The Sun. — 1832-12-05 (London, England)

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.  Yesterday an investigation took place at the Gray's Inn Coffee-house, tinder a writ de Lunatic() Inquirendo, to try the soundness of mind of Mr. Charles Wright, the well•known wine-merchant of the Opera-colonnade. The Commissioners were Messrs. Phillimore, Whitmarsh, and Winslow. Dr. Thomas Turner visited the supposed lunatic when confined in a private asylum at Holloway, but he could not recollect at what period. From the demeanour and conversation of Mr. Wright on that occasion he was satisfied that he was of unsound intellect. Among other delusions he fancied that he had got Madame Vestris's legs instead of his own. Witness again saw him on Saturday last, when he appeared in the same state, and said that he was the son of the late Duke of York; that all the money in the Bank of England belonged to him; and that he was the proprietor of the Opera-house and Drurylane theatre. Witness asked him what reason he had  for thinking that he was the son of the Duke of York ; to which he replied that the Duke had been with his mother, whose name was Priscilla Maria Guelphs, at Mr. Take's, at Homerton. He added, " You snow Guelphs is the name of the Royal Family ;" and, in the course of an incoherent conversation, he aMked witness to give him a shilling. Witness saw Mr. Wright on the preceding day at Mr. Finch's asylum, at Kensington ; and on attempting to bring him back to the subject of his being the son of the Doke of York, he began talking in an incoherent manner of " Tom " Welsh" taking him away in his cab. In the opinion of the witness he was of unsound mind.  Dr. James Johnson, of Suffolk-place, Pall-mall East, had known Mr. Wright four or five years, and had visited him professionally during that period. The first deviation from soundness of mind wits in April, 1830, when he appeared in a state of high mental excitement, which displayed itself by talking of Drury-lane theatre, and of his own affairs, in an irrational manner. Witness believed that Mr.  Wright had been a competitor for the lesseeship of Drury-lane, and held at that period the situation of box book-keeper in the theatre. Witness apprehended that he might commit suicide, and informed Mrs. Wright of her husband's condition, recommending that he should be confined forthwith in an asylum, as there appeared no prospect of his convalescence. This was accordingly done in May, 1830, when witness signed his certificate. [A letter was here handed to Dr. Johnson, who recognised it as the hand-writing of the supposed lunatic.] He had visited Mr. Wright at intervals since he had been a patient of Mr. Finch, at Kensington, and he was perfectly satisfied that he was labouring under an aberration of intellect. Sometimes he was taciturn, and on other occasions extremely loquacious. He saw him on the 22d of November, when he declared that he had two fathers and two mothers, and that his last fuller was the Duke of York. The CIIIEF COMMISSIONER, on the suggestion of the July, here directed that the unhappy object of their deliberation should be introduced into the apartment, in order to be examined. _ _  Mr. Wright was accordingly brought into the room. He bowed respectfully to all around, and was conducted to the Commissioners, who proceeded to put several questions to him, Mr. Phillimore premising that they were assembled to inquire into his state of mind. The unfortunate man's replies soon satisfied all present that his case was one of decided insanity. He said he had been brought from the asylum of Mr. Finch, at Kensington ; and went on to say that he expected to have become the lessee of Drury-lane theatre. He held a lease of 2l years of his premises in the Opera-colonnade, and lived in the house belonging to the manager of the King's theatre.  Mr. PIIILLIMORE inquired what ground he had For supposing he was the son of the Duke of York ?  In reply he told a long and incoherent story of having been in attendance at the Duke of York's funeral as a Gentleman Pensioner, and of his being required to follow the remains of his Royal Highness, as chief mourner. To illustrate his narrative, he invited a gentleman to precede him round the table at which the Jury were seated—he following in the attitude of a mourner.  Mr. PRILLIMORE again asked the supposed lunatic why he imagined he was the Duke of York's offspring. To which he answered, after a pause, " You know, Sir, it is a wise child that knows his own father ;" and, after another pause, he declared that he was perfectly sane, but made no complaint of suffering any restraint. Mr. PnthumonE next questioned him as to the delusion under which he was said to labour respecting Madame Vestris's legs. Mr. Wright, exhibiting much wildness of manner, said it was a dream, but dreams are sometimes realised. " It happened," he said, " that he was conversing with Mr. Price on the subject of stars,' and that he suggested engaging Madame Vestris, as she had acted Proserpine at the King's theatre, and was the best singer of the day." He knew Madame Vestris, and he sup. posed he must have said so, speaking of her performing in breeches or trousers. He drove to Madame Vestris's apartments in May-fair, and when he reached the theatre with her legs ---. Here he wandered from the subject, and expressed a hope that. the Jury would establish who he was. He was then' requested to withdraw, the CHIEF COMMISSIONER undertaking that his case should receive their serious consideration. He expressed  some reluctancc to leave the room until the persu sions of Mr. Finch induced hum to obey. The Jury expressed themselves satisfied with tl evidence of Drs. Johnson and Turner, and recorde the following verdict :—" Charles Wright has bee of unsound mind, and incapable of the managemet of his own affairs, since the 14th of May, MO."