age. From this it may have proceeded, that the approach of maturity brought on her a fever, which soon became mental alienation, at first shewing itself in the fixed idea, that she could not masticate, and could. therefore eat no solid food. Nothing was neglected,: for years together, by the first physicians, to restore her to health, and it at last seemed probable, that an entire recovery might be expected. At this time her: brother was drowned-and the much-beloved Queen of Prussia died. It certainly is a proof of her excellent, but sorrowful, heart, that both events had such an effect on her, that she seemed for a long time dead to all pleasures, sought only retirement, and enjoyed no comfort except at church, and in reading religious books. Her father held a lucrative post, but lost it on account of the war, was obliged to live on what he had saved, and contract his expences very much; his privations, his sorrows, increased the silent afflictions of the good daughter. Her mother at last became also ill, though not dangerously; but Louisa's fears created danger. She wanted to administer to her beloved sick parent, remedies and nourishment which were too dear for them, in their present narrow circum stances. The younger sisters: sometimes reminded her of this, perhaps not mildly enough; and this grief apparently occasioned the return of the mental alienation. Several physicians again undertook to attend her, but as her poor parents could not supply her with the requisite remedies, they at last determined, after much persuasion, to trust their unhappy child to the Charité. Very much worn out, and with the deepest melan choly in her countenance, she entered the establish A celebrated hospital at Berlin, called La Charites LEHÁD ment, complaining that her inside was torn, and her heart driven into her head, &c. Her continual screaming, and complaining of pain, was not, as it appears, taken for the symptom of the disorder, but for the disorder itself, and the whole method of cure chiefly directed to quieting her. The means used for this were, abundance of cold water, poured sixteen pailfuls at a time over the head; fetters; a strait waist-coat; quick turning in a kind of machine; emetics; a hair rope; a sack, in which she was put, it was then tied, laid on the floor, and fastened to the bed-post; and lastly, a Megara of an attendant, called Mrs. Voigt, who, when her crying incommoded her, scolded the unfortunate girl, boxed her ears, and forced her lips together with her hawk's claws, knocked her head against the wall, &c. All these harsh methods were made use of several times in the short space of eleven days, on a debilitated young girl, who had been very weakly from her childhood. It is to be conceived that the patient could not feel herself, with this treatment, more comfortable in the Charité than in her parents' house, and that her complaints increased daily. She often cried out with a voice which would have affected the heart of any tiger, that of Mrs. Voigt excepted, "Ah! my God! my Saviour! my good nurse! have pity on me! my sister! my father!" &c. It might be supposed, that her illness had so debased her, that it was become neccssary to treat her as a mere brute animal; but that was not the case. Whenever Caroline Bühler, one of the witnesses, who visited her, spoke to her, the language of the patient was sensible and coherent, she did not fly from one subject to another, answered every question, and inquired herself respecting many things; only she always sought to turn the conversation on religious subjects. She often wept and sobbed, and if Caroline Bühler asked her why she wept so, she answered, "Ah! I long to be at home with my friends, and relations! I am treated here so very cruelly!" a At last, on the 11th day of her stay in this hell, she was again put into a strait waistcoat, then into the sack, and over this sack a second sack was drawn, and in the first there was besides, over her face piece of black waxed cloth, and in this way the sacks were tied up, put on the ground beside the bed, and there fastened to the bed-post. In this state did this unfortunate girl lie for several hours, lamenting, crying, praying, despairing; during which Mrs. Voigt had a coffee party in the next room. Louisa's cries changed gradually into panting and groaning, and this became gradually lower, and at last she was quite still. The coffee party now went into the chamber, for further recreation; the sacks were opened, pulled down, and the poor Louisa was dead! Mrs. Voigt now screamed more than the patient had done before: "I am undone! give me a knife! I must kill my. self!" but no body had the politeness to rid the world of this monster: on the contrary, her female companions advised her to put the corpse in the bed, and say that Louisa had died there. This was done. Surgeons were called in, and every means attempted to restore her to life; but happily the girl's sufferings were terminated. Her father was absent; and her mother in despair, incapable of acting, more distant relations gave information to the police of this death, which looked so much like murder. The criminal tribunal examined into the affair, and acquitted Counsellor Horn, because he affirmed that Louisa was not suffocated, but had died of an apoplexy. The sack, it was said, had been so coarse, that she might very easily have drawn breath; but that a piece of black wax cloth had been put before it, to hinder this easiness of respiration, was not mentioned; nor was it inquired; whether corporal ill-treatment is in all cases calculated to restore lunatics; whether the mode of treating such patients in the Charité does not require a thorough reform; whether it is not necessary that the director of the institution, as well as all those under him, should have, besides the other necessary qualifications, feeling hearts? VERSES ON WAR. Intended to have been spoken at the installation of the Duke of Portland. (From a Congratulary, Political, Admonitory Epistle to the Prince of Wales on his intended Marriage). "In evil hour, and with unhallow'd voice,, Did he begin to sing, the first who sung If they who make the cause might taste the effect, Beats heaviest on the exposed innocent; To do their bidding-Ah! who then regards Mr. Rogers has been known to the public for nearly thirty years, by his work entitled "the Pleasures of Memory." It has been observ ed with truth, by a cotemporary critic, that this poem is not a chef d'œuvre of genius; it comes, however, from the master hand of literary taste; of that taste, the execution of which, in its present form, is an infallible indication of the presence of genius. Accordingly, though the "Pleasures of Memory" displays no high degree of originality, it has obtained a very large share of public favour; and there are few libraries, comprising a selection of poetry, in which it has been forgotten. Mr. Rogers has again come forward, as the author of a work, en. titled Human Life, a Poem." It possesses much of the excellence and beauty of his former compositions. We are persuaded that it will sustain the high character which he holds in the poetical world, and will soon become a general favourite with the public. Our readers. we have no doubt, will be much pleased with the following extract which has been called a " Picture of Childhood." What parent will not feel the truth of the description? and what an adınirable subject for the painter. THE PICTURE OF CHILDHOOD, "The hour arrives, the moment wish'd and feared! He comes-she clasps him. To her bosom press'd, |