The writ 'de lunatico inquirendo,' in the case of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's : with observations / by J.T. Banks.

  • Banks, John Thomas, 1811-1908.
Date:
[1863]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The writ 'de lunatico inquirendo,' in the case of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's : with observations / by J.T. Banks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    were who endeavoured to alleviate Swift’s sufferings, it is a sub- ject of much regret that they have not bequeathed to posterity one line on the subject of the disease of their illustrious patient. Among his physicians were Sir Patrick Dun—the benevo- lent founder, like himself, of an hospital which bears hi3 ho- noured name—and Dr. Arbuthnot,physician to Queen Anne,of both of whom he speaks in terms of affection Of Arbuth- not he says, “ He was the only man of the faculty who seemed to understand my case; but could not remedy it.” Writing to Pope, he says, “ The death of the Doctor (Arbuthnot) has been a terrible wound to my heart.” Swift had begun to feel acutely the loss of friends, which Sir William Temple said is a “ tax on long life.” Numerous as the Biographers of Swift have been, and care- fully as they have sought for information from every available source, there is one passage in his life, and that the most melan- choly, with which they appear to be unacquainted,—I allude to the fact of his having been made a “Chancery Lunatic.” It is true, Sir Walter Scott alludes to persons having been appointed to take care of him. He says, “ His estate was put under the management of trustees, and his person confided to the care of Dr. Lyons, a respectable clergyman.” Dr. Delany says, “ In the beginning of the year 1741, his understanding was so much impaired, and his passion so greatly increased, that he was utterly incapable of conversation; strangers were not permitted to approach him, and his friends found it necessary to have guardians appointed of his person and estate.” We shall see, by referring to the legal instru- ment, how incorrect Delany is as to the date. It was not until the 17th of August that the writ £< de lunatico inqui- rendo” was issued; and it may be remarked, that it was re- turned on the 19th of the same month, although the return was not required before the 3rd of November. It is evident, then,, that the biographers knew nothing of the writ, or this inaccuracy could not have occurred. It is strange, from this statement of Delany’s,and from other proofs of the utter prostra- tion of Swift’s intellect, at a period long antecedent, that the jury only found him to be of unsound mind for three months prior to the date of the Commission. That we have no record of the examination of medical men or “experts,” on an inquisition which was to decide upon the mental soundness or unsoundness of a man who “ did the highest honour to his country by his parts, and was a great blessing to it by the vigilance and activity of his public spirit,” is matter of regret. An inquisition upon such a man