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Since leaving the Hospital, I have frequently been asked, "what kind of treatment do the patients receive? are they properly cared for when sick? were you fed properly? had you enough to eat? &c." To these several inquiries I had always replied: they have enough to eat, such as it is; for in fact, the provisions bought for the Hospital were ample and good enough, but more or less villainously barbecued in the kitchen, while undergoing the process called cooking.

One winter, since leaving the Hospital, Dr. Bates delivered a lecture on insanity, before the Lyceum of Augusta. I attended. The theories advanced by the learned Doctor were beautiful, sublime! to all whose good fortune enabled them to be happily ignorant of Dr. Bates' practical parts of administration! Among other cases of suffering deduced by persons not having it in their power to avail themselves of the great benefits of such an Institution, was the case of a poor maniac who was shut up in a cage at home -- who, contriving by some means to set his cage on fire, was literally roasted alive. Wherefore, argued this learned Theban, had that poor victim been sent to our care in the blessed Institution yclept Maine Insane Hospital, he would have been properly and safely cared for. But, alas! Dr. Bates did not inform his auditors or the number of persons -- unhappy wretches -- who had been burnt even within the walls of this precious Institution! He did not inform them that Capt. Shaw, of Winthrop had been burnt in one of the out buildings of the Hospital, and would carry the frightful scars of his burns to his grave. He did not see fit to tell them that Mr. Eastman, of Charleston, was so roasted and burned in this same out-building, called the Lodge; that when he was taken from the room, the burnt flesh of his body cleaved to the stone floor.

Last summer, 1850, at the session of the Legislature, I again petitioned that body for redress in my own behalf, for the abuse I had suffered. My petition was the same as that presented in 1848, but I added on this occasion another petition, for the full and impartial investigation of the affairs of the Maine Insane Hospital, from its earliest career, down to the present time, requesting them to give the committee power, to send for persons and papers, to insure a fair and thorough investigation of both cases, so that where the great error or guilt was found, the heavy and mighty sword of Justice might fall with quick and unerring certainty. These petitions were presented, and referred to the committee on the Insane Hospital, and nine more members, making nineteen in all, were added to that committee, for the purpose of carrying clearly out this investigation.

I here present to the public, the material points elicited upon this investigation, and freely request the partial reader to judge, whether any abuses have been proved, or not.

SIMON S. BARTLETT sworn. I commenced at hospital in August, 1845. -- Mr. Hunt was there. I was not much acquainted with him at that time. I was an attendant. Hunt was allowed to go out unattended. Some part of the time he was allowed to go out, and worked at his trade, say eight months. He worked for me and did well -- he had his tools -- Dangerous men not allowed to have tools. I see no difference between the time he worked and since as to sanity. Since he has been out he has attended to business as a sane man: conducted as a sane man eight months before he left the hospital. I do not know that Mr. Hunt ever misstated any thing. Eastman was in the lodge. I had charge of the lodge, the attendant having gone home. I took his place. Attendant was Gilman. As I passed into the lodge Eastman did not speak when I spoke to the patients. I went to the ventilator and spoke to him -- he answered faintly. I opened the door and went in and spoke to him -- did not understand his answer -- the room was too hot -- he laid with his shoulders on the floor. I got help and took him up. The skin was off his shoulders and hips. After I took him up I regulated the fire in the furnace. While I was gone he laid on hay or straw. As we brought him out I noticed he was burnt -- that was our conclusion. Dr. Harlow dressed his wounds on shoulder and hips. There was blood, straw, and dirt where he had rubbed in his room. The lodge was heated by coal in a furnace, and a stone floor was over the fire. The room was hotter than it should be. Don't know whose fault it was. Fire always hottest when wind from north-west -- wind north-west that night. It was a pretty cold night in winter. Eastman did not live but a short time after he was taken from the lodge. Skin was off. Burns do not commonly bleed. I cleaned the lodge next day -- no flesh on the floor. For days before he was not quiet for half an hour. Do not recollect seeing any blisters -- thought the rubbing caused the injury. It was not a fit place to put a man in. No better place provided.

There was a man, don't know his name, with a stiff leg. I saw him on his bed -- asked him how he was. He said "well." He died next day. When he was in my gallery he walked round. When he came he was not so bad. Think he had a disease of the body which reduced him. I have neglected to give medicine when Dr. Bates had ordered it. There was one case where Dr. Bates prescribed medicine, and said the patient could not live but a short time. I did not give them medicine but pursued a showering treatment, and the man got well and went home. Two years ago, or so, I set out to leave the hospital, on account of food. The food was not what it should be. Called Mr. Turner. He was satisfied it was not right, and rectified it. Fault of cook. Understood Dr. Bates interfered, and since has been good. Matron's fault. Attendants food not so good in quality as the officers.