When the gloom and horror at present thrown around establishments for the insane shall be cleared away, Dante’s inscription over the gates of Hell, will be no longer applicable to them, “Lasciate ogni speranza, voi, ch’entrate;” {xiii} this, or perhaps another passage from Euripides, has been imitated by our Milton, “Here hope never comes, which comes to all.” They will be considered houses of cure, or hospitals for the insane. The erroneous and false impressions concerning the character and state of the insane, will be corrected. The popular impression, that they are all violent and vociferous, destructive and dangerous, will be removed. Hitherto medical writers, by selecting the most striking cases, have contributed their share to this popular error. They have been led to do this, partly because they are cases, which more naturally arrest their own observation; but chiefly, because they are more easily described, make a more interesting picture, and are the most curable. A statement of the recovery of such patients, though it may serve to exalt the writer in public estimation, is wrong in itself, and very injurious in its influence; for it increases the unreasonable horrors and false impressions entertained about the insane, and propagates and perpetuates the evils of which the public and legislature complain. They receive impressions from extreme cases, which average about five per cent. then speak and act just as if all the insane were in a similar condition. It would seem that these prejudices and horrors of the insane exist in a much greater degree in this part of the kingdom than they do in Yorkshire. There I was in the constant habit of taking convalescent patients with me into family parties of the first respectability; and members of these families were also in the constant habit of visiting them as friends and acquaintances, and of inviting them to tea and to spend the evening at their own homes; and this practice, in most instances, had a very pleasing and beneficial influence. This was the case with other institutions; but I have not found, neither have some others found, any such faith in, and sympathy for, the insane in this part of the kingdom, but quite otherwise; and yet I am certain, it is an example they cannot too soon imitate—its beneficial influence will bring satisfaction to themselves, will remove their prejudices, destroy their painful fears, and lessen the chances of the calamity invading themselves. There is a protection around those who are striving to alleviate the distresses of others.