[Hanwell Lunatic Asylum.] Sixteen documents, including corrected manuscript minutes of a committee meeting in 1850, a death certificate, and ten manuscript cards and four forms from various workhouses enquiring about vacancies.

The fifteen items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The minutes are 5pp., foolscap 8vo, and are docketted: '8. Augt 1850 | Lunatic Asylum | Minutes of Comee | To be entd. in Minute Book inserting in their places Papers 1. 2. & 3.' The document is headed: 'At a Meeting held pursuant to adjournmt at the Asylum on Thursday the 8th. of August 1850. | Present, John Wilks Esqre, in the Chair | George Baillie Esqre | Marlbrorough Pryor Esqre | Thomas Russell Esqre | John Townend Esqre | Walter Buchanan Esqre | Valentine Knight Esqre | Henry Warner Esqre | Benjn. Mo. Armstrong Esqre | Henry M Kemshead Esqre'. Topics include: a letter from the Resident Medical Officer William Donne; an 'Entry made in the Visitors Book by the Commissioners in Lunacy'; a report by the clerk; the schoolmaster; Dr. Begley's 'Diary and Casualty Book'; 'the resignation of Ward Attendant Anne Brown'. The death certificate (1p., 12mo) is a printed form, completed and signed by 'R. A. Collier | Inspr', and headed 'HANWELL LUNATIC ASYLUM'. It is dated and stamped 6 December 1884, and records the death at 7.55 am of Robert Ffarmer [sic] in the '3e. Infirmary', 'Chargeable to Chelsea | In presence of Attdt. Charles Budd'. The ten postcards, all with printed stamps and postmarks, and all signed, are from Union Workhouses at Harrow Road (2); Ealing; Kensington (2); Marylebone; Stepney; Tottenham; Twickenham. The following is unusual, in that it names the individual concerned: '2 Queens Road | Twickenham | Apl 10 / 84 | Sir, | Will you please to inform me whether you have room in your Asylum to admit Jane Leggatt, a Female Patient, from the Brentford Union | I am Sir | Your Obedt Sert | Jno Stickley | R[elieving] /O[fficer]'. The other four items are each 1p., 12mo. The first is an Autograph Letter Signed from H. Vickerman, on the letterhead of the Harrow Road Workhouse: 'I still require Vacancies for 3 male patients can you oblige me, one is extremely urgent, has been recently re-vaccinated, if you can accommodate me I shall be glad'. The second is a printed form, signed by the clerk, from Middlesex Lunatic Asylum, regarding the admittance there of one John Turner. The last two items are two printed forms, completed and signed by different relieving officers, regarding patients Ellen Beck, J. F. Findley, F. Paine and F. Spreckley. Note: John Conolly, pioneer psychiatrist, "In 1844 Conolly ceased to be resident physician at Hanwell, but he remained visiting physician until 1852"