Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-05
TN the following day the.solicitor came t.

| dared MIN 10 remove any OF tnem alleging as
| one reason that she had lien upon them in
the shape of a bill of e300 against her lady
ship; but, in truth, she was fortified in her
| refusal by letter from Mr.. Hyde. Lady Lyt-
| toms solicitor, who had previously informed
| her that if any attempt should be made to
take the property. or any part oft she would
be justified in calling in the police, and Civ
ing the party into custody. Mr.. Loaden
| offered to pay the bill. but the answer to this
was. ~ would rather forfeit every shilling Of
! it than deliver the goods to you. They are
| in my possession, and / will not allow of
their removal" Finding persuasion vain Mr..
| LOaden retired.
We have said Lady Lytton's capture and
| the circumstances connected with it have
caused great degree of excitement among
| the inhabitants of this town; and if any
, proof of this were called for, or any substan-
! tial evidence of the opinion generally enter
| tanned required. could hardly give more
| satisfactory testimony than is contained in
| the following resolutions. which were adop-
| ted at a meeting of inhabitants, called by
gentleman who, though a perfect stranger to
| Lady Lytton. felt convinced that monstrous
! injustice had been inflicted upon her, and
| determined to use the very considerable in
| fiuence he possesses to obtain her free dom,
| if really not insane-Or, at least, to force on
such an inquiry into her mental condition as
should satisfy the public that she is not in
fit state to be at liberty. The gentleman in
question arrived in this town only day or
two before the came to his knowledge.
and Immediately upon becoming acquainted
with it he proceeded into the street, called
together such of the more Influential inhabi-
tants as he met, and within an hour the meet
ing took place. After discussion on the sub
ject the resolutions were thrown into the fol-
lowing FORM
At a meeting of certain inhabitants of
To nd hal atC g
Hotel on 9th July, 1858, Mr.. W. r. Hitchcock
in the chair, it was resolved.
On the motion of Capt. JONES seconded by
R. Easton, Esq,
l. That the removal of Lady Bulwer Lyt-
ton to a lunatic asylum or other place of
confinement, and the circumstances under
which she is said TO have been incarcerated
therein call for public expression of alarm
for the rights and liberties of the subject,
and particularly of distrust of the treatment
to which her ladyship is said to have been
subjected.
On the motion of Mr. TRUDELL, seconded
by Mr.. Day
2. That IA committee be now appointed to
watch the result of the extraordinary mea-
sures reported to have been adopted in Lady
Bulwers case, to the end that the public mind
may be satisfied, through their report that in
her ladyship's case justice is being dene.
Aud on the motion of Mr.. G. BLUETr, secon-
ded by Mr.. House.
3. That such committee do consist of
Captain Jones. Mr.. EaStOn and Mr.. Hitchcock;
aud that they do report to this meeting,
which is hereby adjourned to Tuesday, the
10th inst, at the above named place, at 7
O'Clock in the evening for that purpose.
W. r. HITCHCOCK.
Here we will leave this miserable tale; but
we are anxious. before closing our remarks to
avow that in taking it upon ourselves to set
it before the public we are acruated only by
sense of Justice and duty. For the truth of
the narrative we can refer to the lady who ac
companied Lady Lytton to LOndon; the de-
tails are given as they were furnished to us
without eXaggcration or distortion. If her
ladyship's mind is in such a state that she is
Il Int for lunatic asylum, and an asylum is
the only suitable place for her, no harm can
come from the publicity we give TO her case;
If not, then much good must inevitably arise
from its publicity-to her Chi fly and in an
unreasonable degree, but also to society, in |
no unimportant measure. The whole ques-
ton is of courSe-Is Lady LyttOn, we will |
not even say dangerously, but is she actually |
insane? We have said we firmly believe, |
from what we have seen and heard of her, |
she is not; and this view is entertained by all |
we have heard express any opinion upon the |
subject 1t is question Of deep Importance, |
whether it is rght-whethcr it is not utterly |
NIOiiS IIO>i dliStIOuS W IIc lIbCi tiCc VI |
individuals-that upon the word of two me-
deal men persons may he taken to mad |
house. where, if not already insane, they are |
undoubtedly placed in circumstances in every |
way calculated, by their horrible and fright |
full character, to destroy reason and produce |
insanity. We say nothing of their continued |
confinement, but of their being confined for |
moment. On every account power OF |
such awful magnitude should he destroyed, |
and confinement in lunatic asylum be pos
sible only after a public inquiry similar 10 |
that which must precede the commlttal OF |
person accused of felony to the common goal. |
Society in general demands this; helpless
woman requires it: and if there are any indi- |
vduals for the sake of whose character and |
reputation before the world the change should |
be made, they are those who occupy such IA |
position as Sir Edward LyttOn now holds in |
her Maiesty's government. As a Secretary |
of State he as is well known, exercises great |
in such cases: and men so highly |
stationed can always find ready tools for any |
work, however ncfariOus. 1t is right. then |
that suspicion against them should be rem
drred impossible-that no reasonable person !
should have ground for the supposition that !
they have committed or convinced at an |
atrocity at which the body shudders and by |
which the mind is applied. 1t is true that an
investigation into cases like that of Lady |
Lytton is compcllable when demanded by the |
friends of the incarcrratcd person; but the !
system is altogether contrary to the general |
equity of British laws and customs. To send !
to a madhouse person suspected of lunacy, |
and afterwards institute an inquiry whether
he is man or not, is mode OF procedure very
unworthy of a civilized nation, and which the |
people of tits country ought no longer to
endure. Lady Lytton's case will no doubt |
have the effect of drawing general attention
to this great anomaly, and probably it will |
tend in great measure to the accomplish |
ment of the desired change. Heaven grant
it may be so!
From he London Globe July Il.
The medical certificates that consigned
Lady Bulwer Lytton to a lunatc asylum
were not as represented by amorning paper,
signed by Doctor Thompson, but by a Mr..
Hale Thompson. in conjunction with Mr.. Ross,
surgeon apothecary. On the advice of her
solicitor, and with the concurrence of num-
erous body of her influential friends the facts |
of the case have been laid before DR.. Forbes |
Winslow, and this physician has undertaken
to ascertain the fact of her sanity or insanity. !
The case will now be properly aud fully in |
vestigated. We feel assured from what we |
hear, that Lady Lytton will in few days be |
released from the painful restraint TO which |
she is now subjected.
From he London Time, July IL.
We are requested to state, upon the best |
authority. that all matters in reference TO |
Lady Bulwer Lytton. about whom certain
statements have appeared in some of the pub |
lie journals, are in process of being amcably |
settled by family arrang ements to the satistac-
ton of all parties concerned.