At a table several of the inmates were reading. One was writing. His letter he willingly exhibited, requesting that it might be put in the post office. It was filled with offers to purchase vast tracts of soil, and addressed to a well known land-speculator, who had rested upon a very small territory in the church-yard some years before. This patient had lost both fortune and reason in schemes, which still with delusive hope bewildered him.

"Without the aid of alcohol?" asked Spiffard.

"Yes. Cupidity-the inordinate desire to possess, is sufficient of itself to turn the brain-and the madness is incurable."

Among these patients, Spiffard recognised a man of the name of Knox, whose insanity had been produced by extreme intemperance. He was subject to outbreakings even here, although debarred from alcohol in any shape. He was at this time calm and appeared well; indeed much better than when he was at liberty, and engaged at the theatre, (for he was an English actor,) where he was seldom free from the tyranny of the appetite he served. His great desire was to obtain his discharge. This is the same person of whom it is recorded in Cooke's memoirs, that being as usual imperfect in his part, and playing Gloster to Cooke's Lear, when he uttered the words "Ye gods, give Gloster his discharge;" the old tragedian said in an under tone, "wait till Saturday, and the manager will give you your discharge, you black-guard." He was discharged; and Cooke in pity for a time supported him.

Their last visit was to the gallery, and to its adjoining apartments, appropriated to the female patients. As they approached, a confused, but not discordant, sound of many voices was heard. Loud but cheerful and silver tones, mingled with playful laughter. As the attendant opened the door of the gallery while the inmates, (owing to their own merriment,) were unconscious of the approach of intruders, several of the ladies were surprised in the midst of their unrestrained, infantile playfulness. The mask was off. For the insane carry the social mask even into the madhouse.

One lady—for such her dress and manners spoke her—was sitting on the floor, as if at a game of romps with her companions who stood laughing near. On the entrance of the visiters, she jumped up-smiled-blushed-and as though ashamed of being caught romping, ran into a side apartment : she soon however returned, and addressing Littlejohn by the appellation of "Grand-papa," asked him to take a walk with

her, at the same time placing her arm within his. Before he could answer, one of her companions cried " Fy, fy! Mary Ann," and the playful challenger looking at the doctor, who shook his head, withdrew her white and slender arm, laughed, and again vanished.

One of these apartments was devoted to female occupation of a graver kind; reading and needle-work; and several well dressed women were happily employed, patients and their attendants, in orderly work and cheerful conversation.

On the return of the visiters from this quiet scene, some objects presented themselves that were more or less distressing to their feelings. A very pretty, delicately formed and tastefully dressed lady, who had been conversing with one of the visiting committee, approached gracefully to Spiffard, and accosted him.

“I am told sir, that you are the celebrated actor, Mr. Spiffard."

"Spiffard is my name, madam.”

"You don't look like an actor." "How so, madam ?"

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I hardly know. I thought you were old." "Actors assume all ages-take all shapes."

"So do all men. But you look very serious as well as very young. I declare I should almost think you had been crying, and that I saw tears still in your eyes."

Such had been and was the fact, although unobserved by Spiffard's sane companions. He smiled and said, "I am a poor actor, madam."

"Don't say so: I have heard of you. Do you think I should make a figure on the stage ?"

"A most interesting one."

6

"Pshaw! I don't mean so-but you men are ever ready to flatter. But I do think I could play Ophelia. There's rue for you'-O, no! not for you-for you, naughty man," and she turned playfully to the doctor. "You are the king, you know."

"But not a murderer."

"I don't know that." Then addressing Spiffard again she added " Ophelia must be played by a singer and I can sing," and with wild and sweet expression, and a voice such as Mrs. Merry possessed, she sung

"He is dead and gone, lady,
He is dead and gone;

At his head a grass-green turf,
At his heels a stone."

But I won't sing if it makes you sad. I thought actors were y always merry.”

1

Spiffard turned away to hide his emotion; and the physician led the songstress off, whispering in her ear, "You see it makes him weep: ""

Their inspection of this noble building terminated with a view from the roof, which presented one of the most magnificent panoramic pictures the eye of man is ever permitted to behold. Cheerful, thriving villages, fields rich in culture, roads thronged with carriages, cities, and their glittering pinacles, only divided from each other by the waters and ships that enriched them. The greater of these cities, like the proud mistress of the east, projects a garden, (unpolluted by the crimes of a seraglio,) into her own Bosphorus and Marmora ; and receives in her golden horn, the flags and the wealth of every land and sea, while she smiles on a Galata and Pera, where the same laws and interests prevail among the same free and happy people. From these sublime prospects, our friends descended, to be reminded of what immediately surrounded them, and of their own personal and physical wants.

By invitation, Mr. Littlejohn and his companion partook of the dinner provided for the visiting committee. Spiffard remarked that the philanthropic physician had, previous to taking his place at the board, employed himself in persuading a gentleman, who paced up and down the hall, to join the company. He succeeded in placing the melancholy man at the table, and induced him to eat, and even to take one glass of wine; for wine was not banished from the temperate board of the asylum; neither was it ever abused.

This person, who now attracted Spiffard's special attention, was a patient whose malady permitted that he should have the freedom of the house and garden. After dinner, Spiffard learned that this gentleman's insanity is what is called a religious madness! He had been a merchant-became a preacher-and finally, under the oppression of bodily disease, came to the maniacal conclusion, that he was selected from all mankind to suffer a state of hopeless reprobation; that no redemption availed, nor repentance could save him.

While talking with his informant, the unhappy gentleman approached, and Spiffard had an opportunity of hearing him on the subject of his misery.

"You are better, Mr. Treffil, for joining us, and taking a glass of wine."

"Yes; for an instant. But the sense of my condition returns with redoubled force the next moment."

"Sir, instead of avoiding cheerful company, you must seek it. You are labouring under a mistake; and when restored to bodily health, you will be convinced of the falacy of these tormenting phantasies."

The sufferer shook his head. "It is vain for me to tell you of the communications I have had with the world of spirits. I know you cannot conceive of them, or believe me. My doom is fixed irretrievably."

"God is good beyond our conception, and infinitely merciful."

"I know what you would say; I have, myself, talked thus to others. To others the words may apply. I have heard reasons for my condemnation that are incontrovertible. My sins are unpardonable. I know that there is no hope for me. I have heard it proclaimed to all the worlds of the universe. I have been transported from planet to planet bodily. I know that you do not believe it. From star to star, through the immensity of space, filled with. What I have seen and heard, I am forbid to tell."

"Before Spiffard and his friend left the asylum, the latter paid another visit to his son. He went unaccompanied. On his re-appearance, Spiffard asked, "How did you find him

sir?"

"In tears. He seemed to be conscious that his former reception of me had been harsh. He took my hand, and tenderly pressed it at my departure, begging me to see him soon."

As the evening approached, our pedestrians, notwithstanding kind invitations to ride, returned as they came, on foot; musing and conversing on the scenes they had witnessed, this being to Spiffard, a most instructive day.

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CHAPTER XVII.

The result of intemperance, and a sick chamber.

"Show not thy valiantness in wine, for wine hath destroyed many.—Ec. clesiasticus.

"Is man no more than this?"

"They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that slave with nothing."-Shakspeare.

"Honour a physician with the honours due unto him, for the uses which ye may have of him."-Ecclesiasticus.

"Bardolph.-Why, sir, for my part, I say the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five sentences.'

"Slender.-I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, but in honest, eivil, godly company.'"-Shakspeare.

"A wise sentence shall be rejected when it comes out of a fool's mouth, for he will not speak it in due season.' "-Ecclesiasticus.

"I would rather have a fool to make me merry, than experience to make me sad."

"Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie.

"Cease to lament for that thou canst not help;

And study help for that which thou lamentest."--Shakspeare.

We will now return to George Frederick Cooke. Among the many who have placed themselves aloft, as beacons on the hill-top, to warn mankind of the evils that threaten them; or who serve as buoys, to mark the hidden rocks and sands, where the gallant argosei of life, (freighted with youth and health, and all the ingredients of happiness, and onward borne, her bellying sails filled with the gales of hope,) must sink if not avoided: among these warnings, buoys, and beacons, few have been more conspicuous than this highly-gifted man.

While Spiffard and Littlejohn pursued their walk from Cato's, as we have seen, Cooke, under the care of one of the younger revellers, who was either more prudent or more hardheaded than his companions, returned to town in a hack coach, which had been in attendance on the party. The young man, who although but too conversant with scenes of dissipation, had. never been confined with such a companion, was occasionally 10

VOL. I.