------, the mother of Mr. ------, the insane young man of whom I had
taken charge. She is a lady of fifty or thereabouts, and not very
remarkable anyway, nor particularly lady-like. However, she was just
come off a rapid journey, having travelled from Naples, with three small
children, without taking rest, since my letter reached her. A son (this
proved to be her new husband) of about twenty had come with her to the
Consulate. She was, of course, infinitely grieved about the young man's
insanity, and had two or three bursts of tears while we talked the matter
over. She said he was the hope of her life,--the best, purest, most
innocent child that ever was, and wholly free from every kind of vice.
But it appears that he had a previous attack of insanity, lasting three
months, about three years ago.
After I had told her all I knew about him, including my personal
observations at a visit a week or two since, we drove in a cab to the
Asylum. It must have been a dismal moment to the poor lady, as we
entered the gateway through a tall, prison-like wall. Being ushered into
the parlor, the Governor soon appeared, and informed us that Mr. ------
had had a relapse within a few days, and was not now so well as when I
saw him. He complains of unjust confinement, and seems to consider
himself, if I rightly understand, under persecution for political
reasons. The Governor, however, proposed to call him down, and I took my
leave, feeling that it would be indelicate to be present at his first
interview with his mother.
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