Manchester University Press
3 Monarchy and the policing of insanity
Abstract
John Locke's hypothesis referred to a king who lost his authority by exceeding it, a constitutional error rarely levelled at George III in the late 1780s, but it was nevertheless a pertinent observation on the consequences of royal insanity. Although his great dignity under affliction did George immense credit, his derangement and official incapacity played some part in the construction of a secular, fallible and essentially ordinary monarchy. The suffering George, with his delicately wavering personal and institutional authority, was the first British monarch to invite both sympathetic approachability and unruffled voyeurism among his subjects. Protection from hostile and over-enthusiastic subjects was left to the Bow Street magistrates' office. After the cathartic shock of the crowd attack on George III's state coach in 1795, the policing of the processional route between St James's and Parliament was slowly improved.
Abstract
John Locke's hypothesis referred to a king who lost his authority by exceeding it, a constitutional error rarely levelled at George III in the late 1780s, but it was nevertheless a pertinent observation on the consequences of royal insanity. Although his great dignity under affliction did George immense credit, his derangement and official incapacity played some part in the construction of a secular, fallible and essentially ordinary monarchy. The suffering George, with his delicately wavering personal and institutional authority, was the first British monarch to invite both sympathetic approachability and unruffled voyeurism among his subjects. Protection from hostile and over-enthusiastic subjects was left to the Bow Street magistrates' office. After the cathartic shock of the crowd attack on George III's state coach in 1795, the policing of the processional route between St James's and Parliament was slowly improved.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of illustrations vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The Crown and the secular magic of petition 25
- 3 Monarchy and the policing of insanity 46
- 4 The madness of Margaret Nicholson 69
- 5 Treason compassed 90
- 6 Lunacy and politics at fin de siècle, 1800–3 120
- 7 The potatoes speak for themselves 142
- 8 Collins in context 162
- 9 Monarchy goes private 177
- 10 Conclusion 212
- Select bibliography 217
- Index 226
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of illustrations vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The Crown and the secular magic of petition 25
- 3 Monarchy and the policing of insanity 46
- 4 The madness of Margaret Nicholson 69
- 5 Treason compassed 90
- 6 Lunacy and politics at fin de siècle, 1800–3 120
- 7 The potatoes speak for themselves 142
- 8 Collins in context 162
- 9 Monarchy goes private 177
- 10 Conclusion 212
- Select bibliography 217
- Index 226
