Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-12-05
Madness of George III.


Little is known res oectng the nature of the
delusons which possessed the kings mind,
but the following passage from Lord Eldon's
pape's indicates one of them: 'sIt was agreed
that if any strong features of the kings mala
dy appeared during the presence of the coun-
Gil, Sir Henry Haiforl should, on receiving
signal from me, endeayor 10 recall him from
his alterations; and, accordingly, when his
majesty appeared TO be addressing himself to
two of the persons whom he most favored in
his early life, long dead, Sir Henry observed.
Year majesty has, believe, forgotten that
- and -- both died many years ago.
True was the reply, 'died to you and to the
world in general, but not 10 me. You, Sir
Henry, are forgetting that / have the power of
holding intercourse with those whom You call
dead
Yes, Sir HcnIy Halford,' continued he, as
suming lighter manner, 't is in vain, SO far
as | am concerned that you kill your patients.
Yes, DR.. Ballic but, BaiiIie, Bailie,' pur-
sued he, with resumed gravity, Il don't know.
He is an anatomst he dissects his PATIENTS;
and then it would not be a resuscitation mere
Iy, but recreation, and that, l think, is be-
yond my power
The following memoranda of his condition
from 1872 till his death, is given by an anony
mons writer. but are we'll authenticated / be-
lieve, and comprise all that have been al,
to find respecting this period, 'sAt intervals
he still took lively interest in politics. His
PERCEPTION good, though mixed up with a
number of erroneous ideas his memory was
tenacious, but his Judgment unsettled; and the
loss of royal authority seemed constantly to
prey upon his mind.-IIis maady seemed ra
ther to increase than abate up to the year 1914,
when, at the time the allied sovereigns arrived
in England lie evinced indications OF returning
reason and was made acquainted with the as
tonishing events which had recently occurred.
The queen, one day, found the afflicted mo-
march engaged in singing hymn, and accom-
panying himself on the harpsichord- After he
had concluded the hymn. he knelt down,pray
ed for his family and his nation, and earnestly
supplicated for the complete restoration of his
mental powers. He then burst into tears, and
his reason suddenly left him. But he after
wards had, occasionally, lucid moments One
morning, hearing a bell toll, he asked who owas
dead. Please your xlaiesty,' said an attend
ant, sMrs. s. sMrs. S. = rejoined the king,
sshe a linnen draper, at the corner of -
street, and brought up her family in the fear of
God.-She has gone to heaven; | hope | shall
soon follow her. He now became deaf, imbi-
bed the idea that he was dead, and said 81 must
have suit of black. in memory of George III,
for whom know there is general mourning
In 1917 he appeared to have gimmering of
reason again; his sense of hearing returned
more accute1 than ever, and he could distin-
guish persons by their footsteps. He likewise
recullected that he had made memorandum
many years before, and it was found exactly
where he indicated. After 1878 he occupied
a long suit OF rooms, in which We're placed So
veral pianos and harpsichords; at these he wo'd
frequently stop during his walk, play few
notes from Handle, then stroll on. He SEEM
ed cheerful, and would sometimes talk aloud,
as if addressing some nobleman but his dis
course bore reference only to past events, for
he had no knowledge of recent circumstances,
either political or domestic. Towards the end
of 1919 his appetite began to fail. In January,
| 1920, it was found impossible to keep him
warm, his remaining teeth dropped out, and he
was almost reduced to skeleton. On the eth
he was confined wholly to his bed, and on the
10Th of January, 1920, he died, aged 81 years.
I--.4meyieo~ Journaie Insaaify.