From Ditton, Surry, admitted 14th of March 1822. This poor fellow was
a market-gardener, and the source of his malady seems to have been
religious enthusiasm. He became a follower of Methodism, and received
his call one day while pruning his vines. His zeal increased by degrees
to downright fanaticism, and became so bewildered and miserable, that
the derangement followed, which required his removal hither.
So depressed is he, by despondency, under a sense of remorse for his
sins, that he thinks death would be a blessing. Every thing with him is
wickedness, corruption, and sinfulness: the air is sin, the smoaking
of fires is sin, the ringing of bells sin. He thinks he has destroyed
the world, and that all evil has been occasioned by him. Sometimes he
exclaims, there is no God, that he is dead, and that he is unhappy and
miserable. He is continually asking if it would not be better for him
to die. He thinks that all the other patients are kept here on his
account. Under these circumstances, he has long been suspected of a
design to destroy himself, and therefore he is strictly watched. In
contemplation of his own death, he has written several wills; and he
once wrote this account of his own death, which he wished to have
inserted in the newspapers:
“Died, on Wednesday, the 5th of June, by his own request, in Bethlem
Hospital, William Robertson, of Thames Ditton, gardener, aged thirty.
(Signed) “WILLIAM ROBERTSON, dead.”
The following are specimens of his testamentary documents:
“The last dying speech and confession of Mr. William Robertson. I
wish that every fire may be extinguished, all wars to stop, no guns
to fire off, all men in Bethlem Hospital to go home to their friends,
if they please; no judges; all bells to have done ringing; to die
on the 25th of June, by my own wish: all these things to take place
immediately throughout the world. I was born at Thames Ditton, was
lost in 1822. Richardson wishes to die with me. My clothes I leave to
Mr. Smith (one of the keepers).”
Another specimen:
“The last dying speech and confession of William Robertson. To die
the 27th June 1822. I humbly beg and request that all the following
things may be performed immediately: bells to have done ringing,
fires to cease smoaking, work of all kinds to be left off; no guns to
fire off, no kings, no wars, no judges, no bishops, no smoaking of
tobacco. I leave my clothes to Mr. Smith, keeper.”
Another:
“Last dying speech and confession of William Robertson. When I first
received my call was in 1819; to die 29th June 1822. I desire that
all fires may be extinguished, all work and labour to stop, and all
bells to have done ringing all over the world.
“I request Mr. Jones (another maniac) to cease conversing with the
walls, or, as he says, with his wife.
“I desire Lloyd to leave off begging, Groves to leave off swearing,
Mr. Smith to leave off advising, and all persons to have done eating
and drinking. Mr. Smith, and all the patients, to be discharged, Mr.
Longley to go home to-night to his wife and family; Mr. Lintott to
go home to his friends before he dies; Taunton to leave off killing
men and beasts of men; William Griffin to get better tempered; George
Tester to leave off his mad pranks; Whennell to leave off chewing
tobacco; Pinion to have his parish, and be restored to his friends;
Phippard not to stamp and rave as he does sometimes; George Brown
not to be so simple; Gardener to leave off looking at the sky, sun,
moon, and stars; and the Duke to leave off crying about his family.
Mr. Smith to have my clothes, and the gooseberry-pie to be sent to
my brother Charles; and, when all these things are performed, I wish
to die any death the Governors chuse. With their leave, I prefer
bleeding to death. Longney to have my jacket, to be buried in the
church-yard; all things to be performed as soon as possible.
“Witness my dying speech and wish,
“WILLIAM ROBERTSON.”
_Witnesses_: Thomas Longney, John Thomas, Lloyd Dicken, Duke of
Shrewsbury, Henry Taunton, Henry Lintock, William Griffin, Esq.,
John Groves.