The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-01-14 (London, England)

WINGFIELD—It will be for you to shake his testimony. Mr. Wells—l confess I laboured under considerable mental derangement, owing to an abscess that formed in the back of my neck—the most severe case of insanity that occurred since man was I man. He would not stop to say whether it was from the capillary 'nerve or the papillary one. Pray, Doctor (said he, addressing Dr. Haslam), how large do you consider the smallest nerve? Doctor Haalem—Perhaps about as large as a silk thread. Yee. tthout that. He wan first deranged from reading the Racy. eloperdia Lando/len:is, which contained some theories of Spurzheim and other members of a Craniological Society. Mr. WtsorteeD—ls it your wish to admit a derangement of mind ? Mr. Wells—Certainly not now ; but I beg my brother may be called. The Rev. David Brook Wells was then called and examined by Wells.—Witness signed the certificate fur his admission to a mail-house at Loddon, near Norfolk. Mr. \Fells—Why did I go there? Was it not that I might construct a private madhouse on my own principle ? es, gentlemen, said Mr. Wells, it was that I might do an, for then my thoughts took a different turn, an awful presenti. merit of derangement ; it wan a low derangement. I assure you, gentlemen. High madness is a most delightful sensation. It was after the Marquis of Londonderry committed suicide; and to , guard against a similar act, I removed every thing that could have been used by me for that purpose; the tangs, poker, knife, scissors; in fart, I feared something wrong. I was before that aware of the horrible and awful abuses of private madhouses. I heard of the 'case of Mr. Smith, Clerk of the Peace of the city of Peterborough. It wan impressed on my mind—that may disturb me— why do I give this history of the revolution of the brain? It is that I may tell you what occurred to me whilst at school at Ely. It was this--two boys held a dog before me ; when I approached, they let him fly at me.—l ran—l screamed—l am sure I ran over three hundred yards, or thereabouts. I got a great fright. It caused, not a concussion, but a rupture of the brain. Hut how did I find it out. I was one day walking, and an audacious boy said to me, " You are three parts of an idiot, you are not a lawyer, as one brother of yours, nor a brewer, as another; you are merely a common plodding grocer." This struck me tiocibly, and with horror. I was anxious to construct a madhouse, and have been confined. Wan not the great Howard imprisoned in France for wishing to construct a prison an his own principle ?" Mr. Wells went on to state that he was confined twelve weeks at Lothlon House, and that he was chained in his bed. He felt then as if he had committed murder; and indeed there were other objections to the treatment of persona confined there; they lived too well : they got too much pork. Mr. EVANCr—We are not now inquiring into the state of 31 ulhouses—had not you better examine your brother ? The examination of the Rev. ale. Wells was accordingly resumed —ltemembese his brother getting a fall, after which came on a alight derangement of mind ; was intoxicated when he fell; an immediate change took place in his habits he was constantly employe) about visionary projects, about building a madhouse, and making a tour through the country to reform the discipline in Lu. vatic Asylums. The witness was examined at some length by Mr.