ANECDOTE OF A LUNATIC.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 47, 21 November 1891, Page 607

ANECDOTE OF A LUNATIC.

ANY years ago, a party were visiting a small UlNrvU/jlllll? private lunatic asylum in a rural district of vlllwwlllli Scotland. Everything was found to be in •41wy/111l a most comfortable and creditable condition, as unlike as possible that of all such places fa twenty or thirty years previous. One individual, out of the small number of persons confined there, arrested their special attention. He was a man past middle age, upright in person, and with that general bearing which at once indicates the military man. His manner was quick and lively, or rather restless, and this was, in truth, the only feature in his deportment from which one could have guessed anything to be amiss with him. Bespoke rapidly, and with apparent good sense, and seemed to take a pleasure in talking with visitors, as well as to have an anxiety to entertain them. His power to do so was in a great measure confined to the exhibition of his room and the few curiosities contained in it. Altogether, he spoke so sensibly, and everything about him had such an appearance of order and respectability that it was impossible for the visitors not to feel an interest in the poor man, or to avoid entertaining some curiosity as to his past history. Fortunately, a friend was able to supply them the desired information on this point. ‘ Poor Captain B ,’ said he, ‘ is a victim to the niceties of military honour at the present day, though, in some mea-

sure, as you shall hear, lie assuredly deserved his fate. He served with credit in our army during the early part of the late continental war, and was subsequently sent out with his regiment to one of the West Indian islands, for the possession of which the French were then disputing with us. The British took the island, and remained stationed in it for some time, but they were in turn attacked and expelled by the French. A considerable number of our soldiery were taken prisoners, and among them was Captain B . He was a nran unpossessed of that degree of mental fortitude which can render endurable any chance occurring in the way of duty, and fretted greatly under the misfortune that betel him. Nevertheless, like others, he gave his parole not to attempt an escape, and', on the faith thereof, was permitted to enjoy a good deal of license in his movements. He and his companions were not allowed to roam where ever they chose, indeed, on the island, but they were allowed the freedom of a large open space for the benefit of air and exercise. ‘ Such had been the state of things for some weeks, when, one day, a British ship was seen hovering oil the island. Captain B saw it among others, and instantly the possibility of an escape occurred to him. If he could quit his place of confinement and put off in a small boat from the coast, under cover of the shades of evening, the probability was that he would readily reach the ship. But, then, his parole—the word of honour given by him not to attempt flight? Captain B was not blind to the impropriety of breaking a pledge of this kind, but the desire of escape gained the ascendancy over all other feelings and smoothed down all objections. That night, without communicating his intention to any one, the captain contrived to leave his room, clambered over the wall encircling his place of confinement

and made his way safely to the beaeh. The moonlight enabled him to see the British ship at but a very short distance, and he got hold of a small boat without being observed. In this vessel, after a long and laborious pull at the oars, the captain found himself at last by the side of his countrymen's ship, and was taken in greatly exhausted. • To the officer in command Captain B sard nothing about his parole ; but when conveyed to Jamaica, where his regiment then lay with the rest of the forces on the West India station, he found himself obliged to tell the truth, knowing that sooner or later, it would be learned from others whether he himself told it or not. After the excitement attending the act of escape had passed off, he had begun to reflect with some uneasiness on the light in which the matter might be viewed by his superiors in command. But the reality was far more harassing than be had at all anticipated. His colonel, when informed of the affair, threw him instantly into arrest and summoned a courtmartial to inquire into the matter. The captain’s statement was decisive against himself. He admitted having given his parole and having broken it. The decision against him was unanimous, and to the effect that his “ conduct was most unworthy a British otlicer and gentleman, and calculated to throw disgrace on the whole service.” It was moreover resolved that he should be instantly sent back again to the French station, with the explanation that “ the British army, to a man, reprobates the conduct of Captain B in breaking his parole.” ‘ Accordingly, by the earliest opportunity, the unlucky officer was re conveyed to his late place of confinement among the French. His state of mind, under these circumstances, was pitiable. To be so cast off and repudiated by

his own friends, and to be sent back to meet still greaterdisgrace, and, perhaps, punishment, at the hands of the enemy, was, indeed, calculated to gall his feelings most deeply. Tire results of bis re transmission to the French station made the case much worse. When he was landed under a flag of truce, and conveyed to the quarters of the general in command, that personage immediately called bis principal officers about him and held a consultation with them. Captain B was present, and every eye was turned upon hint with indignant contempt. The conference was short, and ended in the commander sitting down to write a note, which bore that : ‘ " The French were highly gratified with the politeness of tire British in sending back Captain B— , and sincerely believed that every man in the British army must despise Ids conduct in violating his word of honour: but that they (the French) begged leave to return him to his friends, as they declined keeping or having anything further to do with so mean a rascal." ‘This note was read aloud to Captain B- , and that unfortunate person was afterwards under the necessity of returning to the vessel which bad brought him from Jamaica. ‘ If the feeling of shame ami disgrace endured by the captain was great before, it was increased tenfold on his return to Jamaica with the scornful note of the French com mander. All his former fiiends cut him directly and avowedly. No man would speak to or associate with him, and lie was ultimately obliged to petition to be sent home, on the plea of bad health. In reality, his bodily health was perfectly good, but not so with his mental health. The circumstance preyed upon his thoughts, until reason was shaken from her throne. This change was first made apparent in England by the incessant and lengthy memorials which he poured in upon Government, all

relating to his own set vices and sufferings and conceived in such rambling terms as clearly to indicate the writer’s state of mind. We believe that from Govern inent came the suggestion of confinement. However this may be, Captain B was placed in a private asylum ; and there he now is and is likely to be for the remainder of his days. It is, perhaps, well that the poor man thinks himself injured, for he is rendered by that impression comparatively happy. By one bieach of the laws of honour, he lost his place forever in society, and, perhaps, not undeservedly ; yet no one can regret any circumstances which tend to give him comparative ease in ids, at best, most unfortunate con dition.