The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-01 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUA'.

SlR,—Although I am anxious to disabuse the
public mind-of an impression studiously and dexter-
ously circulated, both in this kingdom as well as in
foreign parts, that the practice of the non-restraint
system, and occupation of the Insane .Patients at
Hanwell, are exclusively confined to that establish-
ment, still I have no desire to puff myself into notice,
neither am I disposed to detract from the high merit
which is due to Pr. Conolly, for his humane and
judicious treatment of the insane ; but so much having
been said on the system there pursued, I consider it
due to my own reputation, due also, I have no doubt,
to many other well-conducted establishments, to
state, most distinctly, that the non-restraint system
has been carried out, for more than thirty years, at
the Laverstock Asylum, under my direction, and with
the same salutary and practical results as at Hanwell,
never more than from one to three patients per cent.
having been under restraint at any period, and more
generally not one. A reference to the Visitors' Books
—to Dr. Thomas's celebrated work on the " Practice
of Physic," published nearly twenty years ago, who
states (from his personal observation) the almost total
absence of personal restraint of the patients, and/the
varied amusements and occupations provided for them
and also to the following evidence recorded before the
HSeoplemoibere°llnBlmiis,7
the year 1815, will establish this fact :
Co:Oinnitttehee of 2 5
th theof icaasll'efdiirupobacnk:sr.
Finch, at Laverstock, near Salisbury ; this tl gen eman
conducts his house in an admirable manner. He has

l 20
hn tst
h; e awn,
hd hl
ee
ofb -begged me
tghemd
without
t to
ho
ut at ke timehisbeint con-
versego
pre-
sent, to ascertain how they were fed and treated.
" He had not a single patient in a strait-waistcoat
or under any personal restraint. Every possible kind
of amusement was provided for them ; billiards, back-
gammon, chess, cards, books, drawing, &c., in-doors
bowls, cricket, horses, carriage, and varied exercises
and occupations out of doors. In Rids Establishmen
I saw all that Take had written realised, and no words
in which I can deseribe it can characterise it in too high
terms." I am, Sir, your obliged servant,
W. FINCH. F.L.S.,
Laverstock House Asylum, Nov. 5, 1842.

WANTON CRUELTY.--A canary bird belonging to
George M'Lachlan, Borland-park, near Auchterarder,
was taken by his son to the bothie of a farm where
the young man was servant to a farmer in the neigh-
bourhood. One Sunday, last summer, a person, whose
feelings we do not envy, got access to it, and actually
put out the eyes of the little songster. In this dark
state it was restored to its owner, who, by careful at-
tention,
taught it to find its way to the seed-box and
the water-glass. In time it became reconciled to its
fate, and now it makes the cottage ring with its melo-
dious notes. As it cannot distinguish night from day,
it continues to pour its sweet warblings till all the
inmates of the house are fast asleep, when it partakes
a little of the general repose, but renews its song with
the first breaking of the universal silence.—Caledonian
Mercury.
His Imperial Highness the Archduke Frederick of
Austria, accompanied by Captain Fitzroy, R.N., and
suite, visited, on Monday last, the establishment of
Messrs. Clowes and Sons, Stamford-street, Blackfriars.
His Royal Highness and suite took a lively interest in
the operations of the different branches carried on, and
expressed great gratification.