The friends of patients who reside in London are permitted to see them
once a week, namely, on Mondays from ten till twelve. Two persons are
allowed to visit each patient; but persons residing at a distance, or
in the country, may see them any day at any hour.
When patients are sufficiently well, or in a fit state to see their
friends, they are brought by the keepers who attend for that purpose:
the male patients to the servants’ hall; the females to a room
adjoining the committee room. The persons who thus visit, write their
names, their addresses, and the names of the patients they come to
visit, in a book kept for the purpose. They must not bring with them
any eatables (the provisions of the house being amply sufficient). A
little fruit, or a tart, may be allowed, but nothing else; and, of
course, no liquor of any description. They must not give money or
presents to the keepers, on pain of the giver being refused in future
permission to see their friends, and the receiver being discharged.
This order, signed by the clerk, is conspicuously fixed up in the
visiting room, that none may plead ignorance of the rule.
This liberty of visitation was not allowed under the old establishment,
some twenty or thirty years ago; for at that time, when unfortunate
persons became deranged, they were dreaded by their relatives,
neglected, forgotten, and buried from the world, and the poor creatures
became totally lost. But in this institution they come up cheerfully,
receive with ecstacy the hopes their friends give them, and depart
from the meeting generally gratified.