A plan was proposed to spend an hour at least with him every evening, and this hour I devoted to that of detailing to him a history of my own life, always contriving, in the style of the Arabian Nights Entertainments, to break off suddenly at some point of interest; and these conversations, had they been committed to writing, would have formed some very amusing volumes. The great art and merit of the plan consisted not merely in making them amusing, but in contriving to introduce, without appearing intentionally to do so, (that I might not in his over sensitive state offend him), facts and views calculated to counteract the errors and bad habits into which he had fallen. In all cases it is necessary to know every extreme view and error to which the human mind is liable, and where these exist, as inmost cases of insanity, to endeavour to counteract them by clear and beautiful views of the truth. What is of the greatest consequence, is that it is still more necessary to know the best mode of making truth admissible and effectual; for it ought never to be forgotten, that in all cases where error and delusion exist, even if we know those views which are best calculated to counteract and remove them, still more depends on the manner, circumstances, and spirit in which we present and apply them. I am anxious to draw attention to this truth, because it appears to me the world at present has no adequate conception of this great and necessary art in its propagation: still less does it appear that mankind, nor even many medical men, have formed any proper estimate of the vast importance of such a system in the treatment of the insane: a system, however, which requires that we should be fully acquainted with the history of man, and be able to perceive the causes and effects of false and perverted views of philosophy, morals, and religion, and above all that we should possess a knowledge of the constitution of the human mind, with all the specific differences of every individual case. I mention this case with others, to show that there are many instances where something more than common attention is required, and that to such patients we devote ourselves, and have them at our own house for this purpose. These are precisely those who are over excitable. They form a large proportion of the insane, and in their incipient stage, their minds are rather in a state of perversion, than absolutely lost or deranged; whose cure depends on correcting this perversion, and restoring the relative and appropriate share of activity and energy to each function, in the exact measure, proper place, and according to the order of their right distribution.