was sailing quietly on the current of the stream, and it had not yet shown any indication of widening towards the ocean.

It was about this time that there revived in him the desire to devote his life to science. At an early age he had dabbled in chemistry and botany, and allied sciences, and had always made scientific inquiries the hobby of his leisure. It was not, however, until the beginning of the year 1829 that he had ever seriously considered whether or not it would be worth while to give himself up wholly to scientific pursuits. He had then become acquainted with Sir James South, the eminent astronomer, whose indefatigable ardour in the cause of astronomy inspired Lord Ashley to diligence in the same pursuits. For a time he was completely absorbed in this study, spending day after day in close application to books and instruments, and night after night in the observatory with Sir James South. It seemed that at last his object in life had been found.

But at that same time he was just getting a hold of the Lunacy question; a little later, the Factory question was taking form; and by degrees he found that there were duties pressing upon him, which his conscience would not allow him to shake off-duties that could only be carried on effectually by complete devotion to them. So it was that his visits to the observatory became only occasional, then still less frequent, until at last they ceased altogether.

Referring, in his old age, to this period, he said

1829.]

CALLED TO ANOTHER CAREER.

89

In early life I was passionately devoted to science, so much so, that I was almost disposed to pursue science to the exclusion of everything else. It passed away and I betook myself to literature, hoping that I should not only equal, but that I should rival many in mental accomplishments. Other things were before me, and other things passed away, because, do what I would, I was called to another career, and now I find myself at the end of a long life, not a philosopher, not an author, but simply an old man who has endeavoured to do his duty in that state of life to which it has pleased God to call him.

The first of the "other things" before him was an inquiry into the treatment of lunatics.

CHAPTER III.

1828-1833.

Treatment of Lunatics-State of the Lunacy Laws-Mr. Robert Gordon-First Important Speech in Parliament-Diary-Letter from Lord BathurstAppointed Commissioner in Lunacy-Investigation into State of Asylums -Efforts in Literature-Work for India-Bishop Heber-With the King -Works of Charity-Forgiveness-Scientific Pursuits-Family AffairsAstronomy and Sir James South-Catholic Disabilities Foreshadowings of Future Career-Self-depreciation and Despondency-Robert SoutheyElected Member for Dorchester-Marries Emily, Daughter of the Fifth Earl Cowper-Successfully Contests Dorset-Election Expenses in 1831-Correspondence with Duke of Wellington-Petition Against the Dorset Election ---Pecuniary Embarrassments-Letter from Ernest, Duke of CumberlandA Second Triumph-Letter from Mr. Follett-Letters from Southey-Condition of the Working Classes-State of the Times-Sir Robert Peel's Policy ---Cotton Supply and Manufacture-Progress of Inventions-Condition of the Lancashire Operatives-Child-Jobbers and Child Labour--The Apprentice System-Outline of Early Factory Legislation-Michael Thomas Sadler, M.P. for Newark-Newark Disfranchised-Mr. Sadler Loses his Seat in Parliament-Lord Ashley becomes Leader in the Factory Agitation—The Parting of the Ways-Correspondence with Lord Morpeth-Pays Tribute to Mr. Sadler and other Labourers-States his Views on the Factory System Explains Principles on which the Agitation shall be Conducted-Letter from Mr. J. R. McCulloch-Opposition of Master Manufacturers-Address of the Operatives of England and Scotland-Report of Commission of Inquiry-Introduces Bill to Limit Hours of Labour "for Women and Young Persons" to Ten Hours a Day-Opposition of Lord Althorp-Bill Defeated, but Principle Established that Labour and Education should be Combined.

THE treatment, or rather the maltreatment, of lunatics, was one of the pre-eminently bad features of the bad times in the early part of the present century. In the Middle Ages the insane had been canonised as saints,

1828.]

TREATMENT OF LUNATICS.

91

burnt as heretics, or hanged as criminals, according to the particular bias of their mental disorder. At a later date harmless madmen roamed the country and made sport for the people; but if only suspected of being dangerous, society, in terror, took the most cruel precautions for its own safety, with an utter disregard for the feelings of the unfortunates, or for their chances of recovery. Londoners out for a holiday paid their twopences to stroll through Bedlam and laugh at the poor lunatics; at another time the town was panic-stricken because the Lord George Gordon rioters threatened to let the madmen out of Bedlam.*

"In the early part of the present century," says one of the pioneers of enlightened treatment, "lunatics were kept constantly chained to walls in dark cells, and had nothing to lie upon but straw. The keepers visited them, whip in hand, and lashed them into obedience; they were also half-drowned in baths of surprise,' and in some cases semi-strangulation was resorted to. The 'baths of surprise' were so constructed that the patients. in passing over a trap-door fell in; some patients were chained in wells, and the water made to rise until it reached their chins. One horrible contrivance was a rotatory chair in which patients were made to sit and were revolved at a frightful speed. The chair was in common use. Patients, women as well as men, were flogged at particular periods, chained and fastened to iron bars, and even confined in iron cages."†

* Letters of Horace Walpole.

+"Lunacy; its Past and its Present," by Robert Gardiner Hill, F.S.A., p. 1.

Before describing the labours of Lord Ashley during a long series of years on behalf of these poor creatures, it will be well to set forth, very briefly, the state of the law at the time of his first connection with the subject, and the main features of antecedent legislation. Prior to the year 1808, the only Act of Parliament providing for the care of pauper lunatics was passed in 1744; it authorised any two Justices to apprehend them, and have them locked up and chained.* To protect society was the only aim of this Act; it provided for those who "are so far disordered in their senses that they may be too dangerous to be permitted to go abroad." In 1774, as the result of a Committee of. Inquiry upon which Pitt and Fox, Lord North and Wilkes, and others had sat ten years before, an Act was passed to regulate private asylums, in which frightful abuses were prevalent. But this Act was so framed that it could accomplish nothing. Any one who chose could get a licence to keep an asylum, but though the College of Physicians could receive reports of abuses, they could do nothing further. In 1808, the accommodation for pauper lunatics received some attention from Parliament, and an Act was passed for the building of County Asylums, but during the ensuing twenty years. only nine English counties did thus provide themselves.†

Meanwhile circumstances had arisen leading to important changes, both as regards public opinion and "Hist. of Insane," by D. H. Tuke, M.D., p. 98. + Ibid. 165.