Mr. Cruden greatly injured: an account of a trial between Mr. Alexander Cruden ... and Dr. Munro [and others], defendants ... July 17, 1739, on an action of trespass, assault and imprisonment ... To which is added a surprising account of several other persons who have been most unjustly confined in private madhouses / [Alexander Cruden].

  • Cruden, Alexander, 1699-1770.
Date:
1739
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mr. Cruden greatly injured: an account of a trial between Mr. Alexander Cruden ... and Dr. Munro [and others], defendants ... July 17, 1739, on an action of trespass, assault and imprisonment ... To which is added a surprising account of several other persons who have been most unjustly confined in private madhouses / [Alexander Cruden]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    verely in the reft of their Schoolfellows. Thefe two ftrange Poftions were told by his Lordfliip to the Jury, and he faid pou- tively and authoritatively, ‘ You are to find for the Defendants.’ The Plaintif ftood up to fpeak, but his Lordftiip faid, ( 1 will * commit you, if you feak one Word, after I have Jpoke to the fury.1 Perhaps fome will blame the Jury, and fay that they were too much influenc’d by a certain Perfon, and that they ought not, in fuch an important Affair, to have, without Confideration and in Precipitation, brought in their Verdidt at his Lord {flip's Defire for the Defendants. The Jurymen ought always to remember, that what they fay is upon their folenm Oaths ; and tho7 they may be advis’d by the Judge, yet they are to be govern’d by their own Confciences; for the Law hath not left the Subjedt in the Power of one Man, but of Twelve. Upon the Plaintiffs hearing the Verdidt for the Defendants, he faid very meekly, 4 I truf in * God.1 The Judge anfwer’d, ‘ Iwijhyou had truf ed' more in God, * and had not come here.1 The Plaintif, Hefted be God, bore the unexpedted Difappoint- ment with great Serenity and Compofure of Mind. He was kindly defir’d by a young Gentleman, once a Boarder in Mr. Fletcher's School, to go to the Crown-Tavern in the Palace-Yard There were two Gentlemen in Company, Strangers to the Plain¬ tif, and one of the White's-Jllley Witnefles for the Defendants came in, who all took notice of the Plaintif's ferene and compos'd Behaviour under his great Difappointment, and faid that no Man could behave better. After dining and tarrying about two Hours, he went home to his Chamber, and that Evening writ by Poll a Letter to his valuable Friend Madam Coltman, and told her of his great Difappointment; but that he bore it patiently, and was favour’d with inward Peace and Serenity of Mind : And told her that he fubmitted to the Will of God, defiring to be in a Dif- pofition always to do what God loves, and alfo to love what God does. Welcome is the Will of God. Gods Time is the bef Ti?ne. Wait thou on God, and he will fave thee. The Plaintif receiv’d the following Letter on Auguf the ijtb, dated the faid Day and fubfcrib’d. Your unknown Friend, E. 1 It feems unanfwerable. The Plaintif has the Original, and is 1 ready to produce it on Demand. “ Your Affair with Wightman having made a great Noife in ** the World, my Curioiity led me to hear the Trial on July the |i iyth, and mull own I was not a little furpriz’d at a Verdict f® ** different from what the World expedted. The Opening of 4t your Cafe carry’d with it an Appearance of the utmoft Op- o< preftion, and lam confident the Jury thought fo. «« Your many Witneffes (who feem’d to be of unexceptionable «< Credit) unanimoufly proving your Sanity, not only before and after your Confinement, but even during your hard Treatment in ** the Madhoufe, gave me the utmoft Affuranc'e of a Verdidt in i “ vour Favour: But it*being proved that even Dr. Monro him- i — --- fcif' !