Encouraged by the success of the system, commenced in the year 1850, of associating at the dinner meal the male pauper patients of the Cornwall Lunatic Asylum, then under my superintendence, I ventured soon after my appointment at Colney Hatch, in September, 1852, to recommend here a far more extended association of the patients of both sexes in the hall hitherto used for occasional recreation, and which, from its dimensions and contiguity with the kitchen, appeared to offer especial advantages for carrying out such an experiment upon a large scale. After consultation with my colleagues upon the subject, I urged upon the Visiting Justices the following arguments in favour of the measure:—

1. 1. The moral, social, and curative results likely to accrue.

2. 2. Relief to the patients from the usual monotony and routine of the establishment.

3. 3. Increased facilities afforded both to magistrates and officers for inspecting the patients.

4. 4. Improved ventilation in the wards, especially in hot weather.

5. 5. Removal of the knives, &c., from the store-rooms and sculleries of the wards.

6. 6. The more rapid conveyance of the provisions, whilst hot; and the better working of the establishment generally.

A distinguished member of this Association opens the Sixteenth Annual Report ∗ of his quiet unobtrusive labours with the remark that the opinion that mental disease is becoming more prevalent has been universally adopted, and that it is confirmed by the experience of all who have to deal with the crimes, the misfortunes, the diseases of mankind, by the observation of all who watch the progress either of individuals or nations.

When an arduous juridical contention is at its height, when a man's life is in the balance of opinion between those who hold him to be insane and irresponsible, and those who believe him to be a cruel and calculating murderer, the passions of men are so much involved that it is difficult to estimate the merits of a scientific question, with a perfect impartiality and freedom from prejudice and a single regard to truth. The trial of Wm. Dove, for the murder of his wife by strychnine, and his defence upon the plea of insanity, has been of a nature to elicit an unusual amount of personal feeling, both among those who considered him one of the most atrocious criminals of modern times, and those who conscientiously believed him to be incapable of crime on account of mental disease or infirmity. Sane or insane, Wm. Dove has paid the penalty of a murderer, and hath been sent to appear before the judgment seat of Him who “knoweth all things,” and will “judge righteous judgment.”

We commenced the perusal of this work with a degree of interest commensurate with the reputation of its talented author; and we must confess this interest has not been disappointed, for it contains new and bold views, urged upon grounds which certainly possess the interest of originality; but which, as certainly will not bear to be measured by the author's standard of truth and rectitude, namely, “the common sense or consense of humanity.”