1824-.J Observaliens 



could sec so inany flaws in the conduct 

 of a lale qiiccn mijjlit sttreiy discover 

 those of an inferior cast, in <lie opera- 

 tions of actresses, who un-»(«)t tliom- 

 selves boldly. J. R. Prioii. 



March 5, 1824. 



For the BInnthly Magazine. 

 DESCRIPTION of MUNICH, bi/ a veceut 



TOURIST. 



MUNICH is indebted 1o Coiuit 

 Rnnit'ord for llie deiighlVul Eng- 

 lisii {jardcns by which its environs arc 

 embellished. What is slill more im- 

 j)ortant, however, is the establishment 

 for the poor planned by him. Six hnn- 

 tlrcd indifjent persons arc there gratiii- 

 tonsiy fed daily. Within the buihiiiij 

 is a secret passage, by which the basliliil 

 poor (pauvres honteux,) pass without 

 being seen. They reach a wicket, which 

 liaving opened, they place, on a board 

 witiiin, a small piece of money, and a 

 basin; this is filled with soup of a good 

 quality, and they receive, besides, a 

 ration of excellent bread. Many re- 

 spectable individuals, whose risources 

 liavc in a great measure failed Iheni, arc 

 thus fed at a \ery trifling expense. In 

 this house economical stoves are fixed, 

 to save fuel. 'J'he apartments arc also 

 warmed in the least expensive manner; 

 and in each of them means arc provided 

 to sweeten and renew the air. In csta- 

 Wishments of this nature, these means 

 ought to be generally adoj)ted. Wood 

 being dear at Munich, small sn|)plies of 

 this necessary ;.itic!e arc dealt out to 

 the poor at a low price. 



The bos[)ital for men is directed with 

 great ability by the friars of the order of 

 Compassion. In addition to the means 

 employed to pnrify the air in the poor- 

 house, a machine invented by M. Hu- 

 bert, counsellor of state and physician, 

 has been introduced into this one des- 

 tined for the sick, to disinfect the air of 

 the wards. On their presenting them- 

 selves, the patients are received without 

 any formality, and are supplied gratui- 

 tously with clothing, and whatever is 

 necessary to their support. A similar 

 e.stablishment for women is confided to 

 the nuns of St. Elizabeth, who are nniler 

 the immediate protection of the Elector. 



The establishment for the insane of 

 both sexes is very superiorly ailminis- 

 tercd. In it nrc to be seen the terrible 

 and striking effects of the baneful in- 

 fluerico of a monastic life, anti of the 

 forced celibacy which results from it. 

 The inspector, M. Aner, is well (juali- 

 /icd for this diflicult und painful oflice ; 



on Manich. 305 



and, in his trealinent of these unfortu- 

 nate beings, displays llie necessary dis- 

 cernment and sensibility. He is firm, 

 but friendly and kind to them ; and is, 

 besides, a profound observer. As he is 

 deeply skilled in medicine, his observa- 

 tions on the cases of insanity under his 

 care are extremely interesting. Ho 

 keeps a diary of each individual ; 

 searches into the cause of his alienation 

 of mind ; and afterwards draws up a 

 short biography of his patient, accompa- 

 nied by remarks as just as they are pro- 

 found. He is convinced (hat the primary 

 causes of mental derangement are, for 

 the greater part, pride in men, love in 

 women, and in both sexes erroneous 

 ideas respecting religion. I had con- 

 stantly entertained an idea that tho 

 phases of the moon have a decided in- 

 fluence on the insane ; and I was con- 

 firmed in my opinion, when I learned 

 from M. Aner tliat the paroxysms of 

 madness are manrfested in these pitiable 

 objects most violently at the full moon. 



There is also at Munich an establish- 

 ment, in which poor children are in- 

 structed gratuitously in tiie tenets of 

 the Christian religion, on Stindays and 

 festivals. Thus the days laid aside for 

 divine worship are spent by them in an 

 appropriate manner, while they aie en- 

 gaged at otiier times in occui)atious 

 adapted to tiieir taste and intelligence. 

 One of tiie tasks in which these needy 

 but industrious scholars are occupied, is 

 the manufacture of mechanical instru- 

 ments, several of which are excellent of 

 their kind. 



In this city, the regulations in cases 

 of fire are brought to the highest per- 

 fection ; and arc so organized, that in an 

 instant every thing is ready, and in mo- 

 tion, to afford the requisite aid. 



Children found begging, whether in 

 the city or in the country, are withdrawn 

 from this degrading and dangerous 

 state, and assembled in a house, wliero 

 they are brought up at the expense of 

 the government, in such a way as to be 

 afterwards enabled to gain their sub- 

 sistence : they arc thus snatched from 

 misery, and from the vices attendant on 

 ii. A drawing is made of each of theso 

 little unfortunates, such as he is at the 

 moment he is found ; and benc:ith are 

 inscribed his name, his age, and the 

 ])laee of his birth, as far as these can be 

 collected. These drawings are pre- 

 served in the establishment founded by 

 Count Kumford. When his education 

 is completed, and the youth is of an ago 

 to bo put out apprentice; hi$ portrait, j«s 



it 



