ASYLUM

2pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'David Priestman'. Reads: 'If my friend D Priestman is going to the Asylum [Qty?] Court to-day I shall be obliged by his stating that I have been unable to attend the Committee during the last quarter from my indisposition & that seeing no prospect of discharging the duties of the Office during the next [i.e. the next quarter] I hope the Court will omit my name in the list[.] I have given up the attendance of the Retreat Committee'. The Tuke and Priestman families were related by marriage.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Accepting, 'with very great pleasure, the kind & hospitable invitation of the Resident Members at Brighton for Wednesday the 13th August'. It is Conolly's intention 'to be present at the Public Breakfast & Dinner on the 14th.'

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with small tape stain on reverse. Folded twice. The letter begins: 'My dear Dr. Spurgin, | Believing you to be left all alone, I was hoping to write and entreat you to come & see us: but a sudden return of Neuraliga faciei, now, I hope, leaving me, is not so much departed as to permit my speaking, or eating, or drinking, except at long intervals, & then very sparingly.' Conolly fears that he would neither be able to dine nor talk with Spurgin.

For information on the recipient the physician William Frederick Cleveland (1823-1898), see his obituary, BMJ, 3 December 1898. ONE: 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. He begins by stating that he 'constantly' sees 'patients in London for the ordinary Consultation Fee of 2 Gs.' Because of the 'lamented death of a relative at a distance', Conolly is 'unable to name an earlier time for having the pleasure to meet you than Monday next, the 21st., at 3 o'Clock'. TWO: 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium on grey paper, with mourning border.

Both in good condition, lightly aged, and each with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf. Both addressed to 'My dear Pierce'. (Pierce had worked under Clouston at the Royal Edinburgh Asylum, before taking up his post at the York Retreat asylum in 1892.) Clouston's hand is markedly disordered hand, and difficult of decipherment. ONE: 2pp, 12mo. He is enclosing a cheque for three guineas 'for [Maher's?] Fund'.

Two good substantial letters, the first written with Pierce on the verge of leaving Sir Thomas Clouston (1840-1915) and the Royal Edinburgh Asylum, and taking up the position of medical superintendent at the York Retreat asylum, and contemplating going to a conference in Paris in the interim; and the second a discussion of the question of the propensity to insanity of 'a lunatic's Child'. Both items in good condition, lightly aged, on grey paper, with thin strips of paper adhering from mounts. ONE: 22 June 1892. 8pp, 12mo. On two bifoliums. Signed 'D Hack Tuke'.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. The letter reads: 'My dear Sir, | I am required to give evidence before a Commission de Lunatico Inquirendo on Thursday morning at ten, in London. I trust, therefore, to being permitted to postpone my attendance on the Committee until two on that day.'

2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to one edge. Begins: 'Samuel Tuke having been disappointed of an opportunity of sending by a private hand a parcel to his friend Dr Max. Jacobi will be much obliged to J. Churchill to send to him four copies of the translation of his work'.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded once. Forty-three lines of text. He begins by expressing pleasure at the prospect of being associated with Pierce 'in the Course of Lectures on Mental Diseases', and at the news that Pierce has 'decided to take up the Systematic Part'. He leaves the choice of day to Pierce, and offers to put him up for the night.

The present letter concerns the editorship of the Annual Monitor, a Quaker magazine subtitled 'Obituary of the members of the Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland', published between 1812 and 1919. The founding editor was William Alexander (1768-1841), and following Alexander's death 'the Editors' referred to in the letter included Sarah Backhouse and the letter's author Samuel Tuke. The recipient would appear to be the magazine's printer. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper adhering to blank second leaf of bifolium. Folded twice.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of blank second leaf of bifolium. Without heading or salutation, reads: 'I have pleasure in expressing the high opinion which I entertain of Dr. Bedford Pierce's professional attainments | I feel sure that he is in all respects well qualified for the post of Medical Superintendent of the Retreat. When I heard that the post was to be vacant his was the name which at once occurred to my mind & I have not since thought of any one whom I could more confidently recommend'.

1p, 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with the reverse of the second leaf bearing a thin strip of paper from mount, and addressed, with postmark, to 'T. J. Pettigrew Esqr | 8 Saville Street | Burlington Gardens.' Folded five times. The letter begins: 'My dear Pettigrew. | I shall with much pleasure attend your Conversazione, indeed I am partial to that mode of passing an evening. I like the sparks that are struck from different minds.

3pp, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice. Fifty-two lines of text. He thanks Pierce for his 'most kind expressions of regard for myself, & your eulogistic & cordial tribute to my poor efforts in the cause of Psychological Medicine'. which he has read in 'the account of the proceedings at the Edinburgh Meeting in July last', in the Journal of Mental Science.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the reverse of the second leaf. The last few words and valediction of the letter are cross-written on the first page, with Allbutt's signature written across several words. At the head of the first page Allbutt has written: 'Please regard this as Private'. He begins by giving two numbered reasons why he 'cannot reply fully or definitively' to the unnamed recipient's letter: 1. 'Because I don't know more of Mr. Dent's Views than the few words he said at Q[uarter]. Sessions.

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly aged and browned paper, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the reverse. Folded twice. The letter reads: 'Mr George Helyar arrived here last night accompanied by your attendant from whom I received your letter and a purse containing £11 – 12 – Mr Helyar has slept well and appears comfortable this morning, and I hope will go on well with us - | When his Clothes arrive I will inform you - | I also received the Order, & Certificates from the attendant for which pray accept my thanks -'.

In August 1828, following the passing of the 1828 Madhouse Act, the Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel established a commission to oversee London's madhouses, consisting of five physicians, six Middlesex JPs, and ten other honorary (i.e. unpaid) commissioners. The present document by Peel casts interesting light on the process of appointment. It is on both sides of 18 x 23 cm piece of paper, evidently used as envelope for 'the Instrument' mentioned in Peel's note. Aged, and with tear and hole caused by breaking open of seal. Folded twice.

2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to blank second leaf. Folded once. Written in a markedly disordered hand, difficult of decipherment. The recipient is not named.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount to gutter. Folded twice. The recipient is not named, but is likely to be the secretary of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association (now the British Medical Association), as the letter concerns the nineteenth annual meeting of that body, held at Brighton, 13 and 14 August 1851. It begins: 'My dear Sir, | Many thanks for your very kind invitation. I have engaged beds for myself, my brother Dr. W. C. [William Brice Conolly (c.1793-1861), M.D., of Castleton House Kings, Gloucestershire], Dr.

This document, signed by George IV as Prince Regent, and by the former Prime Minister Lord Sidmouth as Home Secretary, relates to Matthias Maher (1798-1865), a Royal Navy officer who was twice tried at the Old Bailey on a charge of forgery. On the first occasion, 6 May 1818, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity; and removed to the criminal asylum in St George's Fields. Maher was found sound of mind – as the present document reveals by Sir George Leman Tuthill (1772–1835) and Edward Wright (c.1788-1859), the latter to die of disgrace in Australia.

2pp, foolscap 8vo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf. Good firm signature by the queen ('Victoria R') in the customary place at the head of the first page; and tight signature of the Home Secretary at the end of the document ('Jas G Graham.'). Both signatures over guiding pencil crosses. Seal under paper in left-hand margin of first page.

2pp, foolscap 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to one edge. Folded twice. Large heavily-smudged signature of the king ('George R.') at head of first page, which has the royal seal under paper in the left-hand margin. Signed at end of document ('By His Majesty's Command') by the Home Secretary and future Prime Minister: 'R Peel'.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with evidence of mount on reverse of second leaf, which is endorsed 'Dr. Forbes Winslow'. Two central folds, one vertical and one horizontal. The male recipient is unnamed. He is 'quite unfit to go up to London to-day', 'owing to the fatigue I underwent yesterday travelling a long distance into Northamptonshire to see a patient'.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge of reverse of second leaf, and two central folds, one vertical and one horizontal. He invites Philipart to 'do us the pleasure of meeting Dr & Mrs Bennett on Wednesday next at dinner at 6.40 for 7 o Cl'. He is 'most anxious', as they are 'both going down the hill [last four words underlined] to renew an old & much valued friendship & to re introduce you to some of my grown up children'.

[31]pp., 4to. In grey wraps with title reprinted on cover. In poor condition, heavily creased, in creased, worn and damaged wraps. Contains eleven items, mostly statistical tables: 'Order of Sessions to print Reports and Accounts', 'The Committee of Visitors', 'Report of Visitors to Quarter Sessions', 'Confirmation of Report', 'Superintendent's Annual Report', 'Statistical Tables', 'Accounts of Receipts and Payments', 'General Statement of the Receipts and Payments', 'Summary of the Cost per head per week', 'Farm and Garden (Stock)' and 'Farm and Garden Account'.

The four Lawrence Asylums were founded at the desire of Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence as boarding schools for the sons of British Army officers in India. What is now the Lawrence School, Lovedale, is now one of the most exclusive schools in India. 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, repaired on the blank reverse with tape. the engraving ('Halliford House, Sunbury, Middlesex', 'Drawn & Engraved by A. Willmore') is clear and undamaged. Beneath the engraving are 29 lines in small print, beginning: 'This beautiful and secluded Residence, standing in a small Park of nearly thirty acres, is appropriated to the reception of a limited number of patients of the higher classes, who may be suffering from Mental and Nervous affections, and who are under the constant personal superintendence of Dr.

3pp., folio. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Excessively scarce: no copy of this item (nor of anything else by Row) on either OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC. The poem is a capable effort, two hundred numbered lines long, arranged in fifty quatrains.

Piece of paper, 18 x 10 cm, bottom edge irregularly cut, good condition. Text: Sir | Three days after Sight be pleased to pay Mr Richard Grover or Order this Sum of Eleven Pounds four Shillings for Value received by Bill for Mr Archd Duff from Sr | Yr humble servant | Wm Perfect." Followed by (possibly in different hand) "James Gordon Esq: Bury Couret | St Mary Axe London. | No. 14. On verso, signature of Richard Grover and "witness for Mr Leach | J Williams." Pencil note aded "Wine Merchant", but "The Tradesman" of 1808 records a Richard Grover, Grocer, in Town Malling.

The case to which the present item refers is the subject of Chapter 16 of Nicola Sly's 'Herefordshire Murders' (2010). The trial of Charles Sanders for the wilful murder of the thirty-two month-old Walter Steers, before Mr Justice Day, opened at the Herefordshire Winter Assizes on 3 December 1891. He was found guilty and hanged at the end of the month. The present item is from the papers of Sanders defence barrister, Richard Harington (the future 12th Baronet, of Ridlington), whose 'impassioned speech in favour of his client' was not enough to save him from the gallows.

The Duke was the head of the Committee in charge of the Royal Naval Asylum, which had been founded as the British National Endeavour in 1798, for the orphans of military and naval personnel killed in action. It had moved from Paddington to the Queen's House, Greenwich, in October 1807, having received a large amount of public support (including that of Lord Nelson), and was responsible for upwards of 1000 boys and girls. 3pp., 4to. Bifolium. On aged paper, with damp damage resulting in some loss (including a little text). Repaired with archival tape.