The Sun.
London, England, 1829-12-18 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

(Continued from our Paper of yesterday.)
The letter from Mr. Hobler to the Chancellor's
secretary, Mr. Loudham, in answer to the charge
made against him by Dr. Burrows, for his conduct
in visiting Mr. Davies, was read. The letter ex-
plained the several charges made.
Mr. Hobler, in answer to questions as to this
letter, said that Mr. E. Davies was in custody, and
no person was allowed to see hire but by an order
from his mother. Witness applied to the mother
for an order to see her son, but was refused, and it
was only on application to the Lord Chancellor that
permission was given. [Here Mr. Hobler read his
written application to the Lord Chancellor on the
occasion, on which the permission was given.]
William Davison was next called, but before he
was examined in chief,
Mr. BROUGHAM examined him as to whether he
was in court during any part of the evidence. He
denied that he had been for more than a minute or
two, and another witness was called to contradict
him on this point, but it did not appear that he was
in Court for more than two or three minutes before
being sworn.
Davison was then examined by Mr. WRIGHT—
I am a hair-dresser. I have attended Mr. Davies
for three or four years. Sometimes three or four
timea a week. He was always very mild and gentle
in his manner until lately, when he became very
violent, and would sometimes dash down the chairs
with great violence. He used to be very tenacious
of being seen while dressing, but latterly he used
sometimes to have the window open. I generally
used to dress his hair only, but latterly he got nerv-
ous, and did not wish the trouble of shaving him-
self. The day on which he threw up the window
to dress himself before it, he alluded to the house of
Kemble selling tea by retail, and said, that when
wholesale tea-dealcrs came to sell tea by the ounce,
it was time for him to dress at the open window.
Witness then went on to state that Nir. Davies told
him of his having lessons in boxing, and of his hav-
ing been sneered at by some persons, whom he in-
timated by looking steadily at them with his arms
folded. Witness saw no great change in Mr.
Davies's manner, that he used to put up his razors
when done with them. Mr. Davies often told him
that he would not hurt any thing that had life. Wit-
ness did not think him sane at this time, or compe-
tent to the management of his affairs. This was in
June lust. Ile once told witness that he preferred
seeing the company coming on the road from Ep-
som races to seeing the races themselves : that he
once stooped for that purpose at a butcher's shop on
the Clapham-road, to see the company pass; he saw
a little child there for whomhe bought sornething,or
gave it some money. He spoke of a lady in a car-
riage, who, he said, took great notice of him, and
came out of her carriage and walked some time on

the road.
Cross-examined by Mr. BROUGHAM—I had no
opportunity of knowing any thing of his private
affairs, but I thought him unfit to manage his affairs.
When a man is unfit to do one thing, he is unfit to
do another. I saw him sometimes in his shop ; he was
hurried in his manner—used to serve a customer
very quick—(a laugh) —and then came up stairs to
me to dress him. He always paid me, except in
August last. He did not pay me correctly then ;
there was a sixpence left.—(A laugh.) I don't
know the full amount of the bill. Ile did not pay
me all ; he had not change in his pocket, or some-
thing of that sort.—( A laugh.)
Mr. BROUGHAM—Then 1 ought to be considered
insane, for I have not a sixpence change in my
pocket just now.
Dr. Davis, examined by Sir C. WETHERELL—I
am physician to the London Hospital. I visited Nits
Davies in August last, in company with Mr. Eng-
lish, Dr. Cobb, and Dr. Frampton. We examined
him first altogether ; then Dr. C. and myself examined
him. I believe Mr. Gibbs was then present, but I
am not certain. We proposed questions to Mt.
Davies; but it is impossible to give any distinct ac-
count of the conversation I had with him from his
manner, which was so incoherent, and his frequently
changing subjects. It was intelligible as far as each
particular subject; but he passed from one to the
other without any connection. This conversation
lasted about an hour or better. He would give a
direct and generally a correct answer to any question,
but he passed immediately to another subject not
connected with it. We tried to keep him consistently
to one subject ; but we did not succeed in doing so
for any time. He himself might have put some
questions and begun topics arising out of questions
put to him ; but it was not possible to keep him co-
herent or consistent. As far as his subjects went,
he was consistent ; but he changed very rapidly.
He did not always finish the subjects he began—
sometimes not the sentences. He was questioned
as to his memory—sts to the nature of his studies.
We asked him what was the nature of his studies.
He looked around hint with uncertainty and anxiety,
and said trade was unworthy of his mind or his
powers, or something to that effect. He then, in
the same urgent, hurried, and anxious manner,
pointedtlt rie w to
," " e
the
window, and said, " There, there,
prospect," and then used the
words, " Shakspeare and Lord Byron." This ap-
peared to us coherent, as we understood them to
allude to the subjects or studies which he liked. It
is diffic,nit to state the definition of a delusion, but

from what be said, I should say. his was " a delu-
sion of manner." I mean there was no connexion
between the parts of his discourse; there was an un-
necessary emphasis and gesticulation on every sub-
ject on which he spoke. This was not sufficient
for me to form an opinion, but there were some
papers produced. I don't know whether we desired
them :or he. It was he produced them, saying,
" To prove to you I am of sane mind, I will pro-
duce to you some papers, which I wrote last night,
or this morning." (I could not say which). He added,
" If, after perusing those papers, you should be of
opinion that I am insane, I shall submit." I took
the papers, and we retired. After reading these
papers, and taking the previous circumstances into
consideration, we were of opinion that he was of
unsound mind. I felt no difficulty in`coming to that
conclusion. Our opinion was, that the two men (of
Dr. Burrows's) should be removed from his hou.e,
and some others of less apparent character substi-
tuted, because he was anxious on the subject, and
disliked the appearance of restraint. We thought it
necessary that some such persons should be placed
about his person.
Cross-examined by Mr. ADOLPHUS—This was
about the 6th of August. I was desired to go by
Mr. English. I was paid, I believe, by Mr. Gibbs.
His pointing to his window, and giving the names
of Shakspeare and Byron, I understood to be an
answer to our question as to what were his studies.
It was as much as to say—" My studies are Nature,
Shakspeare, and Lord Byron." fhe answer was a
very natural one. He used much gesticulation.—
Some persons as well as nations use more of this
than others. The French more than the English,
and possibly the English more than the Dutch. I
would call the gesticulation used by Mr. Davies
" delusion of manner." It was gesticulation much
more than was necessary, and much more than I
could expect from a sane person. I have never seen
Mr. Davies since the 6th of August.

Re-examined by Sir C. WETHERELL—Suppose a
man dancing about a room when he ought to be
sitting on a chair, I would call it " delusion of
manner." _ _

In explanation of what he meant by this phrase,
witness said, when asked about his memory, he
looked about very anxiously, grasped his hands to-
gether very convulsively, and at another time nearly
dropped on his knees; and speaking nearly in a
whispering tone, begged our pardon for what he was
going to say, and said that he recollected Shak-
speare far better than his " collects." These;were
instances of gesticulation not called for by his ob-
iervation. In fact, the whole of the time we were
with him was a continuous example of this sort of
what I call " delusion of manner."

By the COURT—When I spoke of " the pre-
vious circumstances" as those on which our opinion
of his insanity was founded, I alluded to his inco-
herency of manner. The state of Mr. Davies's
bodily health at this moment was not good ; his
stomach was bad. It i 3 difficult for me to answer
the question how far his state of mind might have
been affected by that of his stomach. I knew too
little of him. My opinion was, that he was of un-
sound mind, and incapable of managing his affairs.
Dr. Cobb, examined by Mr. WRIGHT—I am a
physician. I examined Mr. Davies in company
with the last witness. I took hold of his hand, pre-
tending to feel his pulse, but in reality to examine
a sight eruption on his hand. I perceived a slight
cut on his hand, and he became greatly agitated at
seeing that I perceived it, arid struck his hand
against his forehead with violence, and said, "
my dear Sir," or " ray dear friend," I don't know
which, " that happened in a moment of great irri-
tation, but I'll take care that it shall not occur
again, I promise you." The circumstance to which
he referred was stated by himself or somebody in
his presence, an attempt which he had made to
force his way out by dashing at the window. The
other parts of this gentleman's evidence corrobo-
rated that of Dr. Davis, as to the then state of Mr.
Davies's mind, as far as that he was unfit to be
trusted by himself.
In his cross-examination by Mr. BRODERICK, wit-
ness said that he had not stated to any one that Mr.
Davies bad the itch. The explanation given by
Mr. Davies of the scar, was not, to the best of my
belief, that 1)r. Burrows's men wanted to put a
straight-waistcoat upon him, and that he wanted to
escape from them. lie did in the course of the
conversation say, that Dr. Burrows had said when
he saw him first, "Bring here the straight-waistcoat."
Witness had not stated that Mr. Davies was inca-
pable of managing his affairs. So far as his business
or his property went, he was capable; but my im-
pression was that he was not able to manage his
general affairs. I thought then, by his being con-
sulted by his servants, that he was capable of direct-
ing his tea business, and I directed that lie should
be allowed to direct that business until his servants
should find that his instructions were unreasonable.
I made no inquiry about his management of his pro-
perty. We were asked as to whether he ought to
be allowed to give directions as to mixing of teas,
and we said that he might. There are many points
on which the opinion of an insane man might be
taken. I did not consider that he was competent
to manage his general affairs. I did not consider
that it would be safe to allow him to have razors.
Mr. William English examined, by Sir C. WE-
THERELL—I am a surgeon. I examined Mr. Davies
on the 6th of August last, in company with Dr.
Frampton and Drs. Cobb and Davis. From the
answers he gave, and his manner, I should say he
was quite delirious, and incapable of giving two
connected ideas. He was then unable to manage
his affairs.
Cross-examined by Mr. BROUGHAM.—His man-
ner was quite delirious and incoherent. He was
then quite incapable of managing his property or
affairs. _ - _ _ . _

Re-examined--I have seen Mr. Davies since. I
saw him last Saturday week. I now think him
quite recovered, and capable of managing his affairs.
It was DOW five o'clock, ar►d the case was further
adjourned to to-morrow (this day) at eleven.

LITERARY DISCOVERY.—Among the letters
now lying at the Post-office, which cannot be delivered
because the residence of the party to whom they are di-
rected is not known, is one addressed, " Samuel Johnson,
LL.D., Author of a Dictionary ;" and it would appear,
from what is written on the board in which this address
is inserted, that some person having filled in a direction
with his pencil, the postman has been sent to a house in
the City, in search of the Doctor, who has been dead a
few days more than 45 years.

STORM.—On Friday afternoon, drizzling
showers began to fail, with a rather smart breeze from the
S.E., whic continued till nearly five o'clock p.m., when
the rain fell heavier, and the wind blew louder, increasing
with the lateness of the night, until at nine o'clock it blew
a perfect hurricane, which continued with unabated vio-
lence till day-light next morning. On the morning of Sa-
turday the Nith had risen far above its ordinary bounds,
From the New Bridge to Castle-dikes the river presented
one sea of red and tumultuous waves, beating with fury
against the houses on both sides of the river, and bearing
on its angry bosom every thing moveable that came within
its merciless boundaries, to its wild and boisterous lord,
the rude Solvay. The inhabitants about Brewery-street,
foot of the Friars' Vennel, the Sands, Waterloo-place,
Nith-place, &c., were completely cut off from all commu-
nication with the rest of the town, except by boats, one of
which continued to ply in Brewery-street all Saturday
forenoon. In the Friars' Vennel the water reached as far
es Mr. M'Casicies: shop, and the foot of Bank and As-
sembly-streets were completely flooded. At the Three
Wells, opposite Mr. Titonsort's hat-manufactory, it was
as deep as the axle-tree of a cart, and Mr. Woon's house,
at the " Grove," was deluged to the depth of nearly three
feet. The shipping in the river, to the number of about
13 vessels, was driven recklessly about at the head of the
Dock. Altogether the Nith has not been so swollen these
many years, and what damage may have been done to the
rich bolms which it would cover before it reached here, we
cannot at present tell ; for, with the exception of some
which were seen
pt uarssniinpgs and s
the
bridgesm all
n s quantitiesat Saturday
doafyhmo
orning, we have heard
of nothing. From the sea we are certain the accounts
will be dreadful, as it was barely possible that' any vessel
could ride out the storm of last Friday night.--Dumfries
Courier.