The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-05-12
Madness OF, George III.


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Madness of George HI.
Little is known respecting the nature OF
the delusions which possessed the Kings
mind, but the following passage from Lord
gdon's papers indicates one oil, them: It
was agreed that, ifany strong feature Of
the kings malady appeared during the
presence of the council, Sir Henry Halford
should, on. receiving signal from me. en-:
deavor to recall him from his alterations;
and accordingly, when his majesty appear
ed to be addressing himself to two or three
persons whom he most favored in bis early
life, long dead, Sir Henry observed. "Y.our
majesty has, believe forgotten that
and-both died to you and the world in
general, but not TO me. You Sir Henry, are
forgetting that | have the power of holding
intercourse with those whom you call dead
yes, Sir Henry Halford,'. continued he,
assuming lighter manner, 1T is vain, so
far as | am concerned, that you. will kill
yonr PATIENTS. Yes. DR.. Baiuie but,
Ballie, Bnllie.' pursued he, with resumed
gravity, I don't know He is an anatomi.t;
he dissects his patients; and then it would
not be resuscitation merely but a recrea.
ton, and that, | think, is beyond my pow
er. 'fsS1 h teN'.s'A . t'Sss
The following memoranda of bis condi.
tion from 1912 till bis death, is given by
an anonymous writer. but are well authen-
ticated. I believe, and comprise all that I
have been able to find respecting this Pc
riod. AT intervals he will take lively in
terest in politics. His perception was good,
though mixed up with number of errone:
Gus, ideas; his memory was tenacious, but
his judgment unsettled; and the loss of
royal authority seemed constantly to prey
upon his mind. His malady seemed to in.
crease than to abate up to the year 1914;
when. at tie time the allied sovereigns ar
rived in England, he evlnced indications Of
returning reason, and was made acquainted.
with the astonishing events which had recent.
ly occurred.
The Queen, one day. found the affiict ed
monarch engaged in singing hymn, and
| accompanying himself on the harpsichord.
After Re had concluded the hymn he kneit
down, prayed 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 afterwards had. occasion.
,lly, iucid moments On morning hearing
he'll toll. he asked who was dead pleased
your majesty said an attendant, Mrs. S.
Mrs 81 rejo:ned the king. SHE was linen
draper, at the corner OF -street, and
brought up her family in the fear Of God
She has gone to heaven;I hope shall soon
follow her, He now became deaf imbibed
the idea that he was dead, and said Il must
have a suit Of black, in memory of George
Ill.,, for whom I know there is general
mourning +'l 's'fFf' -
In 1917 he appeared to have a faint
slinmering Of reason again; his sense of
hearing returned more acute than ever,
and he could distinguish persons by their
footsteps He likewise recollected that he
had made memorandum many years be-
fore. and it was found exactly where he in
dicated. After 1918 he occupied long
suit Of rooms, in which were placed several
pianos and harpischords; at these he would
frequently stop during his walk, play few
notes from Handel, then stroll on. He
seemed cheerful, ard would sometim talk
aloud. as If addressing some nobleman; bur
his discourse bore reference only to past
events. FOR ne had no knowledge of recent
circumstances, either political or domestic.
Toward the end of 1919 his appetite began
to fail. In January, 1920. it was found
impossible to keep him warm; his remain.
ing teeth dropped out, ana he was almost
reduced to skeleton. On the 9th, he
was confined wholly to his bed. and on the
Goth of January, 1920. he died, aged 80
years,-Amerioan journal Of Industry.
A Yankee has invented new and cheap
plan for boarding. One of his boarders
mesmerizes the rest. and then eats a hearty
mea!-the mesmerized being satisfied from
sympathy.
"Sir," said lady to would he wag,
"your jokes always put me in mind of
BALI
"Of a ball, madame! Why SO, prav ,'
Because they never have point,
y. = u
~ do not think, madam, that any man Of
the least sense would approve your con.
duct" said an indigant husband
"Sir." retorted his better half, show can
you judge what any man Of the least sense
would do ?''
When does the TIouss Of Congress present.