Aged thirty-six, was transferred hither from Old Bethlem as a curable
patient, and after remaining here twelve months was discharged; but her
malady soon returned, and she was re-admitted on the incurable list.
She is a married woman, with a family of children, and is the wife of
a private soldier who served in Lord Rolle’s regiment. But she has,
as she says, discarded her former husband, and now imagines herself
to be Lady Rolle, and expects his Lordship to come for her every
hour. Whenever a party of visitors are going about the hospital, she
invariably intreats the nurse to let her go out, as her husband, Lord
Rolle, is waiting for her. The appearance of a respectable company of
visitors always exalts her notions of her own rank and consequence, and
she is on such occasions very desirous to join them, as she is quite
sure Lord Rolle is one of the number.
This poor woman is generally quiet and orderly in her habits, but she
participates the common idea amongst so many of her companions, that
all which she sees is her own property; all the food, tea, sugar,
clothes, &c. &c. of the other patients belong to her, and she ought to
have them.