Amongst the mal-practices of the Century may be included the Private Mad-houses. At first view such receptacles appear useful, and in many respects preferable to Public; but the avarice of the keepers, who were under no other controul than their own consciences, led them to assist in the most nefarious plans for confining sane persons, whose relations or guardians, impelled by the same motive, or private vengeance, sometimes forgot all the restraints of nature, and immured them in the horrors of a prison, under a charge of insanity. Turlington kept a private Mad-house at Chelsea: to this place Mrs. Hawley was conveyed by her mother and husband, September 5, 1762, under pretence of their going on a party of pleasure to Turnham-green. She was rescued from the coercion of this man by a writ of _Habeas corpus_, obtained by Mr. La Fortune, to whom the lady was denied by Turlington and Dr. Riddle; but the latter having been fortunate enough to see her at a window, her release was accomplished. It was fully proved upon examination, that no medicines were offered to Mrs. Hawley, and that she was perfectly sane. This fact might be supported by the cases of Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Durant, &c. "Mr. Turlington having, in defence of the proceedings of this house, referred himself to Mr. King as the person entrusted and employed by him, the Committee of the House of Commons thought it necessary to summons him. Mr. King said he had been in the Wool-trade, but for six years past he had been employed by Mr. Turlington to keep his Mad-house: that he had received no written directions from Mr. Turlington; that he found several patients in the house on his being employed, and all lunatic; that since his being employed _he had admitted several for drunkenness_, and for other reasons of the same sort alledged by their _friends_ or relations bringing them, which he had always thought a sufficient authority. As to the treatment of the persons confined, he said, that they had the liberty of walking in the garden, and passing from one room to another; and as to their diet and apartments, he said, it was according to the allowance they paid, which was from 60_l._ to 20_l._ a year. He admitted that he knew Mrs. Hawley; that she was confined at the representation of a woman who called herself her mother; and that the reason alledged by her for the confinement of her daughter was drunkenness. He said, that he did not remember that she was refused pen, ink, and paper; but at the same time acknowledged it was the established order of the house, that no letter should be sent by any of the persons confined to their friends and relations."