A small volume styled “Flemish Interiors,” being notes of a tour of religious enquiry through Belgium, written by some recent convert to the Roman system, is a very readable book, and contains some interesting observations on the establishments for the insane, under the care of the religious orders in Belgium. These observations we were led to compare with a paper by Dr. Webster, in the present number of the “Psychological -Ioumal,” on the lunatic Asylums of Relgium; and the contrast between the hard dry facts of the man of science, and the bright colours which the religious votary throws over the same scenes, seemed to us worthy of being brought out in our pages.

Mr. Lee has done good service, in calling attention to the noble charity provided by Dr. Warnford, for the insane poor of those classes whose education and position in society, would render the acceptance of relief from parochial funds, a painful degradation, and whose habits would render their residence in the wards of a pauper lunatic asylum, humiliating to themselves, and the source of difficulty and embarrassment in the arrangements of the institution. He says, with perfect truth, that the provisions for health and comfort supplied to the inmates of county asylums, are such as would not be deemed inadequate to the wants of the insane gentry. But the amalgamation of the two classes has been tried in several county asylums, with indifferent success; and public opinion, guided by experience, has now set strongly in the direction of providing for the educated and the uneducated classes in distinct institutions.

The author is unable to determine to whom belongs the credit of having first attempted the education of idiot children. Saegert, of Berlin, believed that be had demonstrated scientifically the curability of idiocy in 1846. Seguin, of Paris had made known his efforts in the cause about the same period. Guggenbiihl opened his institution upon the Abendberg in 1836; but Voisin in Paris had preceded him, and even Voisin was not the first labourer in the field. The Government of Saxony has been the first to found an idiot institution, at the cost of the State. The Government of Wurtemburg has given its support to the institutions of Mariaburg and Winterbach, The Government of the kingdom of Sardinia has proved its lively interest in this question by issuing in 1848 a Royal Commission to inquire into the nature and the causes of cretinism, and it has thus set an example to other Governments.

Encouraged by the success of the system, commenced in the year 1850, of associating at the dinner meal the male pauper patients of the Cornwall Lunatic Asylum, then under my superintendence, I ventured soon after my appointment at Colney Hatch, in September, 1852, to recommend here a far more extended association of the patients of both sexes in the hall hitherto used for occasional recreation, and which, from its dimensions and contiguity with the kitchen, appeared to offer especial advantages for carrying out such an experiment upon a large scale. After consultation with my colleagues upon the subject, I urged upon the Visiting Justices the following arguments in favour of the measure:—

1. 1. The moral, social, and curative results likely to accrue.

2. 2. Relief to the patients from the usual monotony and routine of the establishment.

3. 3. Increased facilities afforded both to magistrates and officers for inspecting the patients.

4. 4. Improved ventilation in the wards, especially in hot weather.

5. 5. Removal of the knives, &c., from the store-rooms and sculleries of the wards.

6. 6. The more rapid conveyance of the provisions, whilst hot; and the better working of the establishment generally.

On few occasions has the great heart of the public been more deeply moved than by the recent revelations of the Scotch Lunacy Report. The report itself is a document remarkable not only for the information it contains, but for the soundness of opinions which it expresses, and for its general good sense, moderation, and justice. It is excellent, both in matter and manner, and is highly creditable not only to the whole of the Commissioners, whose industry in their vocation it illustrates, and whose opinions it enunciates, but it is so in the highest degree to the particular Commissioner to whom was entrusted the task of drawing it up, and whose enlightened views and wide knowledge on the subject of insanity, our associates will have no difficulty in recognising.

The whole proceedings in this painful case have now been laid before the public, in the form of a Parliamentary return. Little new light, however, is thrown upon the controversy. In an able and severe letter the Visitors of the Surrey Asylum object to the manner and to the private character of the examination instituted by the Commissioners, on the receipt of the anonymous letter. They say it was uncourteous to themselves, and unjust to Mr. Snape; “that it was done extensively by leading questions, a mode of proceeding not admissible in any criminal case, and which the law prohibits as leading to error, rather than truth.’ The Visitors, considering the question to be “essentially of a medical character,” finally decided it for themselves, upon the following evidence, which they invoked for their guidance.

A distinguished member of this Association opens the Sixteenth Annual Report ∗ of his quiet unobtrusive labours with the remark that the opinion that mental disease is becoming more prevalent has been universally adopted, and that it is confirmed by the experience of all who have to deal with the crimes, the misfortunes, the diseases of mankind, by the observation of all who watch the progress either of individuals or nations.

When an arduous juridical contention is at its height, when a man's life is in the balance of opinion between those who hold him to be insane and irresponsible, and those who believe him to be a cruel and calculating murderer, the passions of men are so much involved that it is difficult to estimate the merits of a scientific question, with a perfect impartiality and freedom from prejudice and a single regard to truth. The trial of Wm. Dove, for the murder of his wife by strychnine, and his defence upon the plea of insanity, has been of a nature to elicit an unusual amount of personal feeling, both among those who considered him one of the most atrocious criminals of modern times, and those who conscientiously believed him to be incapable of crime on account of mental disease or infirmity. Sane or insane, Wm. Dove has paid the penalty of a murderer, and hath been sent to appear before the judgment seat of Him who “knoweth all things,” and will “judge righteous judgment.”