Superadded to these, let the facts be examined as they are recorded in nature and experience. Of the human intellect there can only be three states: sound mind, insanity, and idiotcy. Of these states there may be different degrees. The mind of one man may be relatively more sound than another; his attention may be more fixed and enduring—his memory more retentive; his judgment may be clearer, and possess superior vigour; and his imagination shall exhibit a brighter flame. Notwithstanding this exalted capacity, the individual who is removed many degrees lower on the scale, may possess sufficient soundness for the purposes of his nature:—he may be capable to conduct himself, and likewise to manage his affairs. Insanity, is another condition of the human mind, and of this state there are various forms and different degrees; and when a morbid state of intellect prevails, under which a man cannot conduct himself, which implies that he is not safe to be trusted with his own life, nor with the life of another—that in his motives to action he cannot discriminate between right and wrong, or without motive is irresistibly impelled to act, and therefore becomes a being, not responsible for his conduct, and is incapable of managing his affairs—such state implies the necessity of being guarded by the instrument of the law: and this state of insanity, which includes all the various terms of madness, melancholy, lunacy, mental derangement, &c. necessarily evinces the unsoundness of the individual’s mind. Lastly, idiotcy, which, whether it be ex nativitate, or supervene at any period of life, implies a deficiency of intellectual capacity, to an extent which renders him incapable of the mental offices, which enable a man to conduct himself, and manage his affairs, and which of necessity infers the unsoundness of his mind, and the propriety of legal protection.