Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-11-16
For the Herald of the Times.
States Asylum for the Insane, &c.

nevertheless been much interested in read
ing the stirring remarks made by Mr.. Updke,
in the Legislature at its last session, relative
to the situation OF our insane paupers, and
also as regards the present system of public
instruction in this State. II you can give
place in your columns to those remarks as
reported in the Evening Chronicle of the Cd
inst, think the space would be well filled
and may tend to turn public attention, more
particularly to those too long neglected sub
jecis.
With regard 10 Mr.. Updikc's statement Of
the treatment of some unfortunate bjects
Of insanity, can feelingy bear witness To
It's truth, being myself acquainted with II
case existing in our State, which exceeds in
cnornily, anything ho has adduced, and in
hopes that by making some Of It's details
known to the public generally, it may be OF
service in cxpcditing the erection of an asy.
.um, il you think proper would thank you
to publish This communication in connection
The eyes of any of the citizens of the town
where the case exists, | trust they will not
ascribc any invidious motives to the writer.
as he can assure them that it is not made in
any i'll feeling, but purely for the purpose
above stated.
The case alluded to is of n man whose in.
sanity was thought to have been produced by
the habitna indulgence Of q naturally strong
and wilinl temper, which disposition still at.
tended him after he was bereit of reason,
and IN paroNysm OF insanity he killed fel.
low being. For some time after, ,he was con.
fined in Jail, and | believe IN the State
Prison, from whence he was removed, for
some cause, and building If it can be so
calcd) was erected for him in his native
town.
The writer visited Ibis maniac in company
with two gentlemen of responsibility residing
in the nelghborhood, one of them being the
Ovcrsecr of the Poor. AS we were on our
marked that the insane person had been TAX.
On out Of his prison but once since his con-
fnrmcni- (which think had been for sevc-
raj ycar-.) at II time when /, was thought he
would probably dic-havlng refused to take
any susicnonce whatever for ~ or I3 days-
aud he was taken out, rs was stated, that he
might "dic dccen,y," or words TO that effect.
Ia justice TO the Ovcrsecr will Just remark,
that he appeared fully aware Of the unsuita-
bl"ncss of be manlac's prison, and appeared
anxious that he shonld be removed to an asy.
Ium at the charge of the town, and expressed
himself willing to contribute share of the
expense.
The cell vas detached from any other
building, and was constructed entirely of
stone, or rather iocks--ovrr which was roof
of wood to protect the mason work from the
weather. There was not any window nor
even ch'nk or Granny left in any part of,
the outside door or building by which par
ticlc Of light could enter. was admitted
through I'll iron door, which shut close and
opened into a narrow passage. about midway
oi which, IN another partition wall Of stone,
was second iron door closed and fastened
with hole in the hottom of it-perhaps
loot squarc-through which TIE wretched in
mates food might be passed. When this
'oor was opened The cir was so offensive, that
me OF the gentlemen, who accompanied
ne refused 20 enter-sayiug that he could
not bear it, and remarked, that he had no
dea OF the existence of such case, al. /,
hough he had always resided within few
miles Of the place.
The view Of the inside of ,lia prison beg.
.nrs all description. The light of lamp
brought by The keeper seemed insufficient to
llspcl the darkness within. although not To
'xcced perhaps six or eight feet in dimen
ions. 1t appeared to be irregular in its
hape, owing to the projections of the ragged |
nd nnhcwn rocks, piled tugether-largc
masses OF which hung from The roof ip
avern-kc manner. The floor was wet and \
nllrely of stone. Tcre was not an article
II furniture visible Of any description what
ver, excepting an iron beds,cad in the fur
her side of the cell, across which a cord
vas loosely woven. Immediately in front Of
he door and directly agains, his iron bed.
tcnd, confined by massive chain, hanging
rom the rocks above and made fast to his
nse, The links Of which were perhaps foo,
r more IN length, stood the wreichcd inmate
{ thus dungeon within a dungeon" in an
tutndc accompanied by demcanor, which
poke palmer than words can speak, that he
ldccd might have passed those gloomy por.
lls, over which is inscribed "lcavc all hope h
chind.' i
Mr.. Editor, have been in the prisons Of
ono, and in TIC deep dungeons of Venice -
D the far famed prison of Chllon-in the
nngcnns where the Lords and Basuns of
'cudal times incarccralcd the wrclched oh. !.
'cts of their unbridIed and irresponsible re.
cngc-and IN the gloomy cells whore the
bircts of MonkiSh hatred and supcrs,iiiun