of Dr. Junod by the faculty of Paris, with a view of giving him an opportunity of introducing this novel instrument into practice, but he has announced his intention of going to London as soon as the medical schools are opened there, that he may show of what he is capable.

There is, I am happy to learn, a prospect of the revival of the periodical devoted to psychology, which, under the immediate auspices of Baillarger, Cerise, and Longet, produced such valuable papers before the republic was declared, it is not unlikely that a new number will very soon make its appearance, there are so many trials occurring in different parts of France from time to time, which throw a fresh light upon the vagaries and inconsistencies of the human mind, which require to be recorded, that it is deeply to be regretted that the work which commenced with such favourable results should have been so prematurely drawn to a close.

Amongst the numerous residents of Paris is Mr. Dyce Sombre, whose case has been so lately the theme of legal discussion. He is considering the best means of bringing before the public a narrative of what he has had to encounter since his sanity has been called into question. An autobiography from his pen would doubtless be interesting. He has lately drawn up a codicil to his will, and invited three physicians to witness it; they, of course, complied with his wish, as they only testify to their having seen him perform the mechanical act of signing his name to certain documents, without giving the slightest opinion as to his mental capability of disposing of his property, or of his power of forming a correct judgment, it is considered by them as giving evidence that it is his own handwriting whilst in a perfect state of bodily health.

It is a curious fact, that long protracted cases of catalepsy are not so uncommon in France as they are in England. Scarcely had the marvellous case at Nantes, which has been the theme of so much conversation and discussion terminated, when a new one presented itself in the department of the Aube. A young female, not many months married, the wife of a small landed proprietor, has now been for eighteen days in that extraordinary state of trance which seems to defy all explanation. The sleep is tranquil, completely uninterrupted by movement of any description; the secretions are much diminished, and there have been no excretions; the breathing is easy, somewhat slower than under ordinary circumstances; the pulse is a mere thread. The marvel, as it may be supposed, excites the greatest curiosity, and individuals from all parts of the country, medical and non-medical, go to witness it.

At the last meeting of the Academy of Science, M. du Couxet, who has lately returned from a residence in Africa, read a paper interesting in an ethnological and psychological point of view. Some of the facts seem to border upon the extravagant; they are, however, borne out by the testimony of credible witnesses. In the kingdom of Gondar there is an original race of men who have a remarkable

zoological peculiarity,-a candal appendix, formed by a prolongation of the vertebral column, which bears very much the semblance of a tail. Their mental character corresponds with the idea that has existed, that animals with this distinctive formation are scarcely to be ranked in the genus-homo. Their intellect seems to be of the lowest gradation; their physical form is hideous. There are some of these beings who have been taken as slaves; one was in the possession of the Emir of Mecca, and had some share of intelligence, spoke the Arabic language, and described the nation from amongst whom he came as living in the neighbourhood of Sennal, worshipping the sun, the moon, and some of the stars; they immolated victims, whom they ate at the shrine of the great serpent, without sparing either age or sex. It appeared that this individual had an irresistible propensity to eat raw flesh; it returned upon him periodically, and the greatest care was taken that the limb of an animal should be placed in his way at fixed times, which he devoured apparently in a paroxysm of rage. He spoke of the feeling which seized him with some expression of fear, lest he should be tempted in the absence of some other food to seize upon an infant and devour it. This race, much smaller than the negro, generally is not above five feet in height, and very much resembles the monkey tribe. They are badly proportioned; their arms are very long, and their feet and hands longer and flatter than amongst men generally. The forehead is very low, and runs backward; their ears are long and deformed; their eyes small, black, and brilliant; the nose large, but flat; the mouth large, with sharp white teeth; the lips thick; the hair curly, thin and short, but not woolly; the tail is about two or three inches long. A portrait, drawn from the individual who belonged to the Emir of Mecca, was placed before the inspection of the members of the academy.

Amongst the observations which have been made at different periods by medical men, is the predisposition which has been noticed amongst some of those actors upon the stage who have delighted us with their comic powers, to sink into a state of profound melancholy, without the possibility of any one assigning a reason for this phenomenon. In France, there have been several instances to which Pinel and Esquirol have referred; and the biography so well written by Mrs. Mathews of her husband, gives us some insight into his peculiar affliction. It now happens that the most distinguished comic actress of France, who has so often drawn down peals of irresistible laughter, and who is a great favourite of the English audience of the French theatre in London, suffers from a similar malady. She has been compelled to quit Paris, and to the great regret of every one, fears are entertained that, after fascinating the whole world, she will sink into a state of permanent incapability of exerting her talents. She has retired into the country under the immediate care of a highly scientific medical man, who has devoted his mind to psychological pursuits; but from all that is known of her state, doubts have arisen

that she will ever be enabled to resume her career. The manifestations seem fortunately to be of the second class described by Esquirol, not those of much morbid sensibility, but rather those of depression. There is no exaggeration of imaginary evils, but an absence of even ordinary excitability. Absolute silence and reserve, without any dominant illusion, seem to be the general characteristic of this state of mind; it appears to have its periodical access and remission. In several instances, this apathetic state has been observed in individuals of natural comic talent and flow of spirit, to make its appearance immediately after a meal, as if it were influenced by digestion, and many have hence had recourse to fermented liquors, which, though for a time they exhilarate, leave their bad effects behind them. Many of our most delightful social companions have exhibited similar depression; amongst them we might class Dr. Maginn, Porson, and, in the latter part of his life, Sheridan.

Sittings at Nisi Prius, in Middlesex, after Trinity Term, before the CHIEF BARON and a Special Jury. June 23rd, 25th, 26th, 1849.

MR. COCKBURN and Mr. M. SMITH conducted the case for the plaintiff,— Sir F. THESIGer, Mr. CrowdER, and Mr. BOVILL, for the defendants.

This was an action to recover compensation in damages for the incarceration of the plaintiff in a lunatic asylum, under the pretence that she was of unsound mind at a time when, in truth, the plaintiff, a maiden lady, was perfectly sane.

The pleas put upon the record in answer to the allegations set forth in the declaration, pleaded, first," Not guilty," and then that the plaintiff was of unsound mind, and that it was unsafe for herself and for others that she should be at large.

Mr. COCKBURN opened the case. The plaintiff, Miss Nottidge, was a maiden lady of middle age, possessing 60007. in the funds. Towards the end of 1846, she went to reside at Charlinch, in Somersetshire, to enable her to enjoy the society of her three sisters, who were married to gentlemen, named Price, Thomas, and Cobb, members of a certain sect or fraternity settled in that locality, and living all together in an establishment called the " Agapemone." Miss Nottidge had lodgings in a cottage close by, and remained there until the 12th of November, 1846, when she was seized by her brother-in-law (the defendant Ripley), assisted by others. and forcibly conveyed to Dr. Stillwell's lunatic asylum at Hillingdon, Here the plaintiff was kept until January, 1848, when she was liberated by order of the Commissioners in Lunacy. She now sought compensation for her long incarceration.

A witness, GEORGE Waterman, proved the abduction, and identified the defendant Ripley.

JOAN WATERMAN-kept the lodgings occupied by the plaintiff; witnessed the abduction; considered plaintiff" a nice quiet lady, not dangerous to herself or others,"

ELIZA WATERMAN.-Waited on plaintiff. She was quiet and gentle in her conduct, and not at all like a mad woman.

LEWIS PRICE, brother-in-law to plaintiff, dwells with his wife in the Agapemone, which he describes as a "private family dwelling together and entertaining peculiar religious views-in which views the plaintiff concurred." Had never seen any unsoundness of mind in plaintiff, but always found her gentle, quiet, and ladylike. Was mainly instrumental in procuring her liberation by the Commissioners in Lunacy. (This witness then gave some details respecting the. Agapemone-the peculiar religious views and customs of its inmates.) Had received 6000l. with the sister of plaintiff, and Messrs. Thomas and Cobb had done the same. There were no marriage settlements made. Plaintiff had been at the "Agapemone" ever since her return from the asylum. When she came back, she made over all her property to Mr. Prince, the chief of the community, to protect it from any other persons, and from the defendants. Her money is in the bank, in Mr. Prince's name. Plaintiff never played at "hockey," but sometimes rode out in the carriage and four.

WILLIAM COBB, brother-in-law to plaintiff.-Had 60007. with his wife. Has resided in the Agapemone nearly seven years. Considers Miss Nottidge perfectly free from madness. She had told him that she did not look upon Mr. Prince as God, that she did not believe that gentlemen to be God; had never heard her say that she looked up to Mr. Prince as God, or anything of the kind. Plaintiff was in a perfectly sound state of mind.

Mrs. PRINCE. Has known the plaintiff for six or seven years. She was always of a calm, gentle, ladylike frame of mind. Since her return from the asylum, she has been quite the same. We have recreations at the

Agapemone on Sundays, as well as on other days. We believe in the Trinity, but do not pray. We abjure all prayer, because we consider that the day of prayer is past, that the day of grace is past, and that the day of judgment has arrived.

Mrs. HARRIET PRICE.-Is sister to plaintiff: considers her steady, calm, tranquil, and lady-like. Never saw anything to the contrary. Since plaintiff returned to the Agapemone from the asylum, her mind is just as calm as it was before-as it has always been.

Mrs. COBB. Is sister to plaintiff. She is perfectly sound in her mind, very gentle, and particularly mild. She has never exhibited the least symptom of insanity. Mr. Ripley, my brother-in law, and my brother, the clergyman, the defendants, have always been very kind to us all. Before we were married at Swansea, my mother came down to prevent our marriages, but I and my sisters considered it to be the will of God that we should marry these gentlemen, and therefore we refused to accompany my mother back. After our marriage, my mother came to Weymouth to search for the plaintiff, but I would not give her any information as to where she was, because I knew it was her wish that her mother should not know. This was about June, 1846. I am of opinion that the day of grace has passed, and the day of judgment arrived. Plaintiff entertains the same notions, and I consider her to be of sound mind. She is as perfectly sane as myself.

G. V. THOMAS, brother-in-law to plaintiff.-Remembers Miss Nottidge being taken away from Charlinch. Her mind was perfectly sane and proper in every respect. She has never exhibited the slightest symptom of unsoundness of mind, nor any delusion. Went to the asylum to fetch her away, and did not observe any difference in her mind. She has been in the Agapemone ever since, perfectly sound in mind and manner. ARTHUR MAYBURN.-Is a surgeon; lives in the Agapemone, and prac

tises among the inmates. Knows plaintiff; she is gentle in temper and of perfectly sound mind. Has never observed any sign of a delusion.

JOHN WILLIAMS, gentleman, explained at length the peculiar religious tenets of the sect.

SIR F. THESIGER then addressed the jury on behalf of the defendants, and produced the following evidence :

Mrs. NOTTIDGE, mother to the plaintiff.-(After detailing the circumstances of the desertion and marriage of her other three daughters, and the absconding of the plaintiff, continued.)--Plaintiff came to see me in London, accompanied by her sisters. I put down on paper what she said. I asked about Mr. Prince; she said, "I know no such person. God now dwells only at Charlinch, in the flesh of him I once knew as Mr. Prince. God, who made me and all the world, is now manifest in him I once called Mr. Prince. He has entered his tabernacle of flesh among men, and I have seen God face to face. He will deliver me wherever I am taken." After that, witness sent for her brother and the medical men.

Mr. JOHN PEPYS, uncle to the plaintiff.-Is of opinion that her mind was under a strong delusion. Talked to her for some time, but obtained no answer beyond "That it was the Lord's will that she should live down at Charlinch." Advised that a medical man should be sent for, and that she should be watched.

THOMAS MORTON, F.R.C.S.-Saw Miss Nottidge on Nov. 11th, 1846, and then certified that "she had of late estranged herself from her mother's house to follow a person of the name of Prince, whom she believed to be Almighty God, and herself immortal." When asked whether she did not believe that Mr. Prince was Almighty God she refused to answer, but when asked whether she did not believe that Mr. Prince was not Almighty God, she said that she did not believe that he was not the Almighty.

Dr. ROWLAND.-Plaintiff told him that she was a disciple of Mr. Prince's, and that she could not deny having the belief that Mr. Prince was Almighty God. Was perfectly satisfied at the time of her unsoundness of mind.

Dr. STILLWELL, head of the Moorcroft House Asylum at Hillingdon.Received plaintiff at his establishment, and did all he could to be of service to her. She told him that "Mr. Prince was God manifest in the flesh; that the day of grace had passed, and the day of judgment had come. She also said that Mr. Prince had rendered her immortal-that she should not die that she should not be buried in a coffin as other persons were, but taken up to heaven in the twinkling of an eye. She said that she had ceased to pray, and only sang praises to God." These she sang as she walked about the room, but never made use of any intelligent words. She entertained great antipathies to her mother and friends. She repeated the above remarks relative to Mr. Prince on May 9th, only a week before her discharge.

Mr. LUTWIDGE, Secretary to the Lunacy Commissioners, showed from the minutes that Dr. Stillwell's asylum had been visited by the commissioners as many as eight times while plaintiff was an inmate, and that her case had been considered at six of those visits.

Dr. TURNER proved visiting the asylum in Dec. 1846, and seeing plaintiff. She would not converse, but she said, "I believe in the same God as you do," and would not answer when I asked her whether she considered Mr. Prince to be God Almighty. The result of the interview was, that the commissioners had no doubt whatever of her unsoundness of mind. However, she was subsequently discharged on the ground of her declining health.

Mr. MYLNE, one of the Commissioners in Lunacy, and a member of the