A LUNATIC’S LETTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1013, 30 November 1883, Page 2

A LUNATIC’S LETTER.

An extraordinary and at the same time amusing letter has been sent to the Victorian Minister of Public Works by a resident of Williamstown. The following is a copy : On the 2 ist of last month I wrote to a relative out of the colony that I had been dreaming about a diamond merchant and another man. I had not read the list of racehorses up to this time (October 21), bnt looking down it I saw First Water. Being a term used among diamond merchants, I construed the diamond merchant of my dream into First Water, and that he would perhaps be a winning horse. He did win—but not the Cup. I have more than once written to the Government about coal being discovered at Prahran and at Gardiner. I dreamt several men stood about an opening on the allotment I owned on the Wattletree road, and that they held up lumps of something like coal, and they were all in good spirits. I wrote of this again, thinking your geologist may be induced to try that locality and get the award. Should you say this ought to be done through the member, Mr A. T. Clark, I am immediately brought to another topic (though my aim is the same), clairvoyance, or cetti respoiidetet— the ability or condition of mentally mentioning, another feature of which is commodious or advantage. To refer again to Mr A. T. Clark. Some time ago it was mentally mentioned to me as if from Mr A. T. Clark “If you come or apply in a proper manner you will be attended to.” As long as someone is fto decide about the proper manner you will see this is where the so-called advantage comes in, and this leads me on to what is said of me by the Government, that I was dismissed, and that I am of unsound mind. I, on my part, say nothing would be said about the soundness or unsoundness of my mind but for large private property, that in my opinion I am kept out of it by its being so said of me. It sometimes passes through my mind that if I get very large private property I will give certain sums to certain people. Referring again to Mr A. T. Clark, if I am right with regard to a certain sum of Li,ooo or Li,500, as the sum I would give to a certain person if I get the property; I think it likely I may get it. An admiral being in the colony I refer to my having said I was the author of improvements in lighthouse lighting. There may be but little proof single-handed, but I am sure an admiral came to 56 Leadenhall street, and that a large reflector was shown me, and the number of gallons of oil used in one night was spoken of. That fact alone, to some extent, connects me with the Admiralty. - I am not wishing to force myself upon the notice of land or sea officials, beyond that I want the letters rescinded that say I was dismissed and of unsound mind.