Aged fifty-four, from Ongar in Essex, admitted 21st July 1822. This
poor fellow’s malady took its rise from his disappointment of receiving
a large property which was said to be left to him by a relation; though
the rest of his family entertain very strong doubts about it. But his
deluded imagination has assigned him much higher concerns than those
of mere earthly property, for he conceives that he has the entire
management and regulation of the sun; and he is extremely diligent in
his duty, for he watches the great luminary from its rising to its
setting, and will stand on tiptoe to take a last affectionate glance,
as it descends below his horizon. He thinks he can see in it all manner
of things: rabbit-warrens, coaches, horses, wars, battles, &c. &c.;
and he says, that had it not been for his care, much mischief would
have come of it. He can stop it whenever he likes, and has the sole
direction of its course. It would have fallen to the earth several
times but for him; and sometimes he thinks it so low that he is obliged
to raise it up again. He complains piteously of mischievous boys
and others throwing stones at it, by which means they must hurt the
poor thing. It does them no harm, and why should they ill-use it? He
can’t think how people can be so cruel! He was detected one day with
his blanket under his arm, going into the airing ground to catch the
bright object of his care, as it was sinking down, that it might fall
soft. He looks at the poor dear creature, until the tears trickle from
his eyes in profusion. He is at times very noisy, and will talk most
incoherently day and night; and, when in a high fit, he says he is the
ruler of all things; the great and mighty master of heaven and earth,
as will shortly be seen, for the consummation of all things is at hand.
He pretends to know all persons, and gives to every one an appellation
of his own. One physician is a waggoner; another a ploughman; a third
a shoemaker, from Chipping Ongar. He knows all about him; tells him he
has no business here, and bids him to be off as he is wanted at home.
To all he sees he is equally ready to assign new avocations, and
nothing can dissuade him from these whims.