Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-01-06


hor, in the early part of tho evening" either by med
cnes or by the application ofthe hand. She denouno
cd Neurology Us ridiculous absurdty and endeavor
ed to convince one Of tho committee that no quite
mistaken in believing in such pretended science, Us
there was no reason all in its support. She spoke
OF other sciences and doctrines, which she denounced
in similar terms, and declared that she relied only
facts and experience and the evidence Of her
ses. whatever proposition was advanced she would
always assume the negative and demand the proof of
lis truth. She denied the existence of thunder and
lightning, saying that she did not comprehend
them, she did not of believe in their reality.
Being asked If she did not believe that fire would
burn, she denied most positively that it would and
to prove the negative, she ran the heated stove to
place her fingers on il, and only prevented appa-
renly by her husbands grasplng her hand he being
unwilling that her fingers should be burnt for the il
ustra Of science.
Her mind was now, for few minutes, alternately
placed IN state Of profound faith and unbounded
skepcism, showing how completely her belief in any
thing was regulated by the state OF tho two organs.
The concluding experiments, which were by far the
most striking that the committee witnessed, and in
some points of view. were the most important, were
designed TO illustrate the nature and proxmate cause
oil insanity Insanity, according to DR.. Buchanan
is the result Of excessive action of particular organ
which stimulates the cerebral functions, as fever, he
says, is dependant, on high excitement of the organ
of caloricaon." The "organ of insanity was
first aroused in connection with that Of fancy. First
she bent forward with silly laugh and placed her
head in grotesque attitude; her countenance was
Silgntly distorted ana toaly Cnangeu IN expression;
her general appearance and the movement Of her
hands, presented picture which would be difficult TO
initiate or even TO describe, but which may OCCASION
all be seen within the walls of Insane Hospitals
She gazed with vacant stare upon Dr. Buchanan,
who was smiling at her wobegone physiognomy
and remarked in voice which sounded like the &C.
| cents of extreme old age" Young men must not
laugh at old people" She was now aroused from
this state, by exciting, in the words Of Dr. Bucha
nan, The region which produces sanity" She said that
she had just felt herself to be extremely old
man, and that she had been looking at the Drs spec
tacles, and had desire to ask him what they were.
Insanity was again excited in connection with self
esteem, to illustrate another of the various forms
which mOnomania assumes. The expression Of the
countenance was as insane us before, but the head
was erect and the eyes had more of an unnatural lus
tire. Some desultory conversation ensued, in the
course Of which she declared that she had created
the world In reply tolthe query "When7". She
said ''last year" To the question, How" She
answered with silly laugh! | mixed some stones
and sand and water, So, making a, the same time a
motion though she were forming globe IN the
hollow of her hand. Next she said, she made little
men OF clay, and put them TO dry in the sun. Being
asked when che made the sun, she repcd-"Oh !
that was before made tho earth" She made other
remarks equally oxtravagent in perfect keeping with
monama mia Of sef esteem. Her excited vanity and
pride led her to very erect attitude andto toy
with her curls as If conscious of her own beauty |;
and length, she announced that she Queen Vic
toria This i,tinia,on not being distinctly under
Stood she repeated 1t in more dlgnited manner, ris
ing at the same Une mo sui more imposing and
erect attitude. Being asked what evidence she could
give Of her royal power, she replied promptly-"T The
submission of my subjects here around me- and,
| at tho same moment, with graceful and dignlfed
motion Of the hand, ordered DR.. Forty to bow. The
DR.. bowed, and thus she proceeded among the COM
pany, all of whom acknowledged, in the same man
ner, fsnl,y TO her sceptre until her finger pointed
towards her husband, who proved absolutely refrac-
| tory. Finding, nlor a second command, that he
would not svnce his loyalty by bow, she observed,
with look of contempt and an air Of queeny digni-
ty" He is beneath my notice; I'll pass it by" Dr..
b. now solicited of her the appointment of prime
| minister, to which she readily acceeded "What Of
flee" said Mr.. Bryant, twill it please your majesty
| to bestow upon your humble and licge subject ~
She replied, that his claims would be properly con-
sdered but that was necessary for her first 10 con-
suit with her council. Upon this, she gave iisni-
ed wave Of the arm, saying in grave tore Retire
J All now turned from her presence, excepting DR.. B
her prime minister, 10 whom she Immediately ad
dressed the question =" WHAT news from the councl?'
DR.. u. replied that Parliament had refused TO pas.
the necessary appropriation bills when she rejoncd
=" How DO they dare to act thus, and what are the
reasous7" "Thcy complain" said the prime minis
.er, that you have squandered the revenue" "lhe,
arm, exclaimed" With this hand will punish them
Shall sign their death warranif" said DR.. B.,
question which at once made her pause IN her deter
mination. Then in a more subdued and conslderat'
manner, she asked her prime minister what policy i
would be best to pursue in this emergency. He nd
vised her 10 adopt concatory course, and 10 husl
the leaders Of the opposition. by bes,Owng each o
them a lucrative Office. This suggestion brough
forth burst of offended queeny pride. She repell
cd the idea of using bribery as degrading to her pow
er and majesty. "Whnt then shall be done abou
the bills?" said DR.. B., placing at the same time, hi
hand her head, in such position to subdus ,h
insane excitement. With hearty laugh, the spell
was now broken, she replied" You may put then
into your pocket, ii you please"
These experiments being concluded, one Of tn
committee entered into conversation with Mrs. X. il
tb,E md LAM n tpt pf, uhi
she conversed fuently; and being asked how man
Language she could speak she replied, five or six.
To ascertain the extent of her lingual powers DR..
excited, at the time, her organs Of memory an
language. Under his influence, she made long re
citation from the Tamud, in tho Chaldaic language
and chaurted in fluent and graceful style, the fit
second chapter of Isaiah in the Hebrew tongue whic
fell upon the of the listeners in the most mpres
sye, distinct, and pleasing tone. These language:
which she learned in her youth, she has now almos
entirely forgotten.
Concluded merit treek.)