The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-11-28
Correspondence orthc Free Trader.

INV YonK, Noy.

Blackwelrs Island is about three
miles from the city, and is situated
in the middle of the east river. One
part of it is occupied by the city and
county prison, and the other by an
Insane Asylum. The prison is a
long, high, dreary looking building,
capable ofholding one thousand pri-
soners. All the loaiers, vagabonds,
petty thieves, and abandoded out
casts, who are convicted Of less
than state prison offences are sept
here from the city. And if one de-
sires 10 read page ofhuman frailty
and degradation such as he never
before perused, let him visit this
prison and study the character of its
inmates. He will see all that is
brutal, wicked, and revolving. The
emaciated victims of loathsomc di-
sease, the swollen, beSotted counte-
nances of inebriateS, and the sinister
looks, and ferocious features of har-
dened villains, encounter one on
every side, and make the heart sick
en- with disgust. 1t is difficult to
believe that such characters are
human beings. 1t is true they have
the form, but it would be more rea-
sonable to suppose that hell had
given its inmates holiday, and
that they were now inleSting society
in the disguise ofhuman beings. No
age, no class, no sex seems to be
exempt from the temptations OF
crime. Here are to be seen old grey
headed men Of seventy, young girls
OF sixteen, and children of six years
old. Young men in the prime of life,
some of them the once favorite of
spring of wealthy families. Negroes,
molattoes, soaplocks, rowdies, pick
pockets, and blacklegs, are cheek by
jole, friends and fellow sojourners in
this house of entertainment, so kind
ly provided for all those in want of
characters and "sHeU0tionS."
The Insane Asylum is fine build
ing, and pleasantly situated on the
other part of the Island. 1t is under
the charge of DR.. Stewart, who
seems most admirably calculated to
discharge the difficult duties of his
station. His very interesting and
agreeable lady, takes a very lively
interest in the welfare of the unfor-
tunate inmates, and contributes in a
high degree to their comfort and
happiness by her cheerlulness and
assldious attention. There are at
present 100 inmates, 40 of them fe-
males. 1t is deeply interesting, and
yet most painful, to watch the move
ments and listen to the conversation
of these unhappy beings whose rea-
son has been dethroned and whose
empire of mind is now swayed by
the deamon madness. How strange
the vagueries of the insane, and yet
how much ''method" does madness
often observe. To give an extern
ded notice of each striking case no.
ticed here, would require more than
the limits of letter, shall there
fore only notice few Of the most
interesting cases. In passing thro'
the garden which is attached to the
asylum, and in which the peacable
portion of the inmates are allowed
to amuse themselves, observed a
young man with handsome features,
out pale and detected, seated in a
little arbour. His high marble fore
head, his large lusterous eye, and
expressive countenahce, clearly in
dicated high order of intellect.
On the Dr.'s addressing him he rose
and bowed politely, and Immediately
commenced, in a full rich tone. a
speech, that had it been appropriate
would have done honor to any one.
He imagined himself accused be-
fore legal tribunal, and made this
speech in his defence. He quoted
readily from the constitution and
laws to show his rights as a citizen,
and appealed with true eloquence to
the mercy of his imaginary Judges;
and had he really been accused and
made the same appeal in a real
court, he could not have failed Of
ellcltlng as much admiration as he
excited pity on the present occa-
sion. He is monomaniac. and.
aside Of this belief that haunts him
that he is accused of some hipl
crime, and every man is trying ia
bring HIM tojusticc, he is as rasion-
al as any man in the world, and
reads poetry and literary works with
delight; and writes some very fine
criticisms.
We next came to fine LOOKING
old man who, in 2 voyoge from the
south many years since, was wreck.
ed, and suffered so much from hun.
ger and cold, that, though he was
saved, his reason was lost. lie still
ima,glnes himself upon the wreck
and every now and then looks in the