Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-17
THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III.

THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III.
Tae discipline of insanity has refined
many rough natures and quickened many
~'ld hearts that otherwise might have
passed as misanthropes in the world.
Among these NAV fairly be classed George
III. Few princes, ~ says Lord Brougham
"hayc been more exemplary in their do
nestle habits or in the Offices OF private
friendship But the instant his prcroga
tive was concerned, OF his bigotry inter
lercd with, or his will thwartcd, the most
bitter luminosity, the most calculating
GOODNESS of heart, took possession Of his
breast and swayed it by turns" This
disposition made him unpopular at times,
and, but for correcting proyidence--thc
chastlsemcnt of his constantly threaten
Ing aillction-- might have lost him his
throne. His frequent mental distresses
made him humble, and kept his heart
open to the unfortunate and the poor
Like Lear, he could look upon the mean.
est of his subjects and say
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel"
The King was first attacked by insanity
in 1865, when be was twenty seven years
old. 1t was in the spring time. AS is
usual with the first manifestations of
disease OF this kind, when constitutional,
he soon recovered.
In the latter part OF the autumn of 1888
the King appeared 10 be nervous and rest
less, unsettled in mind and apprehcnsive
Returning from long ride one bright
October day, he hurried by, entered his
apartment with an anxious, distressing
look upon his face, and ilinging himself
into chair, burst into tears, eNclaiming;
am going To be mad, end | wish to
God might die!'
The apprehension of AN attack of in.
sanity Is most fearful thirg; few scenes
OF suffering not associated with guilt and
crime can compare with the terrors OF a
man who is conscious that he is no longer
master of himself, that his will is losing
the power 10 retain his intellect What
may he not be left 10 do? We have read
OF the poet Collins sobbiEg and mourning
in the shadowy aiSles OF Chichester Cathe-
dral, whittier he was accustomed 10 resort
Ia seek tor solace in prayer and in music
Of the organ; of DR.. johnson trembling
day by day for nearly halt u century lest
The bitterness of tie melancholy he had
suffered in early manhood should return
of Charles Lamb and his poor insane sis.
ter going across the fields 10 the neigh
boring asylum, weeping and bitterly
wringing their hands, because the dis.
trcsSed girl knew that the season of dark.
ness Was coming again; OF the prayers of
Cowper amid the solitudes of pney and
on the banks OF the ouse, and the con.
cealed auNicties of the overworked brain
Of Southey, amid the seclusion OF Kcs.
wick, The most dangerous and dis.
,rcssing period OF mental malady is that
when the passions and emotions are
partly unclaimed, and the consciousness
of right remains, without the power to
pursue IT,
The sutlrrings of the King during the
first apprehensivc DAYS OF his malady
were painful to witness, and his conduct
WAS most humiliating for the monarch of
"a realm whose Empire followed the sun
He aWoke," SAYS one of Sheridan'S cor.
respondents on one occasion, with all
the gestures and rawlings OF confirmed
maniac, and new noise in imitation OF
tbc bowling of dog" He seemed
tempted with suicidal thoughts. and re.
quiged constant watChtuucSs and re
SIript, This morning." SAYS one, "hc
made an attempt To- jump out OF the win.
dow and Is now very turbulent and IN.
coherent"
The King grew worse during the last
days al tall On the 20th of November he
was removed 10 Kew, where he WAS toex-
peucnce almost unSpcakahle horrors.
Here he grew worse his disease became
settled and the sad particulars of his con
duct during the drrary months ot Dcccm.
Der and January have, perhaps with COM
mendable prudence. beer withheld from
The public eye.
The Kings illness not yielding 10 the
treatment OF the physicians, the Queen
and her advisers thought proper 10 bring
20 their assistance some one particularly
skilled in diseases OF the mind. Their
choice fell on DIR. Francis Willis. high.
ly-cducutvu minister and physician, who
seemed 10 possess great natural power in in
nuenclnc those whose intellccis were dis
ordered, but who were vet capable OF
moral restraint. His advice in cases OF
This nature was sought by people OF the