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But even if this kind of publicity had the effect of turning the popular undercurrent against hospitals for the insane, I am not sure we should be justified in incurring the numberless evils by which it is always accompanied. The promiscuous admission of visitors to the galleries, is inconsistent with that seclusion which they are supposed to afford, and for the sake of which many patients are expressly placed there. To expose them therefore, in this manner, to public observation, is equivalent to a breach of trust. No degree of precaution will entirely prevent some unpleasant exhibition which is reported abroad, until under the magnifying process of repeated transmission, it is fitted for a nine days' wonder. It is painful to many, and annoying to all, to have the behavior of those whom they love, made the theme of village gossip, and, at some future day perhaps, brought to the notice of the patients themselves, to cover them with shame and mortification. We all know that even the simplest remark from the lips of a spectator, respecting the appearance or conduct of a certain patient, is apt to be so distorted, in the course of its circulation, as to reach the ears of friends, in a shape well-calculated to excite their apprehensions and disturb their peace. For these reasons I cannot think that the free admission of the public into our hospitals would prove a remedy for the evil in question, even if it were not forbidden by a proper regard for the rights of the insane and of their friends.

The only kind of supervision which ought to secure the public confidence, is, that which is exercised by a board of Directors or Trustees possessing the qualities necessary for the successful performance of their trust. The success of an insane hospital is so dependent upon the character of this board, that it is to be regretted that it should so often be constituted with little or no reference to the special duties that are required. A Director should be free, in that capacity, from all political or other unworthy biasses, strongly anxious to promote the cause of humanity, and without any object whatever but the highest welfare of the institution. He should possess habits of business in order that he may perform his duty ,with that promptitude, precision and correctness which are expected in other business, and sufficient discretion to meet the perplexities of his position. He should cheerfully bestow the time and pains which the office requires, and his social and moral position should place him beyond the reach of the arts, the passions and the prejudices of others. Especially should he be of a liberal turn of mind, to meet the questions frequently coming up, of improvement and chance, and of that generous and elevated spirit which places a man beyond the temptation of doing a mean thing, and allies him to truth and justice. I know of no better guaranty for the proper management of a hospital, than the frequent and thorough visitations of such men as this, and I believe that no better could be reasonably wished. True, special instances of abuse would seldom meet their notice, because such things are not done before company, however common they may be under other circumstances: but with such opportunities, careful and intelligent observers could not fail to discern the general spirit which pervades the establishment and characterizes its moral management. If an institution can bear creditably such inspections, once a week, we mnay be quite sure that it cannot be very remiss any intermediate day. The most labored attempt to give it a character on these occasions, not properly belonging to it, could not prevent its prevalent spirit and habitual usages from sometimes making their appearance.

An institution of this kind should always find in its board of Directors a tower of strength on which it can rely for support in the day of adversity and trial, and that kind of moral credit necessary to ensure the confidence of the public. But what benefit can it derive from the kind of men that are often placed in this position, retired or broken-down politicians to whom the office is tendered as a cheap recognition of past services, or an inducement to continued fidelity; country doctors or lawyers to whom the pay and mileage becomes a very acceptable addition to their professional income; small shopkeepers and traders who covet the place for the sake of driving profitable bargains with the hospital; together with a numerous class who have no other thought in regard to the office but the little consequence which it is supposed to confer. Such men have been the occasion of much mischief to our hospitals for the insane. I believe if they had uniformly been under the direction of honorable, intelligent and high-minded men selected solely on account of these qualities, they would have secured a far higher degree of public favor than that which they actually possess.

To ensure the success of a hospital for the insane, there is another requisite more important perhaps than all others, of which it may be expected that I should speak. I refer to the personal character of the superintendent. My own limits, if not the occasion, will forbid my dwelling upon this point. I must therefore confine myself to the simple statement, that unless he possess the talents necessary to command the respect of intelligent men, that devotion to his profession which will lead him to spare no pains to qualify himself in the most perfect manner for the performance of its duties, that temper and disposition that will establish something stronger and dearer than a merely professional relation between himself and the objects of his charge, and that moral and intellectual elevation which is only satisfied with high aims and substantial results, -- unless he possess these traits, he has much reason to believe that he has mistaken his calling and that he will fail to obtain that public confidence which ought to be as the very breath of his nostrils.