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PHILOSOPHY OF INSANITY. *
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NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
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UNIOXBANK OF LONDON.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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T HE half-yearly meeting of shareholders was held at the London Tavern , on Wednesday last , when the motion for adopting the report wasTcarried with only one dissentient voice , and a vote of thanks and continued confidence-in the directors was carried by acclamation . This result will not c reate much surprise , although it may cause regret that proprietors should tamely submit to the loss of £ 263 , 000 out of a paid-up capital of £ 600 , 000 , without insisting on being informed what steps had been taken to ascertain who were Puli . ixgeb ' s accomplices . That one man should , under a ny circumstances , be enabled to carry on depredations to the extent of upwards of a quarter of a million sterling , and that these frauds should have extended over five years without exciting suspicion , can only obtain credence from those who are wholly unacquainted with the business of banking , and although it may be wise to 6 € ifle ~ ln 1 qTlu ^ y ^ itfnrvre ^ tion in the value of shares , it will be productive of incalculable injury to commercial credit . If Puixingek , by his " very obliging plea of it
of good faith might thus have been given , by the production of both books , the shareholders still remain in entire ignorance of the nature of this marvellous representative of a quarter of ajnilhon sterling . The whole case will probably soon bo broug ht before the ^ Court of Chancery , as Mr . Edmund Alderson Fawcett , a shareholder , has ^ served a notice on the company that he objects to . the proceedxnga of the directors , and protests ^ against the p roposed writing off of 120 , 0 Q 0 J . capitaVand that he shall apply for an injunction to restrain them from so acting . Without anticipating the result of the application , it maybe presume d that , if the case should be brought before the Lord Chancellor , no subterfuges will prevent & full revelation of all the-circumstances which have hitherto been concealed , for reasons which may possibly be sound , but which , in the absence of all detail , do not appear to justiiy the reserve and secresy with which this remarkable case of embezzlement is at present surrounded .
guilty , " has Bcreened others who were worse than himself , requires no great foresight to perceive that the success in accomplishing frauds to so gigantic an extent with impunity , will operate as a direct incentive to , some new description of fraud , and a question therefore arises respecting the means which have been adopted to prevent the repetition of a similar calamity . So far from learning by experience , the directors seem determined to persevere in continuing a negligent system of audit . The Chaibman stated that the auditors ivere two of the directors % nrotationy and that the directors did . not intend to appoint an independent auditor , because from the nature of banking business such an audit must be illusory . We do not intend to enter fully into the subject of audit at present , but wa would ask whether the shareholders have any aeourity for the safe custody ef their property , if so essential a safeguard is neglected , The present directors may , one and all , be men of high honour and unimpeachable integrity j but it by no means follows that the direction will always bo similarly constituted , and supposing for a moment that by any combination of
events , a dishonest set of directors were to succeed in obtaining the management , what would then be the seourity of shareholders ? By a well-organised conspiracy , it is by no means improbable that a band of unscrupulous men might Bucceod in accomplishing frauds to a much greater amount than Pullinger and his confederates dared to attempt , and if , two of those directors in rotation are to be allowed to audit the accounts according to their own pleasure , without any supervision , tho public would not be surprised ot another joint-stock bank being added to the failures whioh have created such unexampled misery during the last few years . The report is an extremely meagre document , and gives no iuformationoaloulatod to dispel thapumful . suspicions _ . wbich L havo forced themselves upon the public mind . The course which 'has boon adopted mav . nerhans . nrevent further depreciation , and propridtofd may bo
enabled to dispose of their shares at a higher price than could liavo been obtained if all particulars had been fully and freoly explained ; bu , t tho credit of tho bank' itsolf is not l ' ikdly to bo fully re-ostublishod until all mystery is disposed . , A shareholder , inquired in whoso handwriting tho fraudulent passbook was , and whether it was in more than one handwriting ; while another proprietor wished tp see the two pass-books—the genuine Bank of England pass-book , and tho book which was stated to bo a fabrication . A book purporting to bo the forged pass-book was produced , but the real pass-book was withhold , and although satisfactory evidence
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( second article . ) "TTTE return to Dr . Window ' s interesting work for the sake of VV adducing a few more illustrations of mental disorder , some of which will tend to widen the popular conceptions formed upon the subject , and aid a more rational application of jurisprudence to the various important questions of insanity Which it involves . Our avowed mode of deciding whether the plea of insanity can be most absurd
admitted in the case of a person accused of crime is and barbarous , being- made to depend upon the individual sability to discriminate right from wrong . A reference to the actual decisions , which have been arrived at , would b oav the impossibility oi adhering to any such rule , and in practice it conies to this—that criminal lunatics who are lucky enough to enlist the sympathies of judge and jury , escape capital punishment ; while others , perhaps more inad , end their lives on the gallows , because something in the act they have committed , in their personal appearance , or
the temper of the public mind , creates a prejudice against tnem . Secretaries of Stats are even more capricious than judges and juries , and Sir G . Grey was remarkable for inexplicable notions concernmo- the proper exercise of the discretion committed to his care . Although some eases might be cited to the contrary , stupid lunatics stand a better chance than clever ones ; and , if the way in which the criminal act was committed , and the subsequent demeanour-bf . thei criminal exhibit design , intelligence , and acuteness it is difficult to get the fact of the insanity recognised . As instances of insanity being consistent with apparently healthy mental activity , we may adduce ^ a few remarkable cases ^ his most
quoted by Dr . Winslow , thus .: — " Tasso composed eloquent arid impassioned verses during paroxysms of insanity . Lucretius wrote his immortal poem , De Rerum N&tura , when suffering from an attack of mental aberration ., Alexander Cruden compiled his celebrated Concordance while insane , and some of the ablest articles in Aitkins \? Biographical Dictionary vrere written by a patient in a lunatic asylum . " Such cases , which might be multiplied , do not prove the advantages of insanity , nor are we warranted in affirming the insanity to have been the cause of the mental vigour displayed . What probably took place amounts to nbthine more than that certain portions of the brain were strongly
thou gh healthily excited , while other portions were morbidly excited , or had their energies morlBioUy - de ^ wessed excitement in the first case was morbid , because exceeding what the organs could experience without injury . Sometimes this may have been the case , but over-work is distinct from functional derangement , and While the function of an organ is correctly discharged it -would be a misnomer to call it insane . Dr . Winslow tells us of a young gentleman suffering from an attack of insanity , supposed to have been occasioned by ill-treatment at schooh In his original state he was incapable of doing even a simple sum in arithmetic ; but when recovering from the acute symptoms of a maniacal attack , he was a skilful calculator . When bisliealth was restored his stupidity returned . It would have been interesting to know the size and form of this boy ' s brain , his temperament , &c , but concerning these things , Dr . Winslow is *• _ i . i __ » i a T ^ AV ^^ 4- * U ^ -n s * £ " I"Y » *\ 7 l 7 " -i * - » bl /\ TTr ' a -no +. ionta——t , nft Wlxfi \ 1 f £ / Mt % /» ot *
pgritJUtly DiXCiXw * ' AX * ' OlWlVW ** WJL JX JUT * . ' « UK » W TT W j w » ~ , j % of a clergyman—a wonderful talent for rapid and clever versification was '¦' exhibited' during paroxysms of mania and ceased when recovery took place . ¦ ' . . Among the most singular effects of insanity are those in wmen human beings are approximated to clever brutes , by an exaltation of instincts , and a depression of reason . Dr . Winslow says : — 41 In the lower grades of stupidity and congenital idiocy , wo occasionally see exhibited that extraordinary sagacity and cunning which is bo characteristic of the higher animals : " and he goes on to tell of mechanical ingenuity , aouteness of sensations , and wonderful adaptations to physical conditions as observed among a certain class of insane persons incapable of appreciating a single rationalidea . He adds , It would appear that in proportion as the reasoning and reflective powers are in ar > arrested , latent , ana dormant « tate ,-do the instinctive -propensities ( aaa . -C ompensating
balance ) ascend the scale , occupy the seat of reason , and arrogate and exercise the right of undisputed , and often unbridled sovereignty . " These facts afford the most interesting ground tor speculation , and we desire to know what are the differences between instinct and reason ; and if wo are to regard man , tne microcosm , as containing in himself the faculties of lower creatures , with his own suporaddod ! Wo ask , where is the seat of interior , and where of the superior qualities ? _
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656 "' ¦ ¦¦ . Tlw Saturday Analyst and Leader . . { JtjctIA , 1 & 6 . 0-.
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The Council of the Association entertained at . dinner on Monday evening at the Crystal Palace the Swiss riflemen who had competed for the prizes at Wimbledon ; and those gentlemen composing the School of Musketry at Hythe who had assisted in carrying but the arrangements during the past week . Lord Elcho presided . Among the coin pany present were Earl Spencer , Colonels Kennedy and Bewes , M . de la Bive , the Swiss Minister , the Swiss officers who accompanied the riflemen to England , Captain Archibald , 58 th Regiment , and Lieut . Lacy , 12 th Regiment .
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Points . Prince Consort ' s Prize , won by Lieutenant Lacy , 12 th Regiment , Instructor of Musketry ... ... ... ... ... 22 Second Prize , won by Sergeant Lawley , 2 nd Derby Volunteers ... 18 Third Prize , won by Mr . Peter , Q-eneva ... ¦ .,.. ... ... Heb Majesty ' s Pkize , £ 250 , and gold medal of the Association , ' open to the 20 winners of the Volunteer prizes , and 20 next best shots , at 800 , 900 , and 1 , 000 yards , 10 rounds at each distance with Whitworth Rifles . nA 1 . Ross , 7 th North York ... ... ... ••• 2 f MrRossthe winner of the Royal prizewas no stranger by the time
. , , Lord Elcho arrived at that announcement . He had appeared and taken two minor prizes . When called up to receive the Queen s prize of £ 250 , the band struck up , " See the conquering hero comes , and the applause that had greeted him before was redoubled . He uore hia honours with great quietness of manner , receiving the prize just as c oolly as he shot for it . He is tall , slight , and very youthful in appearance . He was congratulated on his skill and success ^ by the President , the different members of the Council , and a knot of friends —among whom was his father , the famous deer-stalker . Mr . Ross was called on to show his gold medal , and , liually , to put it on ; he held it up to the spectators , but could not comply with the other reuest- ^ ihe medal had no "fixings . "
q It was announced by Lord Elelio that Her Majesty has expressed her intention to make the prize she has given an annual one as long as the association exists . The proceedings were closed by a short address from Lord Elcho . The spectators then quitted the Palace , and dispersed through the grounds ? the fountains played at 5 o ' clock , and a hurdle-race and some other games were commenced , which continued till twilight . The scene in the gardens during the whole evening was magnificent .
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* On Obscure Diseases of the Brain . By Fommrs Winslow , M . J ) ., &c . J . Churchill .
Philosophy Of Insanity. *
PHILOSOPHY OF INSANITY . *
National Rifle Association.
JfATIOXAL RIFLE . ASSOCIATION .
Unioxbank Of London.
UNIOXBA ^ K OF -LONDON .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 14, 1860, page 656, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2356/page/8/
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