The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-19 00:00:00

131 103

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

On Thursday a Commission of Lunacy was opened
before Commissioner Edward Winslow, Esq., and a
highly respectable Jury, amongst whom were Sir
John J. Hansler, Luke Flood, Esq., W. Beckwith
France, Esq., Valentine Knight, Esq., Captain Fitz-
gerald, James Pascall, Esq., Henry James Dixon,
and James Mansfield, Esq., at the Swan Inn, Fulham,
to inquire into the state of mind of Mrs. Charlotte
Thompson, a widow lady ,residing lately at Canon-
bury-square, Islington, and now of Normand House,
Northend, Fulham.

Mr. FULLER, of Carlton-channers, Regent-street,
said he had the honour to appear on behalf of
Mrs. Charlotte Gosling, the widow of the late
Mr. John Gosling, lately residing at Highbury,
and subsequently at Canonbury square, a gentleman
whose name no doubt was familiar to many of them.
The object of this inquiry was the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Gosling, and in 1824 she was married at the
early age of 18 to a Mr. James Maxwell Thompson.
In the year 1831 Mr. James Maxwell Thompson
died, and Mrs. Thompson then went with her three
children to reside in Hi,ghbury-terrace with her
parents. Imm-diately after her taking up her
residence with them she began to show that
her mind was fast going. She remained with her
parents on and off up to the year 1837, but in
the interval, namely, in 1834, she had not only
shown a total ab.srn e of mind, but at times
had exhibited a very peculiar and sudden species
of phrenzy. In consequence of acts she then exhi-
bited, and also in 1837, by the advice of her medical
attendant, she was removed to Ns•rmand House for
better protection. At the early per:od of the derange
merit of her intellect she ha 1 a keeper to attend her
while at home, but it wrs not important that he should
adduce evilence of her acts pre\ ions to 1837, when,
in consequence of the violent manner in which she
treated her keeper, while r c_!omi anving her in a walk,
the assistance of a labourer was had recourse to, and
by him the unfortunate lady was conveyed home.
Her father at this time was compelled, reluctantly,
to part with the immediate custody, of his daughter,
and she was removed to Normand House. Subse-
quently Mr. Gosling took a house at Welthamstow,
had a wall built around it, and otherwise fitted
it up at great expense in order that he might
again have charge of his child. Mrs. Thompson
was removed thither from Normand House,
but her malady again exhibited itself in a
violent form, and Mr. Gosling 'was compelled to
return to Canonbury-square for thee-purpose of ob-
taining better medical advice. In 1841 Mr. J. Gosling
died, and Mrs. Thompson continued to remain with
her mother up to the month of August last. About
that time, while Mrs. Thompson was out with her
keeper, she took up a large stone, and tried to kill a
child of Mr. Vindent, solicitor of Canonbury-square,
with it, but happily was prevented. After this she
was again removed to Normand House, where she
had since remained. They would find that this was
not one of those common cases of delusion that
oafbstehneceof mind,a nfyrodmel ussoimo ne,
rbeuatsona coormoptlteteer
generally came before a Jury. In this instance there
prostration tar at i totalon
suddenly
provocation come
orhe was unwilling to go into. Her fits of phrenzy
would upon
the h
g, h
tand,est
warning
hout,
she
slightest
would strike at and injure eivbody within her reach.
This was one of many grounds that rendered her re
moral necessary, as Mrs. Gcsling was a lade of ad-
vanced age,_ being nearly in her 80th year. .on-some
occasions she had not objected to the strait-waistcoat
being placed upon her, and the only answers she
would return to questions were simply " Yes" or
"No." If she was asked if she understood figures,
but when asked how many
s twohe wouldand tw
or reade, ply,
"Yesshe ;'1
would say, " I don't know."
' When she had a book in her hand, if she
was asked whether she was reading, she would
reply, " Yes ;" but if asked what the contents
were, she would merely ejaculate " No." Some
questions , she would answrr accurately, if they
related to matter previous to her return home. She
would tell the number of her children, anl her age
when she was married ; but these facts were no proof
of a sound mind, as the memory was often known to
exist respecting some matters long after the mind was
gone. He should lay the evidence before them, and
he regretted to say that he believed the result of this
inquiry would be, after they had seen the unfortunate
lady, that they would entertain no doubt that not a
remnant of her mind remained.

A number of witnesses were examined, and bore
out the statement of Mr. Fuller, and in addition
stated that Mrs. Thompson had on some occasions
broken the panels of the room doors, struck at her
mother, destroyed china and earthenware, and 'her
favourite place in the house was upon the first landing
on the stairs, where she would sit for days together,
occasionally occupying herself by reading, and work-
ing, and looking out of the window. Her mind was
stated by the medical gentlemen to be in a state of im-
becility approximating idiotcy.
The Jury expressed a desire to see Mrs. Thompson,
and the unfortunate lady was brought in between two
female attendants. She appeared to be about 35 years
of age, and has evidently been a very lovely woman.
Some questions were put by the Commissioner,
Mrs. Thompson's answers to which clearly attested her
insanity.
The Jur returned a verdict, dating her insanity
from the 19th day of January, 1834.
It was understood that Mr. Gosling died possessed
of property to the amount of nearly 1.50,0001., the
te d arsiae
gpsrea-fitetrterp,airnt othfewnrheiieglhibhoue
afterwards engaged extensively in building specula-
rhreoaoldise:f Long-acre.nihlstions, and it was stated that the elder son of Mrs.
Thompson, should he survive Mrs. Thompson's
brother, would, on attaining his majority, come into
possession of a very large fortune.

FALMOUTH, DEC. 16.—The Peninsular steamer
Lady Mary Wood arrived here this morning at four
A.M Her passage homeward is reported as being a
favourable one. There are rumours on board her of
the loss of the. Company's steamer Iberia, but the
officers of the Lady Mary Wood think it without
foundation.

ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEBDS,DEC. IB.—There
has been a fair amount of business done this week ;
and prices continue very firm, with an upward ten-
dency.