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The first Asylum which I visited, was the Salpetriere, a part of which immense institution is appropriated to insane women; of whom there were 1,600. M. Battelle, the Director of the civil hospitals of Paris, accompanied me; and we found M. Falret, one of the physicians of the Asylum, sitting in the school room, a somewhat small but comfortable apartment, in which were collected about 100 of the patients, all perfectly orderly, all neatly dressed, and appearing to take as much pleasure in the occupations of the school as those who witnessed them.

To any one accustomed like myself to the daily observation of the insane, the mere appearance of these patients gave eloquent testimony concerning their general good and kind management. Some were engaged in needlework, which they chose to continue whilst attending to the singing, recitations, and other proceedings of the school. A few only were absorbed in ideas which no change of place can always relieve. None appeared to be in any way troubled or fatigued. All were neatly dressed; their handkerchiefs and caps presenting the variety and some of the singularities always seen when the dress of insane females is not regulated by severe general rules. Above all, almost every one was cheerful, and regarded the attendants, officers, and visitors, without the least indication of Suspicion or dislike. A few of the attendants were &tting among them, and by their participation in all that was done, contributed to the general good effect.

As the institution of schools in the Hanwell Asylum has been a favorite object of my ambition, but one in which my hopes have been frustrated, in consequence of their suppression by an authority, which I have no power of resisting, it was not without the most singular gratification that I beheld Dr. Palret sitting among his patients, like a father among his children, encouraging them, assisting them, directing them, and promoting all kinds of easy and agreeable intellectual exercises, that might diversify the time for the afflicted objects of his care, and, by gentle efforts, lead perhaps, in not a few cases, to the gradual restoration of those powers with the loss of which all is lost that is worth preserving. The tranquility, the content, the cheerfulness of that little room, I shall never forget; and I trust that the hope such a spectacle inspired of being some day aided in a like attempt among the insane of my own country, will yet be realized before my mortal labors are concluded.

The patients at the Salpetriere, have the advantage of a library, and several of them have read parts of the excellent books allowed for their perusal with so much attention as to be able, when requested, to recite them for the amusement of the other patients. Three or four of the women, in the school-room, were called upon in succession by Dr. Falret to do this. Each immediately stood up with much cheerfulness, and distinctly and pleasingly recited a short story or poem. This was done with great correctness; and it seemed as if the patients knew the whole of some long poems, which they went on reciting until stopped, when they sat down with an equal air of content. During the recitation many of the other patients appeared to be attentive hearers. Several of the patients were then invited to join in singing something; and they sung several verses, and in parts, very correctly and agreeably, and apparently without any sane leader. Afterward an Italian patient sung a beautiful air with considerable skill, to the evident satisfaction of her companions. I saw various specimens of their writing, which were excellent; it was, indeed, with regret that I left this part of the establishment, where, by means of innocent and improving recreations, the patients pass a portion of each day in tranquility, and, it may even be said, in happiness; and it will be long before I lose the wish to see those cheerful grateful groups again. The school at the Salpetriere is only a part of what has been done, and what I shall have to describe to you, for the instruction of the insane in Paris.

This place of careful instruction was but a preface to the whole of the establishment, which I found to be remarkable for its cleanliness, order, and tranquility.

The number and the comfort of the separate rooms for work, or reading, or recreation, at the Salpetriere are among the great advantages possessed by this Asylum. In more than one there is an excellent piano, and patients who are fond of music are permitted to play and sing there almost whenever they choose. These rooms are of various dimensions; some very large. In one large work-room there are 150 patients, some at needle work, and many employed in making, under the direction of a patient, very comfortable shoes of colored worsted, on a last. In other rooms I saw many patients collected together for employment, or sitting down to dinner, who were formerly considered so refractory as to make such social assembling impossible. One hundred and forty-three chronic cases were in one such apartment at dinner; and in another, eighty-four, of whom the greater number were advanced far into dementia, and many of whom were to be seen, only three or four years ago, lying on the floor, and presenting the most lamentable spectacle. The ameliorations in this part of the Asylum, are all of very recent date, and very striking. Rooms have been built for these poor people, and their condition raised at once from abject wretchedness to comfort. The number of those capable of being usefully employed, has been found great beyond expectation, even among the least intelligent, the most inactive, and the least orderly of the patients; and idleness has become the exception.