Aged thirty, admitted November 15th 1821. This poor soul was a married
woman, with four children. The source of her derangement seems to
have been religious despondency. She imagined that she had taken the
sacrament unworthily and sacrilegiously, and that her body was full of
serpents; and she several times attempted suicide, but was fortunately
prevented by the vigilance of the attendants.
She contrived to escape from the hospital, on the 22d February 1822, by
climbing over the wall, with another woman, but was brought back, on
the 28th of the same month, and the two nurses, in whose care she was,
discharged.
She also enjoyed the rank of fancied royalty, and styled herself Queen
Mary, and consort to his present Majesty George IV. who she fully
expected would come for her in person, or send for her in his state
carriage, and a guard of honour. He was her lawful husband, and would
not neglect her when the proper time should come; and she expected to
go from this hospital very soon, to one of the royal palaces. She had
not the least doubt of it.
Notwithstanding this poor queen’s imaginary greatness, she seemed to
have had her real destiny in an humble and laborious rank of life. She
was generally at work, very industrious, a good servant, and was found
very useful in the gallery.
After the expiration of twelve months she was discharged uncured, on
the 14th November 1822; and retired, not to Carlton Palace, but to a
private mad-house.