[George Nesse Hill, surgeon, Brunonian psychiatrist, asylum keeper.] Two Autograph Letters, one signed ('G N Hill | Secy'), one in the third person, to John Davy, military surgeon, brother of Sir Humphrey Davy, on the Medical Society of Chester.

Bynum and Porter, in their 'Brunonianism in Britain and Europe' (1988), describe Hill – keeper at one point of two asylums – as a 'substantial figure [...] a champion of Brunonian psychiatry'. For the recipient John Davy (1790-1868), anatomist and physiologist, brother of Sir Humphrey Davy, see his entry in the Oxford DNB. Two letters, both in good condition, attached to one another along one edge, with thin strip from mount adhering. Both letters are bifoliums, and both have had the second leaf, trimmed along the fore-edge, resulting in each case to slight loss to the address. ONE: 30 August 1827. 1p, 12mo. Addressed to '- Davey [sic] Esqr. | Surgeon 7. R. Fusi. | [Cai]stor Barracks | Hospital'. The letter reads: 'Geo. Nesse Hill (Surgeon Pepper St) Secretary to the Medical Society of Chester has the pleasure of announcing to – Davey Esqr. Assistt. Surgeon to the 7. Royal Fusiliers that he is this day voted an honorary member of the Society, and upon transmitting a note or message to Dr. Lewellin Jones Junr. at the Infirmary Librarian to the Society he will receive the books as they arrive, taking care to return them in the order he receives them after having kept them the time specified in the cover of cashbook.' TWO: 31 October 1827. 1p, 12mo. Signed 'G N Hill | Secy'. Addressed to: '- Davey Esqr. | Surgeon 7th. Fusiliers | Castle | Hospital'. Informing 'Davey' of the day on which 'the first winter evening of the meeting of the Medl. Society will be celebrated at the Royal Hotel'. There will be a 'Supper of oysters & cold meat, also carols will be supplied the latter to be paid for by the players. | Each succeeding first Wednesday of the three following months will be all ended in like manner this notice to be considered as sufficient for the whole season'. Davy's 'company is expected'. Brunonian psychiatry was founded by John Brown (1735-1788). From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.