The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1865-05-02 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

THE INSANITY IN THE KENT FAMILY.  As some of our contemporaries have already referred to the possible madness of Constance Kent, and ea the topic will probably be discussed with much interest, we have extracted from Mr. Stapleton's Critical Review of the murder some of the facts relative to the lunacy of the first Mrs. Kent.  In 1836, soon after the birth of her son Edward, Mrs. Kent first exhibited symptoms of insanity. Upon their appearance Mr. Gidley, of Bidmoutb, ber usual medical attendant, recommended Mr. Kent to take the advice of Dr. Blackall, of Exeter. In a general conversation which ensued it was found that the unfortunate lady evidently laboured under various though harmless delusions, and manifested so much weakness and bewilderment of intellect that her husband was advised to place her, at once, under the care of a constant and competent attendant. As she was not violent or dangerous, Mr. Kent was unwilling to take this important and irrevocable step. Of the affection which prompted his forbearance there can be no doubt; that he was wrong in his decision is no less certain. The symptoms which caused him BO mach anxiety progressed because they were unchecked. Upon his return from church, on one occasion, he found her destroying some books of prints, the leaves of which she had torn out and burnt. At another time, she took two of her children from the house, and lost herself within a short distance of the premises; but she still continued to go, at times, into society; and though her delusions continued and increased, her peculiarity was not always such as to attract notice. Her intellect, however, eon t7n-ia—eclto grow weaker. It was not discOvered that she at any time contemplated murder or suicide; and the fact of a knife having been found concealed under her bed appears to have occasioned little or no apprebeueion in this respect. In the five years between 1837 and 1842 Mrs. Kent became the mother of four children— Henry Saville Kent, born February, 1837, died May, 1838, of inflammation of the lungs. Ellen Kent, born September, 1839, died December, 1839, of consumption. John Saville Kent, born March, 1841, died July, 1841, of atrophy. Julia Kent, born April, 1842, died September, 1842,  became  . . of atrophy. It is remarkable that only one of these four children survived its birth six months. That each sickly dying child was an index to its mother's health—that her malady was reflected and impressed on each,—w.hat pathologist will doubt? Bearing in mind the condition of this poor lady during the five years from 1837 to 1842, we neither wonder at, nor regret, the fate of these four children. In the last eight or nine years of her life, Mrs. Kent appears to have been little affected by bodily suffering or disease. But her mental disorder continued without amelioration, and while she still continued to reside at Sidmouth she gave birth to her two youngest children, who still survive her. Constance Emily Kent was born in February, 1844. William Saville Kent was.bcrn in July, 1845. . _  _ About 20 years ago, and before the birth of his daughter Constance, Mr. Kent found it requisite, in consequence of the confirmed and increasing illness of his wife, to devolve the education of his elder daughters upon a competent domestic governess. His children had reached a period of life when they required both Instruction and restraint, and their mother was unequal to the charge. In this contingency Mr. Walker, a surgeon of Sidmonth, recommended Mr. Kent to obtain the services of Miss Pratt, of Tiverton, who subsequently became his second wife. Mr. Kent engaged her to come to Sidmouth, as the resident instructress of his children. Soon after this Constance was born; and as from that time Mrs. Kett became incapable of managing even her domestia affairs, that duty was, with her concurrence, placed in the hands of Miss Pratt. Of the youngest child, Constance, she seems to have assumed from the earliest p3riod the absolute control and care. For many months after her birth great apprehensions were entertained that this child would share the fate of the four previous children of Mrs. Kent. That she struggled through the feebleness of her early infanoy is due chiefly to the devotion and personal attention of Miss Pratt; by whom lihe was fed, nursed, and waited upon for months. By degrees her bodily constitution assumed that healthy development and growth which have been bestowed on her the counter and command of a powerful physique. As she grew up Constance manifested a strong, obstinate, and determined will; and her conduct,even as a little child, , gave evidence of an irritable and impassioned nature. In 1848,when Constance was about four years old, Ur. Kent , left Sidmonth, and took his family to reside at Walton, a small watering-place on the Sonaersetshire coast of the Bristol Channel. There he remained till March, , 1852, when he removed to Baynton-house, about seven miles from Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, and there, six weeks after her arrival, Mrs. Kent died after a short and unexpected illness. It will be seen from this brief narrative that the madness of Mrs. Kent was of a I very mild character, though decidedly chronic and ineradicable.  A few days ago a Mr. Baxter appeared in the marketplace, Axbridge, to "reveal the mysteries of Holy Writ." Amongst his prognostications he asserted that in the year 1873 the world would be at an end, and that the parish of Cheddar would be destroyed three days before Axbridge, and that he himself was sure of being on the White Throne. His remarks became an out. rageous that he was many times hissed and contradicted. The Rev. Mr. Hopper, an Independent minister, endeavoured to hold an argument, but Mr. Baxter soon made himself scarce; and the rev, gentleman addressed those present, and showed, by various texts of Scripture, that the doctrine propounded by Mr. Baxter, was quite contrary to the Bible. GrEATITILNG