402 Lunatic Afylum at Clofterhayn. 
others, at the appearance of every ftran- 
ger, ran to hide tnemfelves in a corner, 
oltrich-like concealing their heads. and 
thinking themfelves invifible. “The lone- 
ly ceils they inhabit, where the rattling of 
their chains is almoft the only found that 
meets their ears, would be the abodes of 
defpair, if infenhbility to the keenelt woes, 
and even a high degree of imaginary blifs, 
were not almott conftant atrendants on the 
violent paroxyfms of maonefs. At thofe 
intervals whea Reafon refumes her {way in 
fome imal] degree—when the maniac loles 
his rage, and becomes the idict, thefe un 
fortunate men are admitted to the favours 
which the firft clais fhares, and a tempo- 
vary freedom appears to afford fome relief 
till the epoch of infanity returns. 
Such is the manner in which thefe three 
tlaffes are treated. Many have been tully 
yeffored to the ufe of thetr reafon, and 
have returned to the ftations they for- 
merly occupied in fociety. What more 
convincing proofcan be found of the kind 
nels of the treatment they have received, 
than this—that many who have been per- 
feétly recovered, have willingly paff.d the 
yemainder of their days in that retire- 
ment, and even requetted it as a favour 
the createft and moft important? Such a 
fact iurely proves the utility of the infti- 
tution, and {peaks highly to the honour 
of its director, It 1s not the unhapp 
captive of the Baftille, who, after having 
lingered during along feries of years in 
clofe confinement, refufes to return into a 
fociety, where allis loft that could endear 
exiilence, or give joy to life:—no, it is 
the grateful man, to whom the world can 
afford no greater blifs, than that which 
he feels amid thofe {cenes, where he has 
received the greateft of all bleffings, and 
where the kindnefs of his benefactor pre- 
fents to him the faireft projpe& of futu- 
rity, and the hope of a comfortable fub- 
fiftence. 
Tt is not the extenfive inftitution alone, 
which I have juft deferibed, that renders 
Clofterhayn interefting ; the beauties of 
its neighbourhcod, and the improvements 
mad: there, are highly attraétive, parti- 
cularly as they are rendered conducive to 
the great end to which the town is de- 
voted. During feveral years Von Stam- 
for has been blending the efforts of Art 
with thofe of Nature, and has thus height- 
ened the cnarms which furrounded the 
place. In the foreft that covers the fides 
and towering heads of the mouniains, the 
enraptured eye meets continually delight- 
ful fcenes, or firds new objeéts on which 
it paufcs with pleafure. Here it over- 
[ Dec. 1, 
looks the valley, where the tall fpire of 
the old monaftery church, the fcattered 
houfes of the town, and the fcenes which 
‘border on the lake, appear in the moft 
pleafing forms 5 whiié on avother fide an 
opening ini the trees prefents fome en- 
chanting view, or tome diftant caitle that 
crowns arude and lofty reck. Sometimes 
a garden blooms, furrcunded by ancient 
oaks—an-urn, with {ome inicripticn, ap- 
pears in the midit of a verdant lawn—or 
a tomb, dedicated to the memory of fome 
Teu'on hero, is feen in the dark fhade of 
encircling trees. Thefe improvements 
have converted the wild fpreft into a gar- 
den, without depriving it of thofe charms 
which Nature had given it, or ef that fo- 
litude which is the fource of fo much de- 
light to minds that love refle€tion, and 
hearts that can feel the joys of retire- 
ment—while the banks of the Jake below 
have alike received new beauties from the 
hand of Art. Arched walks, variegated 
flowers; urns decicated to the Naiads, to 
Frienchhip, and the manes of Tifchbein ; 
.a retired hermitage, and fprings whofe 
repeated cafcades form a delightiul mufie 
to the ear of contemplation as they fall 
over the artificial rocks that impede their 
courfe, compole the chief ornaments of 
the garden which is formed here, and has 
taken the place of the marfhes which 
once bounded the lake. The permiffion 
of wandering among thefe fcenes muft un- 
doubtedly add much to the pleafures which 
the enjoyment of liberty affords thofe to 
whom it is granted: but the hours they 
fpend there are not intended to precure 
temporary relief alone: Von Stamford 
endeavours in this manner to promote the “ 
great work of.reftoring reafon, by a plan, 
I believe, entirely new. Infane perfens 
are often given to romantic thoughts and 
elevated ideas: refifance renders them 
fill firmer ; but objeéts congenial to fuch 
fentiments—obje€ts that are adapted to 
touch the fineft chords that move their 
hearts, awaken attention—reflection fol- 
lows near, and paves the way to the reco- 
very of reafon.. The beauties of Nature, 
and thofe delightful fcenes which furreund 
Clofterhayn, are particularly calculated 
to produce an aflonifhment and tranfport 
in the minds of lunatics, that may operate 
powerfully upon them, where medical aid 
employs in vain the fruit of the ceepeit 
refearches. He whole difordered intel- 
le&s ftill retain a love of Nature, will 
brood over the profpeéts which appear 
from the fummits of the mountains; he 
whofe enthufiaftic ardour places him in 
that era, when the Teuton chiefs obtains 
ed 
