Washington telegraph., 1851-02-12
THE MAC CLIO w N I.
BY J. H. BROWN.


,v AN alteration, is true. The particulars,
thrilling as they are, were taken from
the mouth of the unfortunate creature,
during one of the lucid intervals be-
tween his howles of madness, while con-
fined in the mad house of P, Eng
land. and may be remembered as being
noticed in the journals of the time; the
notes were laid aside-but not forgotten,
and the author but waited an opportuni-
Nv to place them iE this manner before
the readers of this sheet.-Literary Amer
lean.
"Aud here" said the keeper. as he
came to No. 13, from whence came low
moaning, ''here we have strange pris-
oner, from whom you may gather tale
worthy of note, and surprising any you
have taken, if we can but find him quiet,
as he is at times; a strange story IS his,
and he is one of the most savage and
raving prisoners we have at times"
So saying, he unlocked the door, after
having looked through she CRATE, and we
entered; crouched down upon his iron
and immovable stool in the corner, with
his face buried in his hands, his hair long,
black and matted, his dress fantastical
aud strange-being but the attire, torn
in various places, Of ring mimio-was
a man, who moved not at our entrance;
he was, like all we have seen, chained
by the wrists to the floor, rendering 1t
impossible for him to move more than
was required i'll sitting or lying upon the
coarse bed beside him. Nothing escaped
low noninr which
times, he sent forth, and shaking his
head, buried it still deeper in his hands.
The keeper said in this manner he had
passed whole days. and then he was
more peaceable and less violent.
Touching him with the end of the
stick he held in his hand, he said-"Look
up." And the miserable creature turned
up his haggard face to our view. "Why
do you come here again." said he, sadly,
ITO make a show of me! You tell me,
and those who come to see me that l am
mad! Do you not fear me! Ay, strong
man-do you not fear me, weak creature
that l am? Yes, and so you chain my
arms and hands and feet, so that l can
not lift them up. but look ye, there is
one thing you cannot chaln-one thing
you cannot manacle, and if you could, l
would bear all the chains that could be
heaped upon me-my memory. Chain
that, keep that d1ead form from before
me-let it not haunt me night and day
let me not hear that voice that rings for
ever in my ear, and you may chain and
load me down, and l will thank you for
it," And he dropped his head and bu-
ried his face once more in his hands.
"He has not been so rational for many
a day." said the keeper, "for which | am
truly thankful for he is like lion when
the fits are on him, and'--
sHa. ha. han' shouted the madman,
rising, and Ainging his arms as high as
his manacles allowed-"ha. ha. ha. am
with you once again. Come. is all ready!
Who goes first? Why do you stare so
wildly at me? Come. am merry, and
shall make them laugh out tonight! ha
ha! han' and his pale face was lit up with
wild demoniacal expression. Soon he
spoke again:
where's Mary! not come yet? Strange
knew we'll she should be here early
Why gaze at me? she is not-no, no.
nothing has happened me, is she
safe, is my dear child safe? Oh God!
remember, Mary is dead-dead! Ha! ha
ha' And with loud shrieks, he dashed
his hand to his forehead.
He sat down again upon his low iron
stool, dejectedly, and spoke not; then
looking UP again, he gazed round, and
tho nd ,,ouco1f x,hn ctnn6
by the door beyond his reach.
"Come nearer to me-" said he beck.
oning; "come near, not you; no, not you
fear you," and he shuddered as the
keeper stepped towards him, FL fear you
for your eyes strike terror to my heart
and that and the form of my child be-
fore me ever, | dread. Come, and l viii
tell you of my child-my little Mary
my own pet child. I'll tell you how she
died"
Not daring to trust myself within his
reach, stepped as near to him as posi-
BILE, so tina. he could not reach me; he
bent forward, placed his hand upon his
head, and, with sudden tremor ano
wildly glaring eyes, he began:
"Once, know not when, but could
count by days, knew the night, could
tell the bright sun and the clear moor
and stars, but now all are the same te
me-days l know none, and light fingers
around me ever; well, long, long, ago
ere came to this dull, gloomy place,
was out among men; drank, ate, CRED
laughed, like men, aye, and that too mer
rily, for l was jester in the ring, made