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THE CASE OF ELIZA. PEARCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE REGISTER.
Sir — I have read no case lately in which I
have felt a deeper interest than that of Eliza
Pearce, and think there are few that call
louder for public svmpathy. The importance
of the case will, I rest assured, render it un
necessary to apoligize (sic) for addressing you on
the subject.
I have delayed so doing up to the present,
feeling assured that some remarks would be
made by you ; and I find in the Observer of
the 7th, instant you have done so most ably,
and left me little to say further than that I
fully concur in your remarks.
You, however, with a great deal of forbear
ance, acquit those in official capacity of any
improper motives, confining yourself more par
ticularly to the unsoundness of the system.
There may, however, be a difference of
opinion on the subject, and I beg to offer you
mine.
I will begin with the Colonial Surgeon.
One remark which fell from that gentleman
is ill calculated to produce a favourable im
pression, and I think was not an instance of
good taste. I allude to the following:— ' What
can those friends hope to do for the woman's
benefit who are acting contrary to the wish of
her brother in England?' It is difficult to
divest one's self of the feeling that this obser
vation was intended as a negative to the
patient's liberation; that the brother in
England was interested in her detention,
and that his wish was paramount to any
other consideration. For the benefit of those
concerned I hope this may be explained.
Again, we see by the deposition of John
Edwards, gentleman, that on the 2nd January,
1855, while Eliza Pearce was in the Destitute
Asylum, he saw the Colonial Surgeon, and
expressed a wish to take her to his own home,
to which proposal he received the following
reply: — ' I shall not allow her to be removed,
and if you persist I will send her back to the
Lunatic Asylum.' It would be a relief to the
public mind if this also could be explained.
The practice of sending persons to the
Lunatic Asylum without a public examination
appears most objectionable. The door is at
once open to conspiracy.
The case 'truly explained,' by Mr. Healey.
— One portion of Mr. Healey's letter I have no
doubt is perfectly true, viz., that he is very
indignant at having been called by Mr. Atkin
son ' that apothecary Healey,' when, in fact,
he is an ' M.R.C.S.' I have no doubt that
the rest of his statement is equally true, and,
if so, in what light does he stand ? The
medical attendant of Eliza Pearce (who was
suffering under remittent fever), and the direct
cause of her being removed at 12 o'clock at night
to the Hospital, and also, the indirect cause of
her being placed in the Lunatic Asylum. And
why? Was it because she had 'no wood,
no water, and no candle in tho house.' The
evidence of Eliza Pearce proves that she was
perfectly conscious of the fact of her removal,
and surprised at the deception practised ; and
it would not be extraordinary if the effect of
such treatment produced insanity in a person
already in a state of fever, and of a sensitive
habit. And here, let me observe, I am not
inquiring into Mr. Healey's motive, it might
have been a good one ; I have only to do with
the consequence. It is distressing to learn
that your medical adviser, or rather attendant,
may without your consent have you removed
in the middle of the night to an asylum, where
you are liable to be detained two years, or
perhaps for the term of your natural life. Had
Eliza Pearce died during the time she was de
prived of her liberty, few, perhaps, would have
known that such a person ever existed.
William Morris ' fears tho report without
the explanation might have a tendency to in
jure him.' There can be little doubt of it. I
am sorry to find, however, that his explanation
has not much mended the matter. According
to his own statement he refused to allow
Eliza Pearce to ride in the car
riage expressly sent for her. And
why ? Mrs. Bolton was in the carriage,
with her face ' all bandaged up,' and he had
no wish to ride in such company. Thus, by
his own admission, he consulted his own feel
ings in preference to the convenience of the
patient; for it is given in evidence that Mrs.
Botton was a friend of Eliza Pearce, and her
presence was not calculated to have other than
a beneficial effect. Surely every sane person
must appreciate the humanity and considera
tion of William Morris. It requires no stretch
of the imagination to conceive that the hope
of liberation and the attendance at the Judge's
Chambers would produce a considerable de
gree of nervous excitement, and the fatigue of
a long and unnecessary wait to a person of
delicate habit would certainly tend to increase
it. William Morris, however, asserts that
' Eliza Pearce suffered nothing from the little
exercise she had.' There is little credit due
to him if such be the fact.
Too much praise cannot be given to those
persons who have exerted themselves, or have
in any way been instrumental in obtaining the
release of Eliza Pearce. They have not merely
conferred a private but a public benefit.
I am, Sir, &c,
April 10, 1855. . W.
$