but the latter having been fortunate enough to see her at a window, her release was accomplished. It was fully proved upon examination, that no medicines were offered to Mrs. Hawley, and that she was perfectly sane. This fact might be supported by the cases of Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Durant, &c.
"Mr. Turlington having, in defence of the proceedings of this house, referred himself to Mr. King as the person entrusted and employed by him, the Committee of the House of Commons thought it necessary to summons him. Mr. King said he had been in the Wool-trade, but for six years past he had been employed by Mr. Turlington to keep his Mad-house: that he had received no written directions from Mr. Turlington; that he found several patients in the house on his being employed, and all lunatic; that since his being employed he had admitted several for drunkenness, and for other reasons of the same sort alledged by their friends or relations bringing them, which he had always thought a sufficient authority. As to the treatment of the persons confined, he said, that they had the liberty of walking in the garden, and passing from one room to another; and as to their diet and apartments, he said, it was according to the allowance they paid, which was from 60l. to 20l. a year. He admitted that he knew Mrs. Hawley; that she was confined at the representation of a
woman who called herself her mother; and that the reason alledged by her for the confinement of her daughter was drunkenness. He said, that he did not remember that she was refused pen, ink, and paper; but at the same time acknowledged it was the established order of the house, that no letter should be sent by any of the persons confined to their friends and relations."
Dr. Battie celebrated for his knowledge in cases of insanity, related the case "of a person whom he visited in confinement for Lunacy, in Macdonald's Mad-house, and who had been, as the Doctor believes, for some years in this confinement. Upon being desired by Macdonald to attend him by the order, as Macdonald pretended, of the relations of the patient, he found him chained to his bed, and without ever having had the assistance of any physician before; but some time after, upon being sent for by one of the relations to a house in the City, and then told, Macdonald had received no orders for desiring the Doctor's attendance, the Doctor understood this to be a dismission, and he never heard any thing more of the unhappy patient, till Macdonald told him some time after that he died of a fever, without having had any farther medical assistance; and a sum of money devolved upon his death to the person who had the care of him."
Upon those and other instances of wickedness and inhumanity, leave was given to bring in a
Bill "for the regulation of Private Mad-houses in this Kingdom."
THE POLICE.
The report of a Committee of the House of Commons, appointed in 1770, will illustrate this subject from undoubted facts. "Sir John Fielding, being asked what number of houses have been broken open in and about the cities of London and Westminster, and whether it is a growing evil, said, that all robberies, with the circumstances attending them, and particulars of goods stolen, are registered at his office; and from that register informations are grounded, and offenders are detected several years after the offences are committed; and he delivered in lists of houses broken into, with computation of the goods stolen.
From Michaelmas 1766 to 14 March 1770, in half-yearly periods, by which it appeared that from Michaelmas 1766 to Lady-day 1767, 13 houses had been broken open, and goods stolen to the value of 289l.
From Lady-day 1767 to Michaelmas 1767, 36 houses, value 627l.