an inscription on the foundation-stone
recorded that into that institution mechanical
restraint was never to be introduced. When
Dr. Davey and Dr. Hood took charge of
Colney Hatch Asylum, they managed an
institution for the reception of twelve hundred
lunatics, without thinking it necessary to
have a single strait-waistcoat or any other
instrument of restraint in the building. We
have shown already how the system is now
worked by Dr. Hood, at Bethlem. Dr. Hitchman,
in Derbyshire; Dr. Palmer, in Lincolnshire;
Dr. Hitch and Dr. Williams, in Gloucestershire;
Dr. Bucknill, in Devonshire; Dr. Thurnam, in
Wiltshire; Dr. Parsey, in Warwickshire;
Dr. Diamond, in Surrey; are among those
who have publicly carried out with the best
skill, and to most unexceptionable results,
the system now established in this country
by the experience of eighteen years.

Except, that after seeing Hanwell, Dr.
Everts and Dr. Van Leeuwen established the
non-restraint system, under some disadvantages,
at the Asylum of Meerenberg, near
Haerlem; and except also in the case of Dr.
Hübertz, at Copenhagen; the whole body of
physicians on the continent appears at present
disposed, as we have said, to resist the
complete adoption of the English system.
Simple experiment has overpowered opposition
here; abroad, experiment remains yet
to be made.

MARIE COURTENAY.

TOWARDS the end of the eighteenth century,
Lord William Courtenay, the young
Earl of Devon, a descendant of the ancient
imperial family of Constantinople, having
been convicted of felony, having had his
estates confiscated, and having been outlawed,
left Powderham Castle, near Exmouth, and
fled from his native land. A short time-
afterwards, a young stranger arrived upon
the coast of France, near Lesparre, in the
department of La Gironde, and took up his
residence in the village of Saint Christoly.
This foreigner, who lived in great seclusion,
was first known by the name of Thomas;
and afterwards was called citizen Thomas, or
William Courtenay.

While Thomas Courtenay was living at
Saint Christoly, the great French Revolution
of seventeen hundred and ninety-three broke
out; and his English accent having betrayed
his foreign birth, Thomas Courtenay became
an object of suspicion and persecution. At
length, he was arrested as a supposed
aristocrat, and conducted to the Convent of
Beysac, which had been converted into a
prison, and which the Reign of Terror had
peopled with the noble families of the county.
Although Thomas Courtenay declared himself
to be an Irishman, he stood in a very
perilous position. Happily for him, however,
he had excited the interest and compassion
of a young and beautiful woman, named
Marguerite Titau, who was the widow of a
peasant, named Jean Orry. Marguerite
Titau walked six miles, from Saint Christoly
to Beysac, every two days to carry clean linen
and fresh food to the unfortunate young
prisoner. In those days to be poor was to be
powerful, and Marguerite Titau, by exerting
her influence with the local authorities and
the country people, after some time obtained
the release of Thomas Courtenay.

Gratitude, it may be easily imagined, soon
gave place to more tender sentiments in the
breast of Thomas Courtenay, especially as
his devoted liberatrice united to goodness of
heart, the charms of youth and beauty. The
simplicity of the republican forms making
marriage easy, the youthful betrothed in the
year seventeen hundred and ninety-five,
repaired to Bordeaux; where their union was
celebrated by Ysabeau, a representative of the
people, under the flags (sous les drapeaux).
Marriage under the flags, was the only
existing form of marriage during "the Reign
of Wisdom." It consisted in the appearance
of the contracting parties at the head of a
regiment, under the flags; where, in presence
of a representative of the people, their union
was announced by bugle blast and tuck of
drum. These marriages were afterwards
legalised by the Code Napoléon.

Two children were the fruit of the union
of Marguerite Titau and Thomas Courtenay:
Jean Courtenay, born upon the twenty-first
Floreal, year V., and Marie Courtenay, born
upon the twentieth Thermidor, year IX. of
the Republic. Thomas Courtenay brought up
his children modestly and respectably; and,
when the Reign of Terror had passed, and
tranquillity was restored, he announced to
his friends that he was Lord William Courtenay,
the outlawed Earl of Devon. This
announcement procured him admission as an
equal into the best families of the neighbourhood;
and he henceforth signed his name,
William, or Thomas Courtenay, Earl of Devon.

Napoleon the First having been proclaimed
First Consul, M. de Courtenay, after the
rupture of the peace of Amiens, was
suspected of being a spy of England and the
French princes, the brothers of Louis the
Sixteenth; and was obliged once more to seek
his safety in flight. He wished to take his
family with him; but his wife, having had a
daughter to whom she was much attached, by
her first marriage, and who was settled in
her village, refused to accompany him.
Courtenay on embarking alone for England or
America, promised to provide for his family,
and to return to them as soon as the political
horizon had somewhat cleared up.

On arriving in England, Courtenay wrote
to his wife, saying, that his family having
repudiated him, he was living with a tailor
in Oxford Street; but, would, as soon as he
could, return to France, to pass the remainder
ot his days with his dear little children. He