Some time ago I employed my leisure in hunting up all facts which might throw some light on the condition of lunatics in Great Britain in former times. In my then position it was extremely difficult to obtain access to the class of books most likely to yield me the information desired, but from such as did fall in my way all matter of the least value for my purpose was excised. The labour connected with this pursuit was much greater than most might be inclined to credit, and some men of a utilitarian frame of mind may be inclined to believe that labour on such a subject was wasted, and might have been much more profitably expended on other branches of research.