any other proof than that of an admission. on the part of the patient himself, that he has been insane; but I do not think it quite fair to expect this, particularly if, in the course of his malady, frequent argument has been held, as will probably have been the case, on the subject of his erroneous persuasions. Something must be conceded to thepride of human nature, which does not easily consent to acknowledge that of which it has long been in the habit of denying the existence. Nor is it always safe, on the other hand, to suppose that a patient has discarded his delusions, merely because he has ceased to divulge them: for if he be aware that you consider them as proofs of the continuance of disorder in his mind, he will conceal them from you; he will be upon his guard, (as he can be at a certain period of his recovery,) and will not talk of them any more, though he still entertain them. You may recollect the cases quoted by Mr. Erskine on the trial of Hatfield; and I remember hearing the late Lord Ellenborough express, in the strongest terms, his conviction that an insane person was now recovered, after having observed him to sustain a lengthened conversation upon an important subject with great good sense and sobriety. Nevertheless, this patient was detected, a few days afterwards, under the full influence of his delusion, using Latin, however, to express his thoughts, that he might elude, if possible, the watchful notice of his attendants. What then shall we consider a proof of recovery? and when shall we be justified in opening the door, and allowing a person who has been insane, to go out and resume the management of his own affairs? Undoubtedly, if he do in good faith, as Cowper did, acknowledge that he has been ill, though he now claim to be considered well-if he has discarded the one overwhelming idea, and has ceased for some time to indulge in those ill-founded conceits, and in those overt acts, which arose out of it, and which characterized his distemper—if he sleep habitually well, and his general manner and demeanour do now manifest a contrast with his late behaviour-and if he continue to command himself, and his conduct be uniformly rational and proper for a given time; then I would say with the phycician in King Lear, Be comforted, good madam! The great rage you see is cured in him,' and I should think it safe and proper to emancipate him, at least on trial. ESSAY X. ON THE DEATHS OF SOME ILLUSTRIOUS PERSONS OF ANTIQUITY. ALTHOUGH it may appear, at first sight, an object of mere idle curiosity to enquire into the deaths of celebrated persons of antiquity, yet it will be readily admitted, on reflection, that when our feelings have been captivated by the history of the transactions of an illustrious life, the mind is unsatisfied so long as any thing remain to be told of the person who has so much interested curiosity and absorbed attention. Nor am I afraid to aver that even the moralist, who stipulates, as the price of his attention, that a detail of virtue to be imi L |