The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-02-28 00:00:00

THE 13TATONA

the subject ; If he really thought as he said, he could net
breve any mind; his Lordship might wish enutiugiy to for-
ward the present Commission of Lawn and as a motive
of policy be might exhibit or Wait to exhibit a certain de-
gree of uneonsdnese eroded,
Again imitated by Mr. Teue-eCannot sweet, that say or
all of the persons is Whelk asylums are mad ; cannot say
that there may sot be some among them eating the isno-
t* for the purpose of forwarding a particular object or
policy; is 'tot wren of say means of detecting such La-
positions.
By Mr. Bancs—His Lordship Is perfectly competent to
manage his own again and property, it he had an holiest
steward and an honest banker; he is also competent to Bo-
leti his steward sod banker, and afterwards to detect soy
Impropriety is their conduct,
Suppose, Sir, a man, a Nobleman Is married, his wife
makes it a rule of her conduct to carry a horsewhip about
her, to keep one in her hederoom, to apply it occasionally
by way of chastisement; she coolly witnesses the daily in-
sult and illetreatment of her husband; she introduces an
adulterer into her family ; she practices a refinement of
cruelty (which I hope is without a parallel) by sending ben
husband to fetch this adulterer to her bed, and witnesses.
nay merle encourages • barbarity of conduct and treatment
Nom this adulterer to her husband; suppose this case, and
further, that the husband on no one occasion, resists, op-
poses or complains of this depn wed and unexampled eoadect,
what would be your opinion of the competency of this hus-
band to manage his own affairs, and superintend the ex-
penditure of his money, and the disposel of his propertyt—
Supposing this ease to be possible, which I deny to be
either probable or possible, I should say, that he was to-
tally incompetent to superintend any one of the common aft
fairs and transactions of life.
Suppose this case to be merely hypothetical, and that it
be related by the husband himself to a Jury sworn to trr'
the 'deity of his mind—what would then be year *violets at
bisel—l should think such a man very wicked—addicted to
&behead—sod who was desirous of getting rid of his wife.
Mr. Rauca—Then I have done.
By Mr. Nose—Believes his Lordship to be of sound
elided, competent to form a correct perception, ant to arrive
at a probable conclusion—this would be an act of the jeep
mast.
in the course of the day, Lord Portsmouth, whose desire
to satisfy the Court, and Jury, sod himself, with another in-
terview,had been previously announced, arrived at the Free-
masons' Tavern, sod it being erroneously undetstood that
Mr. Sergeant Pell, with a medical gentleman, had gone Into
the private room where his Lordship was, a sharp altereation
ensued, not only between the opposing Counsel, but between
Mr. Sergeant Pell, and some of the tientlemes of the Jury.
After that hed terminated, the Court, counsel. and jury,
withdrew, to visit Lord Portsmouth in a private room, from
whence they adjoersed the Court till the following morning.
From what has transpired of the re-examination of Lord
Portsmouth, it seems that his Lordship appeared perfectly
prepared upon all the subjects upon which be was question-
ed—still, however, various answers escaped him, which,
from their Incoherence or simelleity, ere said to have made
a strong impression upon the Gentlemen of the Jury.
On Thursday, Dr. Munro and Dr Francis Willis. who had
had previous interviews with Lord Pord Portsmouth. were
addled by the Jury to he put into the witoess-box, they oat
baring been called by the Counsel on either side.
Dr. Munro examined by Chief Commissioner Tnowsa ;
attended Lord Portsmouth on the 7th of January, received,
previously to his visit, a greet variety of affidavits, which
were laid before him by the direction of the LordChanceUor;
Was introduced to his Lordship by Mr. Coombs as a Mr.
Thomas ; proceeded to exalt/Ise Lord Portsmouth upon va-
rious topics ; he stated that he had been compelled against
his will to sign many blank drafts, sod also to assign over
so estate in Hertfordshire ; he said he had, been impotent
for eight years. but had once had connection with Lady
Portsmouth in November, ISM. Me wished to be divorced;
had already selected and determined upon his future wife ;
he expressed his ieteetiots to have a throne erected for the
purpose of celebrating the birth of the child, which, in the
very next breath he disclaimed as his. Alder had slept to
the some bed with his Lordship and Lady Portsmouth; would
not turn him out of the room, because the Countess would
est allow him. Saw his Lordship on the enseing day; his
Lord'ship's .nanner was Megabit and morbid ; be stated that
he had been turned out of his bet-town, and locked spin his
dressing-room. From the observation of witness at these in-
terviews, he is of opinion that his Lordship's mind is decided-
ly unsound: should think, that his Lordship was insane ten
years ago, when he was pulled from his horse by his ser-
vant. whose Le Aid set eisenrarslim Oiereterge. • " I eeasidtm
his Lordship's ease as hiaacy supervening upon a very week
mind; I conceive, from the way in which his Lordship rea-
sons, if he may be said to reason at all, that his Lordship is
both insane and a fool."
By the Jury—Conceives weakness and testae) combined
in his Lordship's unsoundness of mind—Lord Portsmouth**
case Is not dubious,' it is clearly marked ; his Lordship's
mind has always been weak; his insanity has doubtless
been aggravated, although not created, by the cruel treat-
ment he bas received, and the rapid journey from Edinburgh
—ill-treatment may have beet an excitement, acting upon a
pre-disposition to disease. Lord Portsmouth's unsoundness
of mind is incurable ; he considered the mere seeing of Dr.
Hamilton as a necessary preparatory step for Lady Ports-
mouth being delivered of a child: should have little doubt
that his Lordship was born with a very weak mind.
Doctor Francis Willis examined by Chief Commissioner
TROWER.—Saw Lord Portsmouth on the Red of Janasry ;
was introduced by Mr. Coombs by the name of Jones, and
received very well. His Lordship said he had been taken to
Edinburgh against his will, to serve the purposes of a base
woman; her Ladyship and the whole of her family had ill-
treated him ; his Lordship called Lady Portsameth Mrs.
A—; they had knocked him down and flogged biro ; Mrs.
A. had brought Alder to his bed, and had had a child by
him ' • his Lordship said he had never had sexual intercourse
with any body ; be had been made to sign blank drafts—
turned out of the carriage at Witham to make room for Mr.
Alder ; he said they had never made him ride behind the
carriage, but he thought It quite sufficient degradation to be
made to ride before. He was extremely anxious for a divorce,
and wished to know if he could marry a niece; if he obtain-
ed a divorce, he intended to erect a throne at llurstbottrne,
similsr to that used on the occasion of his Majesty's Coro-
nation; at another time he expressed his intention of using
the throne for the purpose of receiving congratulatory ad-
dresses upon his return from Scotland after his long absence.
Witness saw his Lordship last Monday week : Mr. France
called upon him, and asked him what was his opinion as
formed at the three interviews he had with his Lordship T
Witneastold Mr. F. that he thought he (Mr. Franc eked sot
al
a leg to stand upon. Witness considered Lord Portsmouth'
mind decidedly unsound ; in feet, his Lordship, Nile Was in
a low condition of society, would be looked upon as a—
.' Tom-a'Bedlani," and would be pointed at by persons in
the street as one wholly destitute of understanding. and 4s-
capable of managing any business of importance. lard
P.'s mind was not of such a description as would be capable
of being remedied.
Examined by the Jury.—The treatment Lord P. met with
from Lady Portsmouth probably did not aggravate the dis-
ease. Witness believed that Lord P. had the unsound mind
from his birth. Lord Portsmoutb, either in bodily sickness
or in bodily health, was just the same in the mind. No man
weuld follow a log of wood and mistake it for a hearse,
should be entrusted with the management of his own affairs.
Looked upon the condact of Lord Portsmouth to be that of
complete unsoundness of mind.
After this examination closed. Mr. Adams was heard upon
the evidence, and, having spoken from one o'clock till four,
the Court recommended him to postpone the remainder of
his observations till this morning.