Aged about forty, admitted two years since. This patient is a native of
Scotland. He was tried and convicted of breaking open a dwelling-house,
robbing it of various articles, and sent to the Hulks; but he there
became insane, and was sent here at the period above mentioned.
When he first came to this hospital, he appeared quite rejoiced at his
lucky change of quarters. Freed from his irons, which were as usual
rivetted on, exempted from labour, and comfortably lodged and fed,
he appeared quite happy at his removal to so good a place. In his
tranquil intervals his conversation is quite rational, and betrays
not the least symptom of insanity; but, on the contrary, he shews
all the characteristics of his native shrewdness. He drives a small
tobacco trade here, under the rose, amongst his fellow-patients, many
of whom are immoderately fond of that article; and by this traffic he
takes good care not to be a loser. But, notwithstanding his occasional
shrewdness, he is far from being generally sane, for he has frequent
intervals of alternate cheerfulness and melancholy. When high, he
sings and dances as if elevated with liquor; but when low, he is quite
sunk and depressed. Upon the whole, however, he is tolerably quiet and
well-conducted.