Star.
London, England, 1812-01-16 00:00:00

to me to be as acute at present as during any part of What Is the present itate of his Majesty's mental
his indisposition—his memory seems to he impaired, health ?--His Majesty's mental health is insane.
but in a very inconsiderable degree. [Withdrew.] ' Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and
bodily health, during his present indispontion, as Far
Dr. N'srteetAu HIUSERDEN called in, and examined.-
as it his come under your observation, are you now
Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to ren- of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or
der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia- improbable I—l think his Majesty's recovery is im.l
ment, or of attending ,to any public business I—lt is
such as to render him incapable of coming in person probable.
In what degree do you consider his Majesty's ve-
to his Parliament, or of attending to any public be- covery to be improbable I—l think it to be very im-
siuess. probable.
What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily Are you of opinion that it is hgspeless ? Certainly not.
health ? It is very little removed frcm his Majesty's On what do you found your opinion that Ms Ma.
natural state of health. jesty's mental situation is not hopeless I—His Ma-
What is the present state of his Majesty's mental Zesty has no symptoms of fatuity; if his Majesty had
health I—His Majesty's state of mind is very much those symptoms, I should certainly consider it as a
disordered. . hopeless case.
Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and Do you consider that in all mental disorders not
bodily health since your last examination before a accompanied by fatuity, there is always some hope ?
Committee of the House of Commons, are you now of
—I certainly think there is a chance of recovery.
opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or im- In the course of your practice have you frequently
probable ?—lmprobable. had hopes founded upon such reasoning realised ?--
In what degree do you consider it as improbable ? Certainly.
—lt is highly improbable, but not in an extreme Have you ever known a patient circumstanced as
degree. his Majesty is, as to mental disorder and period of
Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is life; recover ?—I have known patients older than his
hopeless ?—No. . Islajesty recover.
Is it your opinion that the prospect of his Majesty's With the same degree of mental disorder I—Not
recovery is all but hopeless I—No. His Majesty, with the same de of mental disorder • I have seen
from the middle of July last till about the second very few casts of persons so old as his Majesty.
week of December, appeared vi me to be more uni. Do you conceive that the peculiar situation of his
formly disordered iu his mind than he has been since Majesty, circumstanced as he is, with regard to his
that period; had the same degree of disorder still regal dignity, has any effect upon his distemper?—
continued, I might perhaps consider his Majesty's I think there is a vast deal of irritation about his
condition as almost hopeless, but the subsequent int. Majesty, which is seldom seen in patients in general.
provement, slight as it has been, makes me think al. Do you conceive that any degree or portion.of his
together more favourably of the termination. Majesty's disorder is ascribable to his being a King I
In what has that slight improvement consisted ?
—I think, certainly, that the anxiety and cares of
It consists in a greater power of conversation, and in government may possibly have contributed to Ilk•
having laid aside some erroneous notions with which disorder.
his Majesty had'been before possessed. At this moment do you think that the sense of his
Is it to be understood that his Majesty's mind is , own situation, as being the Sovereign of the country,
not so much impressed with the errors which had pos- has any effect one way or qther upon the state of his
session of it before, as he was in the middle of the mental health I—l should tink not.
month ofJely last I—The errors to which I allude, . Does his Majesty shew any anxiety on the stillect
had grown up in his Majesty's mind, between the i of public affairs ?—I have had very few opportunities
middle of July and the end of August ; from the 2d ! of seeing his Majesty ; during my presence with him
week in December his Majesty's mind has appeared I I have not observed any thing of the kind.
to me to be dearer, and more free from error, than I Do you conceive that his Majesty's station has, or
it had been in the latter part of August. I has bad, or is likely to have any, and what effect
Do the errors which existed in his Majesty's mind : upon his mental disorder I—l conceive that his Ma.
before the middle of July last, still continue to exist 1 jesty has not suffered from his high situation, as far
in the same degree as they did formerly I—The errors las I have had an opportuity of observing, during my
and general character of his Majesty's disorder, since 1 attendance.
the middle of July, have appeared to me altogether I Do you think that the reflection upon his own regal
different from what they were in any previous part of • state, when his mind is in a state of progress towards
his Majesty's illness ; and though some ideas may still recovery, might have any effect either in retarding or
remain which possessed his Majesty's mind early in , accelerating that recovery ?—I think it might have
his disorder, the greater part of them have grown up : some effect in retarding that recovery.
since the middle of Juty. I How long ago is it• since you first saw his Ma-
You are understood to say, that those errors that jesty I—The first time I saw his Majesty was the 9th
have possessed the mind of the King, between the .
middle of Julf and the 2d week in December, were I
of
j Have you seen the King regularly from the 9th
ctober.
quite distinct from those that had possessed it pre. lof October ?—I have been at Windsor tea different
viously to the middle of July ?—Yes. I times ; the first seven weeks I was there once a week,
And you are understood to say, that those errors 1 went on the Ft iday, and came back on the Saturday ;
were removed, or very much diminished at least ?-1 the three last visits once a fortnight.
Some of them have been removed. Have you witnessed any improvement in the King's
State whether the errors which possessed his Ma.: mental state latterly ?--I am not aware of any im-
jesty's mind before the middle of July, still continue i provement. [Withdrew.]
to possess it ?—I believe I must go into some history
of his Majesty's complaint, from as long ago as Fe- .SAMUEL-
VOART SIMMONS, called in, and examined.
Dr
bruary last to the end of April. His Majesty had ap- Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to ren-
peered to be getting materially better in the months ' der him incapable of coming in person to his Parliae
of April, May, and June, there was very little of dig.' ment, or of attending to any kind of public business ?
order exhibited ; early in July jhere seemed to be a —lt certainly is.
I
fresh accession of disorder, so distinct in its charac- What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily
ter, from his Majesty's previous state, that I look health I—Upon the whole, very good.
upon it as indeed a new complaint. I What is the present state of his Majesty's mental
`Did the old complaint continue to subsist along health I—A state of great derangement.
with the new complaint :or when the new complaint ! Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and
manifested itself in the mind, did the old complaint bodily health, during his present indisposition, as far
seem to be extinguished I—When the new complaint 'as it has come under your observation, are you of
arose early in July, though his Majesty was not well , opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable, or
from his former disorder, yet I am not conscious that improbable ?—lmprobable.
there were any particular errors that atthat time rested I In what degree do you conceive hto be improba-
ble
upon his mind. ' l—lt is difficult, perhaps impossible to say.
I , Do any of the errors that possessed his Majesty's I Are you of opinion that it is hopeless ?—I am not.
mind before the middle of last July, now possess it I— i How long have you attended the King I—From
His Majesty's mind is still pcssessed with the same the 9th day of October.
sort of false reasoning; but lam not aware, that for I Upon what do you ground your opinion, that the
some time previous to the commencement of the pre- King's recovery is improbable I—On the different at-
sent disorder in July, there were any false facts upon tacks, and the repeated attacks that his Majesty has
his Majesty's mind. I had ; his age ; and what I have observed occasion-
Then the error of his Majesty's mind, as you are ' ally of the symptoms of the disease under which he
understood to state, previous to July, was merely now labours.
that of false reasoning ; are you to be understood Did you ever see any personas old as his Majesty,
' that that was the sole error of his Majesty's mind and labouring under the some degree of mental de.
previous to that 1-1 think for two or three months rangement recover?—Several.
' previous to July, that had been the state of his Ma. i Did you ever see any person as oldas his Majesty,
I jesty's mind. and who bad so long laboured under the same de-
Does that propensity of the mind still continue 1— ' gree of mental infirmity, recover ? I have seen per.
Yes. i sons as old as his Majesty recover, after, I think, a
Did that fait! reasoning extend itself to many sub. longer duration of the disease than the present at.
jects or did it confine itself to a few?—lt was prin- tack.
cipally confined to a few; but there were many sub- ' After as many repeated attacks as his Majesty has
jects upon which his Majesty's judgment could not had I—With respect to the number of attacks, I have
be ousted. . had occasion, in hospital practice, to see persons, who
Does his Majesty's mind continue to be engaged have gone through I long life, occasionally subject to
upon those particular subjects on which you say it attacks of this kind ; I have known persons attacked
was principally engaged at that period I—Yes. ten, twelve, or more times, and recover from each of 1
When his Majesty's mind runs upon those subjects, those attacks.
on which you say it was principally engaged, is it And died of age at last ?—Yes.
subject now to the same false reasoning it was then f ' Not in.a state of insanity I—l cannot immediately
—Yes. I recollect instances, but I believe I may venture to say,
You have said that you consider his Majesty's re- that I have known same die of other disease, and not
covery as highly improbable ; have you ever known in a state of insanity.
any person circumstanced is mental health as the' Their last attack having come upon them at the
King is now circumstanced, and of the same age as age his Majesty has now attained ?—That is hazard.
his Majesty, recover from an illness such as his Ma- ing a great deal ; it would require time and reference
ji!sty's?—l never knew any person under the same . to records to answer that question ; but I certainly
circumstances of disorder and age as his Majesty. I have seen patients as old and much older than his
How long have you been of opinion that his Ma. ' Majesty, recover from attacks of this kind.
jesty's recovery was highly improbable 1--Perhaps I You say that you consider his Majesty's recovery
'from the latter endeof August. [Withdrew.3 as improbable I—l do.
Dr. Toomes Muwao called in and examined. You say you have known persons as old as his Ma-
jesty,l: the state of his Majesty's health such as to ren.
tal derangement, recover?—Yes.
der him incapable of coming in person to his Partin. I 'r why do you think his Majesty's recovery im.
1 ment, or of attending to any kind of public business? • probable ?—Because the number of recoveries of per-
-I think his Majesty's state is such as to render him sous of that age is very small in comparison with
.
~incapable of comtag to his Parliament, or of doing the number of recoveries of those that are younger,
any public business. the instances of recovery become less in the advan.
What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily cod periods of •
life. In St. Lake's Hospirel, we find
health ?—:-The present state of his Majestj's bodily to
health is tolerably good. I
that be sO much the case, that for the last three
pars, it bas *a Norlyal to admit no person above

the age of seventy ; before thee, wet wart not restrict,
ed in point of age ; and, in the coursed about thirty
years, there have occurred (for I looked OM she Re.
ports). about seventy-eight instances of person of
seventy years and upwards who had been admit' Imes
and of that number only about sixteen had been 41.
charged from the books of the Hospital as coed
1
whereas, taking the whole number of patients, &ono
that period, the number amounting to above et;
thousand, about one half, or very nearly half, have
recovered, but only one patient in five of that ado*.
ced age have recovered.
Is not the state of his Vinjesty's constitution and ge.
neral health remarkably strong, considering t*
nod of his life ?—His Majesty's constitution u so eit
that I should rate him as a man of 60, in pain of
health, now at this moment.
Have yon perceived latterly any symptoms of ill,
provemcnt in his Majesty's mental health? I hat
thought, far the last month, his Majesty desk
anecdote, and seemed inclined to listen to what sea
said to him by those about him, rather more than as
did at the beginning of any attendance.
Do you consider that as any material syttptom
improvement ?—I have thonht it rather a gocoktz
eU Do the symptoms of his jetty's present
differ in any respect, and in what, from those which
you had an opp ortunity of observing when you at.
tended his Majesty its his illness in 1804 ?—The rook
of his Majesty's ideas is very different from what [twat
in 1804 ; the fact is, that the symptoms of meant
disease must be, in a great degree, the ideas of
tieut i his not like a bodily disease, you an judge of
the state of a man's mind only from the ideas is
gives forth, and they are, in many respects, very dab
ferent from what they were wheal attended his Ma.
jetty before,
Do the difference which you observed in his Ms.
jetty's present and past state lead you to form conch,
sums more or less unfavourable to his ultimate reco.
very ?—More unfavourable.
Have you ever discovered any symptom:of fatuity
in hit Majesty's case ?—I have not.
Do you, on account of the absence of that symptom,
think less unfavourably of his Majesty's recovery ?
More favourably.
Have you been in the habit of classing thediffereet
descriptions, of mental disorder ?—That is a matter o(
so much difficulty, that I have not attempted ;tsar
more than the common distinction of mania and an,
lancholia • low spirits and high spirits, or more or lee
of irritability.
Do you conceive the loss of sight in his Majesty
would have any effect in retarding or accelerating*
recovery, or rendering it more or less probable ?,
The number of cases of bliud parses: that I harem;
with, who have been insane, has bee; extremely small
they do not amount to more thast seven or eight;
they have been all of them unfavowahle cases.; snit
it is difficult to say what effect bliadness may has
with respect to the treatment of an insane person,
in some points it may be favourable, but in genes!
one would suppose it was rather unfavourable. Yoa
cannot guile and manage the patient as well as
he could see.
Do you mean by unfavourable easiest cases in whisk
the patieut does not recover ?—Yes.
Do you conceive that the reflection span his t
state, when his Majesty's mind is in a state of piss,
rem towards recovery, might have any effect woo
ever in retarding or accelerating that recoverroalib
Majesty has appeared to retain e consciommen of
regal state, an t that seems to have given a petvht
feature to his disorder, and makes it insole* degree
different from that of an ordinary rase; but I she*
find it very difficult to say how far that would reta4
or promote his recovery l it makes the case felts;
more difficult to conduct,
Have the goodness to state, whether you toils
tin Majesty's perceptions as clear and diatinet
Majesty's perceptions, with respect to any object tint
are presented to him, are correct; but he has a cum
ber of ideas floating in his mind that are exam*
erroneous. But he judges of the ohjetis umnsedialsir
around him, his food andthete things, with great PIP
cision ; speaks of the goodness of a dish, wombs he
likes it or not, and knows every thing presented *
him ; so far his perception is correct,
Does his Majesty's memory appear to bo rut snit
feeeedt..His memory is firm and good.
Do you draw any inference from that • - •
with respect to the probability or improbability
recovery ?..-That is certainly a favow able
MAC& [Witbdrelvt.rt
Lem, 13 ire Jerteara, 1812.
The Right Hon. Czosintaa Loam in the Chair.
Dr. Sir HXNIIT Mumma Bart. called ine 04
examined.
Is the state of his Majesty's health such as 191!
der him incapable of coming in to his '
ment, or of attending to any kinicx:finpnnblic tenitim
—lt is such as to render him incapable of corning to
his Parliament, or of attending to any kind of jobir
business..
What is the present state of his Majesty's bad
health I—Not good, by any means,
What is the present state of his Majesty's
health ?—Extremely disordered.

Adverting to the state of his Majesty's bog. Liai
mental health, since your last efiAlnination D'z'a
Committee of the House of Commons, are yI
of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is pruball
improbable ?—lmprobable.
In what degree do you consider it as improbaik
—Very improbable.
Are you of opinion that his Majesty's wow?
hopeless
On what do you found the opinion, that his 16`
tsty's recovery is not hopeless, that very iials",
able I—lt is very improbable, froth the chare
, his present symptoms; from the duration of die&
order, and from his Majesty's advanced period_eflit
but, above all, from the influence of bis Merr
,peculiar satiation and circumstances, upon his irtio
Me constitution. But his Majesty's faculties tiro
E. Sian memory are net impaired.
did you fist form an opinion that ths
very of his Majesty was very intpmbable ?Al
*links; of July last 1 thought it improbable;
the continuance of b;s symptoms since that sir
made it very improbable, in my opinion.
Do you expect that his Majesty will recce
do not expect that be will recover.
Is bis moiesty in a state to converse upoo
affairs I—Certainly not,
Has dm beta any period lime your last er