The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-01-16 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

Committee of the House of Commons, are you now
of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or
improbable ?—lmprobable.
In what degree do you consider it as improbable ?
-=lt is highly improbable, but not in an eitreme
degree.

Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is
hopeless ?—No.

Is it your opinion that the prospect of his Ma-
jesty's recovery is all but hopeless ?—No. his Ma-
jesty, from the middle of July last till about the se-
aid week of Decc:nber, appeared to me to be more
uniformly disordered in his mind than he has been
since that period; had the same degree of disorder
still confirmed, I might perhaps consider his Ma-
jesty's condition as almost hopeless, but the subse-
quent improvement, slight as it has been, makes
me think altogether more favourably of the termina-
tion.

In what has that slight improvement consisted ?
It coniists in a greater power of conversation, and
in having laid aside some erroneous notions with
which his Majesty had been before possessed.
Is it to be understood that his Majesty's mind is
not sfs Much impressed with the errors which had
imssession of it before, as it was in the middle of the
month of July last ?—The errors to which I allude,
bad grout. up in his Majesty's mind, between the
middle of July and the end of August ; from the se-
cond week in December, his Majesty's mind has ap-
peared to me to be clearer, and freer from error, than
it had boleti in the latter part of August.
Do the errors which existed in his Majesty's mind
before the middle of July last, still continue to exist
in the same degree that they did formerly ? The er-
rors and general character of his Majesty's disorder,
since the middle of July, have appeared to me alto-
gether different from what they were in any previous
part of his Majesty's illness; and though some ideas
may still remain, which possessed his Majesty's mind
early in Ms disorder, the greater part of them have
grown up since the middle of July.
You are understood to say, that those errors that
Lave possessed the mind of the King, between the
middle of July and the second week in December,
were quite distinct from those that had possessed it
previously to the middle of July ?,—Yes.
And you are understood to say, that those errors
were removed, or von much diminished at least ?
Some of them have been removed.
State whether the errors which possessed his Ma-
jesty's mind before the middle of July, still continue
to possess it ?—I believe I must go into some history
of his Majesty's complaint, from as long ago as Fe-
bruary last to the end of April :—llis Majesty had
appeared to be getting materially better in the months
of April, May, and June, there was very little of dis-
order exhibited • early in July there seemed to be a
fresh accession of disorder, so distinct in its character,
from his Majesty's previous state, that I look upon it
as indeed a new complaint. . .

Did the old complaint continne to subsist along
with theuew complaint ; or ►shen the new complaint
manifested itself in the mind, did the old complaint
seem to be extingaished ?-- il•en the new complaint
arose early in July, -though h►s Majesty was not well
from his former disorder, yet I am not conscious that
there were an► particular errors that at that time
rested upon his mind.
Do any of the errors that possessed his Majesty's
mind before the middle of last July, now possess it ?
His Majesty's mind is still possessed with the same
sort of false reasoning ; but I am not aware, that for
some time previous to the commencement of the pre-
sent disorder in July,there were any false facts upon
his Majesty's mind.
Then the error of his Majesty's mind, as you are
understood to state, previous to July, was merely
that of false reasoning ; are you to be understood
that that was the sole error of I►is Majesty's mind
previous to that ?—I think for two or three months
previous to July, that had been the state of his Ma-
jesty's mind.
Does that propensity of the mind still continue ?
—Yes.

Did that false reasoning extend itself to many sub-
jects, or did it confine itself to a few ?--It was prin-
cipally confined to a few ; but there were many sub-
jects upon which his Majesty's judgment could not
be trusted.

Does his Majesty's mind continue to be engaged
upon those particular subjects on which you say it
was principally engaged at that period ?—Yes.
When his Majesty's mind runs upon those sub.
jectg, on which you sav it was principally engaged,
is it subject now to the same false reasoning it was
then ?—Yes.

You have said, that you consider his Majesty's
recovery as highly improbable; have you ever known
any person circumstanced in mental health as the
Ring is now circumstanced, and of the same age as
Lis Majesty, IrcOVer from an illness such as his Ma-
jesty's —I never knew any person under the same
circumstances of disorder and age as his Majesty.
How long have you been of opinion that his Ma-
jesty's recovery was highly improbable ?—Perhaps
from the latter end of August. [Withdrew.
Dr. 'Noires Muwao called in, and examined.
Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to ren-
der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia-
ment, or of attending to any kind of public business?
—I think his Majesty's state is such as to render him
incapable of coming to his Parliament, or of doing
any public business.

What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily
health?---The present state of his Majesty's bodily
health is tolerably good.
What is the present state of his Majesty's mental
health Majesty's mental health is insane.
Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and
bodily health, during his present indisposition, as
far as it has cane under your observation, are you
now of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is pro-
bablo or improbable?-4 think his Majesty's reco-
very is improbable.

te 'what degree do you consider his Majesty's re-
covery to be improbable ?—I think it to be very im-
probable.
Are you of °pillion that it is hopeless 2—Certainly
cot.

On what do you found your opinion that his Ma-
jesty's, mental situation is not hopeless?—His Ma-
jesty has no symptoms of fatuity • if his Majesty had
those symptoms, } should certainly consider it as a
hopeless ease.'

• , ,

Do )ou consider that in all mental disorders,
not accompanies by fatuity, there always some
hope ?—I certainly think there is a chance of re-
covery.
In the course of your practice, ha.ve you frequently
had hopes founded upon such reasoning realized ?
Certainly.
Have you ever known a patient circumstanced as
his Majesty is, as to mental disorder, and period of
life, recover ?-1 have known patients older than his
Majesty recover.
• With the same degree of mental disorder ?
Not with the same degree of mental disorder • I
have seen very few cases of persons so old as his ila-
jesty.

130 you conceive that the peculiar situation of
his Majesty, circumstanced as he is, with regard to
his regal dignity, has any effect upon his distem-
per ?-1 think there is a vast deal of irritation about
his Majesty, which is seldom seen in patients in ge-
neral.

Do you conceive that any degree or portion of his
Majesty's disorder, is ascribable to his being a King ?
—I think, certainly, that the anxiety and cares of
Government may possibly have contributed to the
disorder.

At this moment do you think that the sense of his
own situation, as being the Sovereign of the country,
has any elect, one way or other, upon the state of
his mental health ?—I should think not.

Does his Majesty skew any anxiety on the subject
of public auairs ?—I have had very few opportuni-
ties of seeing his Majesty ; during my presence with
him, I have not observed any thing of the kind.
Do you conceive that his Majesty's station has, or
has had, or is likely to have any, and what effect
upon his mental disorder ?—I conceive that his Ma-
jesty has not suffered .from his high situation, ai far
as I have had an opportunity of observing, during
my attendance.

Do you think that the reflection upon his own re-
gal state, when his mind is in a state of progress to-
wards recovery, might have any effect either in re-
tarding or accelerating that recovery think it
might have some effect in retarding that recovery.
Bow long 117,0 is it since you first saw his Majesty ?
—The first time I saw his Majesty was on the 9th of
October.

Have you seen the King regularly from the 9th of
October ?—I have been at Windsor ten different
times ; the first seven weeks I was there once a week,
went on the Friday, and came hack on the Satur.
day ; the three last visits once a fortnight. •
Haveyou witnessed any improvement in the King's
mental state latterly ?—I am not aware of any im-
provement. [Withdrew.]
Dr. SARI= FOART SzststoNs, called in, and exa-
mined.

Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to ren-
der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia-
ment, or of attending to any kind of public busi-
ness ?—lt certainly is.

What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily
health ?—Upon the whole, very good.
What is the present state of his Majesty's mental
health ?—A state of great derangement.
Adverting to the state of his Majesty's mental and
bodily health, during his present indisposition, as far
as It has come under your observation, are you of
opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable, or
improbable ?—lmprobable.
In what degree do you conceive it to be improba-
ble ?—lt isdifficult, perhaps impossible, to say.
Are you of opinion that it is hopeless ?—I am not.
Ilow• long have you attended the King ?—From the
9th of October.

• Upon what do you ground your opinion, that the
King's recovery is improbable?—On the different at-
tacks, and the repeated attacks that his Majesty .has
had; his age; and what I have observed occasionally
of the symptoms of the disease under which he now
labours.

Did you ever see any person as old as his Majesty,
find labouring under the same degree of mental de-
rangement, recover'—Several.

Did you ever see any person as old as bia Majesty,
and who had so long laboured under the same degree
of mental infirmity, recover ?—I have seen persons
as old as his Majesty recover, after, I think, a longer
duration of the disease/inn the present attack.
After as many repeated attack, as his Majesty has
had ?—With respect to the number of attacks, I have
had occasion, in hospital practice, to see persons,
who have gone through a long life, occasionally sub-
ject to attacks of this kind; I have known persons
attacked ten, twelve, or more times, and recover from
each of those attacks.

And died of age at last ?—Yes.
Not in a state of insanity ?—I cannot immediately
recollect instances, but I believe I may venture to
say, that I have known some die of other disease, and
not in a state of insanity.
Their last attack having come upon them at the age
his Majesty has now attained ?—That is hazarding a
great deal ; it would require time and reference to re-
cords to answer that question; but I certainly have;
seen patients as old,and much older than his Majesty,
recover from attacks of this kind.

You say that you consider his Majesty's recovery 1
as improbable ?—I do.
You say you have known persons as old as his Ma-
jety,
and labouring under an equal degree of mental
derangement, recover ?—Yes.
Then why do you think his Majesty's recovery im-
probable ?—Because the number of recoveries of per-
sons of that age is very small in comparison with the
number of recoveries of those that are younger, the
instances of recovery become less in the advanced
periods of life. In St. Luke's Hospital, we find
that to be so much the case, that for the last three
years, it has been resolved to admit no person above
the age of seventy; before that we were not restricted
in point of age ; and, in the course of about thirty
years, there have occurred (for I looked over the
Reports) about seventy-eight instances of persons of
seventy years and upwards who had been admitted,
and of that number only about sixteen had been
discharged from tha books of the Hospital as cured :
whereas, taking the whole number of patients, dur-
ing that period, the number amounting to above six
thousand,, about one half, or very nearly half, have
recovered, but only one patient in five of that ad.
vanced age have recovered.
Is not the state of his Majesty's constitution and
genus' health remarkably strong considering the pe-

riod of his life ?—His Majesty's constitution is so
good, that I should rate him as a man of sixty, in
point of health, now at this moment.
Have you perceived latterly any symptoms of im-
provement in his Majesty's mental health ?—I have
thought, for the last month, his Majesty detailed
anecdote, and seemed inclined to listen to what was
said to him by those about him, rather more than he
did at the beginning of my attendance.
Do you consider that as any material symptom of
improvement ?—I have thought it rather a favour-
able sign.
Do the symptoms of his Majesty's present disorder
differ is any respect, a .Olin what, from those which '
you bad an opportunity >bf observing when you at-
tended his Majesty in his illness in 1804 ?—The state
of his Majesty's ideas is very different from what it
was in 1804 ; the fact is, that the symptoms of men-
tal disease must be, in a great degree, the ideas of the
patient; it is not like a bodily disease, you can
judge of the state of a man's mind only from the
ideas he gives forth, and they are, in many respects,
very different from what they were when 1 attended
. his Majesty before.
IDo the differences which you observed in his Ma-
ljesty's present and past state lead you to form con-
clusions more or less unfavourable to his ultimate re-
covery ?—More unfavourable.
have you ever discovered any symptoms of fatuity
in his Majesty's case ?—I have not.
Do you, on account of the absence of that symp-
tom, think less unfavourably of his Majesty's re-
covery ?-11lore ihveorably.
Have yoga been in the habit of classing the different
description^ of mental disorder ?—That is a matter of
so much difficulty, that I have not attempted it any
more than the common distinction of mania and me-
lancholia; low spirits and high spirits, or more or
less irritability.
Do you conceive the loss of sight in his Majesty
would have any effect in retarding or accelerating his
recovery, or rendering it more or less probable ?—The
number of cases of blind persons that I have met
with, who have been insane, has been extremely
small ; they do not amount to more than seven sr
eight ; they have been all of them unfavourablecases;
and it is difficult to say what effect blindness may
base, with respect to the treatment of an insane per-
son ; in some points it may he favourable, but in ge-
neral one would suppose it was rather unfavourable.
You cannot guide and manage the patient as well as
if be could see.

Do you mean by unfavourable cases,cases in which
the patients do not recover ?—Yes.
Do yen conceive that the reflection upon his regal
state, when his Majesty's mind is in a state of pro-
gress towards recovery, might have any effect what.
ever in retarding or accelerating that recovery ?-11is
Majesty has appeared to retain a consciousness of his
regal state, and that seems to have given a peculiar
feature to his disorder, and makes it in some degree
different from that of an ordinary case; but I should
find it very difficult to say how far that would retard
or promote hi: recovery ; it makes the case rather
more difficult to conduct.

Have the goodness to state, whether you consider
his Majesty's perceptions as clear and distinct ?
His Majesty's perceptions, with respect to any ob-
ject that is presented to him, are correct; but he has
a number of ideas floating in his mind that are ex-
tremely erroneous. But he judges of the objects im-
mediately around him, his food and those things,
with great precision ; speaks of the goodness of a
dish, whether he likes it not, and knows eve► y thing
presented to him ; so far his perception is correct.
' Does his Majesty's memory appear to be at all af-
fected ?—His memory is firm and good.
Do you draw any inference from that circumstance,
with respect to the probability or improbability- of
recovery ?—That is certainly a favourable circum-
stance. [Withdrew.
- -

Luna, 13 die Junuarii, 1812.
The Right Hon. CHARLES LONG in the Chair.

Dr. Sir HENRY lixcronn, Bart. called in, and exa-

mined.

Is the stite of his Majesty's health such as to ren-
der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia-
ment, or of attending to any kind of public bu.i-
ness ?—lt is such as to render biro incapable of com-
ing to his Parliament, or of attending to any kind of
public business.

What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily
health ?—Not good, by any means.
What is the present state of his Majesty's mental
health ?—Extremely disordered.
Adverting to the state of his Majesty's bodily and
mental health, since your last examination before a
Committee of the House of Commons, are you now
of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is probable or
improbable ?—improbable.
In what degree do you consider it as improbable ?
—Very improbable.
Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is
hopeless ?—No.
On what do you found the opinion, that his Ma-
jesty's recovery is not hopeless, though very impro-
bable ?—lt is very improbable, from the character of
his present symptoms • from the duration of the dis-
order, and from his Majesty's advanced period of
life ; but, above all, from the influence of his Ma-
jesty's peculiar situation and circumstances, upon
his irritable constitution. But his Majesty's facul-
ties of perception and niemory are not impaired.
When did you first form an opinion that the re-
covery of his Majesty was very improbable ? —ln the
beginning of July last I thought it improbable; and
the continuance of his symptoms since that time has
made it very improbable, in my opinion.
Do you expect that his Majesty will recover?—l
do not expect that he will recover.
Is his Majesty in a. state to converse upon public
affairs?—Certainly not.
Hu there been any period since your last exami-
nation, when his Majesty's life has appeared in im-
mediate danger ?—No.
Is there any such danger existing now ?—I think
there was not when I left Windsor on Saturday ; but
I have reason to think that within the last four.and.
twenty hours the King has not been so well.
Had any fresh accession of disorder taken place
before you left Windsor on Saturday, or had you
reason to apprehend that it was coming on ?—His
Majesty was under circumstances to makevue rather
suspect that it was coming on, than that it had esta-
blished itself,

Could you ascribe the aggravation of the sit p.
toms that was coming on, to any particular cams
—No.

Is his Majesty's bodily health more impaired now
than it was six months age ?—I do not think it is.
Is his Majesty in a worse state of bodily health
than he was when you were last examined ?—No.
Have you observed any signs of amendment in !):s
Majesty since the beginning of Dnember ?—'l,l it
have been several occasions on which the violence
his Majesty's disorder appeared to he so far abatcd,
and his mind so cleared up, as to admit of his de.
tailing anecdotes of past times accurately, but u4t
to exercise a sound judgment on present circum.
stances.

Since the beginning of December, has his Majeo,.
shewn generally more disposition to conversation
His Majesty has frequently shewn himself rather mole
capable of conversation. _ _

Ilas his Majesty, iu any of those conversations to
which you have referred, adverted to the circurr.
stances of his own situation ?—Yes. By watching
the turn of his Majesty's thoaght, and the remark--
ble energy of his expressions, it is obvious that his
mind has been deeply stricken by the supersei;cion of
his authority. I think it is important to state tLis,
because it has a greater weight in determining tI4
opinion which 1 have formed as to the great impre.
bability of his Majesty's recovery, than the pa.rti.:u.
lar s% toptoms of his complaint. [Withdrew.
Dr. Jour' 'Mods called in, and examined.
Is the state of his Majesty's health such as to render Lim ion.
pable of osom:ing iu persoa to his Parliament, or of attending is
any kind of public busiaess I—His Majesty is incapable of
doing either.
What is the present state of his Majesty's bodily beat* ?—llit
Majesty's bodily health 1 have thought somewhat improved
since I saw his Majesty tirst, which was the 9th of October;
but not within the last week.

11 hat is the present state of his Majesty's mental health ? -
There Is a very great degree of derangement, and particularly
horderiag on insanity, having very much the symptoms of
sanit7 ; at the Aline time rather unusually and occasionally with
delirious characters.

Adverting to the state of his klajesty's mental and Wilt
health duriug his present :inn, as far as it has ems
under your observation, are you of opinion that his hlalest.s
recovery is probable or improbable ?—Very improbable. .
Are you of opinion that his Majesty's recovery is hopeless?—
No, certainly net hopeless.
On what do you found your opinion, 'that his MAjestv's rem
very isnot hopeless uiiuk It has not arrived at that tiv.o
point, at which caws generally are hopeless; it his not so tie.
cidedly that fixed character of insanity to rendetnit hopeless.
Do you expect that his Majesty will recover i—No ; I do I,JI
expect that his Majesty will recover.
When did von leave Windsor /—This morning.
What was his Majesty's state at the time you left Windsor'
A very indifferent state.
IS it worse than it w as last week)—Tee think it Is Cen4ja"
orse Mao it was last week.
Has tbere been any aggravation of symptoms within the lost
three days T-1 think there has • they have bordered more
the symptoms of delirium,perhaps mot to a pester degree than
pe 1 have seen since the 9th of October, but, as compared a ith ten
days or a fortnight before, there was then a better appearance.
From the 9th of October to the Yid November, 1 saw his Ma-
jesty only three days.
flow often do you visit his Majesty now?--I have been rest.
dent at Windsor ever since the 18th of November, vs ith the in.
terval of the list week I I returned otrSattistlay.
There appe.irx, in a Report presented to the House of Com-
mons from her Majesty's lAottnell, to have been the correction ut
an opinion giveu by one of the Physicians in his first exatniva-
tion ; were you the Physician wbu so corrected y•tur opinion '-
1 1 was. - _ _

-
Were there any grounds upon which you could forms different
opinion from that which yon gave in your first examination, be-
fore taemeond took place ?—I do not kno* . ti Oh regard to my
own feelings, that I for seed a different opinion, but hound that
I had nut t..ed a word with its proper iinduitt, bring perhaps is
the u, Aging me word tk . ipsur a more li:mt iusiuser team
ought to nave been : I did hot mean that 1 did despair totally;
bat one is perhaps apt, when speaking to the friend, of a person
who ask whether they shall remain loi.ger or tea, or whether yon
despair, to scy, I cenceive a person may recover, but I cacao'
be without despair, or I cannot help despairing; but on bear-
ing read the words 1 had uses, " I cannot help despairing,"
with an esupnasis laid upon them, I was struck with them as con.
vevine a meaning much stronger than I intended. 1 had net
beep ,n the habit of attending the Odeeo's Council.
Did you mean more by saying you despaired of the recovery,
than that you did not expect a i ecovery /—No ; 1. did not.
You attended the is on former Orem ? set,
Is his mental state worse now than occurreclat any time during
those previous illnesses when you saw his Majesty /—Very con-
siderably worse than I had seen his Majesty before.
You stated mat you were called in on the 9th of October; haS
your attendance upon his Majesty been prettv coustapt since
that time ?—From the 9th of October I saw the King only to the
lath of October, and was called in again on the Idtb of Novas
bee; slime which I have attended his Majesty regularly.
Since your attendance became pretty canstant, have you arse
witnessed any thing approachieg to a lucid interval in his Mal
jesty'S case ?—I have seen severa, times in which the King meld
hold conversation extremely well for a abort tin: but Ins Ma.
je•ty was always liahlo ta the disorder pressing upon the mini
again ct any manna. The King um held certainly geed cow
vermti
Do those couversationa appear to von r.• oe a favonmli,
teedene ?—Certainly, one cannot help !ialh.r.: a how from be::: -
ing those conversations ; but it requires to g t. to a fv,rtuer ad-
vanced point to be able to say that it is rea i an aineudnient ;
it is often what takes place when demur:ma ;1 goolaully
ceasing.
Then the derangement of the King's mind is not such as lc
leave you without holm at any moment ?—lt dad yeMerday mach
of a feverish tendency; it was more difficult to :titterer the
King front the influence of disorder on his mind, net there is ge-
nerally a capecity in the King to answer any sort of questious.
Since your attendance upon his Majesty, has there, in vout
judgment, been any appearance of progressive impritivemen't ?
I can hardly so well cull it progressive improvanient, as arca-
dotal ; there were many days on which then. Iva, a great de-
gree of quiet, that has taken place at differset tinicssince thei.34
ofalovember.

Is your opinion upon she improbability of bit btajerity's re.
coven a amnia now it Wai WI the 9th of Ootoirer P.-1s Is.
Do von consider his Majesty's dist-weer, is vneral, ucarest
allied to delirium or itistnizy i—For the most part. duris:g the
greatest part of the time 1 have seen his .11ijeitty to his µµ++ pent
indisposition, it has been nearest allied to insanity.—[Withdrew.
Dr. ROUERT DARLING WILLIS called in, and e-