. He was placed under the care of Mr. Swift, at
Spandon, from whence he went to Stafford, under the care
of Dr. Knight, who considered the case hopeless, and
merely recommended kind treatment. He was ulti-
mately removed to Hathern, where he had ever since
remained. He was subject to various extraordinary de-
lusions. lie said he was in possession of a valuable se-
cret, that of making persons at a great distance off hear
what he said by means of blowpipes. At another time
he said that Dr. Bent, his medical attendant, had written
to the Emperor of France about him. He fancied that
he was the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Norfolk, or
some other great person. He made no inquiry respect-
ing his affairs after he came from London. Had been
in the habit of drinking to excess previous to his illness.
Dr. Bent stated that he had attended Mr. Bloor for
nearly twenty years. His first malady was delirium tre-
mens, brought on by excessive drinking. Had seen him
about three or four weeks back. On that occasion he
fancied he was a Duke. He called his wife Duchess, and
his daughters Lady Sarah, Lady Charlotte, &c. When
asked how he was, he replied, "Pretty well, considering
all through." He said that he was doing homage to the
Royal Family, who were then visiting him. He said
that Lord Halford (Sir H. Halford) was attending him.
When asked if he had disposed of any of his property,
he said he had not, but, on the contrary, he had been
adding to it every year. He said that he had recently
bought the whole town of Liverpool, and that he was
to come into possession on the 29th of the next month,
when he would be entitled to receive the rents. He said
that Lord Gurney (the Gurneys of Norwich) and the
Society of Friends managed his affairs, and that the
Lord Chancellor and Lord Althorp audited the accounts.
Dr. Bent gave it as his decided conviction that Mr. Bloor
was of unsound mind, and wholly incapable of managing
his affairs from the Ist of December, 1828, since which
he had no lucid intervals.

Mr. Huggins, surgeon, gave nearly similar evidence.
The principal delusion under which Mr. Bloor constantly
laboured was that he was some distinguished personage.
He frequently said that inferior people envied him, and
had even threatened to shoot him. When addressed as
Mr. Bloor, he felt offended, as it was below his rank.
He insisted that he was the Duke of Norfolk.

Mr. Hunt, surgeon, who had also attended Mr. Bloor
in September last, said there could be no possible doubt
of his insanity. When the witness first visited him he
said he had no occasion for his services as he was under
the care of Sir Henry Halford.
Mr. W. Swift, of Hathern, stated that Mr. Bloor had
been an inmate of his house for fifteen years, during
which time he had been subject to delusions of various
kinds. He frequently went to bed a lord, and rose up a
duke. When asked if he would go to Boss's (the house
where the inquiry was held), he replied, " They want
me to go to Boss's, do they ? I'll Boss them, I'll tickle
them if they catch me at Boss's." At times he was very
violent. He said he had one hundred ships at sea, and
had lately received a ship-load of nutmegs. When he
was told of a difference in the Government, he said he
would fix them, he would sow a ship-load of hemp seed,
and when it was grown, Swift (the witness) should hang
them all.

The Learned COMMISSIONER, and some of the jury
then visited Mr. Bloor, who refused to answer any ques-
tions, except that Lord Brougham had undertaken the
management of his affairs.
The jury returned as their verdict " That Mr. Robert
Bloor is of an unsound state of mind, and had been so
from the 26th of February, 1828."