Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-31
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
LUNACY OF LITERARY MEN.

We are inclined to think that the most
touching incident ofinsanity in literary men
is that of Alexander Cruden. The bearer of
this we'll known name was the son of an Alb
erdeen magistrate, and was born in lI0l.
He took his degree of NJ A. when he WAS
nineteen years of age; and was preparing
for the ministry when he fell passionately in
love with the daul hser of kirk m mister, at
Aberdeen. The affection was not returned.
The young and ardent lover went mad, and
he was placed in confinement. There calm
came occasionally over bis disturbed spirit at
each return it tarried longer than before.
In his lucid intervals young Cruden turned
to study, and therein he did not forget, but
he found some compensation for the indiffer
ence of the fair girl, whose heart was all CIV
en- to guilty love.
In year or two Alexander was released,
came up to London, gave private lessons,
went to the Isle of Man, was restless for a
while, but subsequently returned to the cap
ital, where he found employment as correc-
tor of the press His talents, industry and
integrity procured for him friends of such
quality, that, in 1875, he was appointed libra
rian to Caroline, wife of George the Second.
1t was then that he addressed himself to the
completion Of that great work with which
his name is still connected, "Cruden's Con-
cordance"-in which he did alone, what. five
hundred years before, Hugo de st. Marc,
with FIVE hundred monks to help him, had
attempted in vain.
1t must have been proud moment when,
in 1877, Cruden presented the first copy Of
this volume to the Queen, who promised him
some noble recompense. But Caroline died
ere it was rewarded, and Cruden, who had
engaged all his little fortune on that huge
venture, stricken with terror and disappoint-
ment again made shipwreck of his reason.
aud was conveyed to an asylum in Bethnal
Green In course of time he issued thence
in better but not in perfect state of health
and mind. He published wild pamphlets,
and entered actions which he would feign
conduct himself, against those who recently
had him under their care but gradually he
settled down again-a corrector OF the press.
remarkable for his profound scholarship, his
unbroken taciturnity, and his unrelieved
melancholy.
A singular accident then occurred to him;
he accompanied friend to house in the CT
ty, the door of which was accidentally open
ed by the early and sole idol of his heart
Cruden sprang back trembling from head to
foot and, leaning on his friend for support.
exclaimed as he pointed to her, ut is she !
it is she !" and then gazing at her, added,
"And the same black eyes the same black
eyes !" The gloom of the noble lover and
profound scholar settled round him thicker
and more oppressively than ever, till 1853.
when he was again under restraint. When
he was once more restored, he suggested to
his relatives that, as some compensation for
what he had endured, they should among
them suffer as much loss Of liberty, in various
prisons to be chosen by themselves, as he
had been deprived of, unjustly, as he thought,
during his confinement.
His after life was strange mixture OF the
wild and the sensible. He would work well
half the night through at correcting proofs of
the classics; completed new edition Of his
concordance" in l776-which the King re-
warded by present of Gl00-and proclaim
ing himself public corrector of morals de-
manded to be so recognized by an Order in
upon him the honor of knighthood! He
wrote and lectured in Latin and English ON
this subject, and in various parts of the
country.
As he went he scrupulously tore from the
walls all bills which seemed to him to be
dangerous to morals and with sponge.
which he always carried for that purpose,
he etfaced all inscriptions which he thought
unbecoming in pure and Christian land
AS he grew older his reason became more
disturbed, and perhaps it was some resem-
blance to his Aberdeen idol which induced
him to pay such courttn barouet's daugh-
ter as to compel the father to take the young
lady on foreign travel.
Poor Cruden Immediately printed copies
of prayers, to be publicly used for her safe
return and when this did occur, the sim
pile swain harmlessly employed himself in
circulating printed thanksgivings for that
happy event. Soon after this he died d--wth
an affecting touch ofmadnoss in the manner
of his death-AthenGum.