After three years of this sleeplessness, being in Montreal, I advised "with Dr. Robinson, but he could do nothing for me. Telling him "that few would credit my accounts of sleeplessness, he said he could, "having a patient, Mr. Jamieson, who had not slept the last five "months.

For a year past, I have been attacked with, no disease; and within "these last six months, spent on the seaboard, have been gradually "regaining strength - partly, I think, from salt air; nor do I despair "of sleeping, were all circumstances favourable. Long weakened with "attacks of erysipelas, I am not able to take that degree of exercise "which, in former days, contributed so much to brace my system; "neither have I now sufficient stimulus, in any way. With these, I "feel confident that sleep might be recovered.

Wherever I abide this sleeplessness has been matter of jest; and "few sympathize in my calamity, one of the most trying our nature "can be exposed to. Fortunately, a native buoyancy of spirit sustains "me against every jest, and the world's humours are repelled by my "own.

Since coming to this city of 'notions,' where everything is talked "about, but nothing decided, I have been beset with inquiries, doubts "and denials. Some proposed watching me night and day, so that I "might be caught napping, and this they were welcomed to do; but "did not. I then cast abroad a handbill, offering a benefit to any "charitable society who might choose to bring together a multitude "for wonderment, and thus have a fair trial instituted; but none have "come forward; and doctors, as they have hitherto differed, may differ "in opinion still.

Various books on the subject have been laid before me - McNish on "the 'Philosophy of Sleep,' and John Mason Good, M.D., on the 'study "of Medicine.' The first author, in my humble opinion, is anything "but philosophical. He amuses with many stories, but comes to no "conclusion on the principal subject discussed. He mixes up absence "of mind, or what should rather be called intensity of thought, with "sleep, which to me appear distinct things. He speaks of sleepless"ness being a 'habit' and 'habitual;' states that General Pichegru "did with only one hour's sleep a day through a whole year's cam"paign, and mentions others who 'remained weeks, months, or even "years, if authors are to be believed, awake.' Now why should he "refer us to authors, thus to question their authority, after he had "settled the point dictatorially in a previous chapter, where he says, "sleep cannot in any case be entirely dispensed with;' and elsewhere "deciding against the entire want of it as 'fabulous.' Who assured "him of this?

Dr. Good is not thus contradictory. He sets forth views and theories "supporting them with instances of sleeplessness. Mr. Cooch, he says, "gives a singular case of a man who never slept, and yet enjoyed a very good state of health till his death, which happened in the "seventy-third year of his age. He had a kind of dozing, for about a "quarter of an hour, once a day; but even that was not sound sleep, "though it was all he was ever known to take.

Now, sir, in all this we have yet no certainty; and opinion after "opinion may be advanced without any good whatever. I say a final "issue may be reached if I, here in Boston, were subjected to trial; "and for the sake of science - to have a fact established curious in the "history, habits, and constitution of man - I am willing to subject "myself to the test.

On various occasions I have been almost asleep, but do not think "I have absolutely been so during these last four years and five months. "In September, 1840, 1 travelled, with only one short pause, from St. "Catharine's, Upper Canada, to New York, in stages, steamboats, and "rail-cars; talking much and continually excited with varied scenes "and occurrences. Arrived at New York, I immediately lay down in "a luxurious bed, closed round with mosquito curtains; and next "morning declared to a fellow-traveller, that I would be unwilling to "swear that I had not slept. Nine months afterwards, seated in the "door of my log-house in the woods of Canada, during the stillness of "a summer evening, and when the air all around was loaded with "smoke, I verily believe I would have slept, had not a neighbour roused "me. Five months later, in Kingston, thinking all my vexations in "that quarter ended, and that I should soon rejoin my family in "Scotland, I had a delightful night, and told my landlady that I had "nearly been asleep; and reaching Quebec a week afterwards, enjoying "the same hope and worn out with travel, I dozed and dreamt, which "is certainly an approach to sleep.

Six months ago, reaching Provi"dence from New York, surrounded with agreeable objects, and enter"tained for a whole day in the most delightful manner, I flung myself "into bed; and if Morpheus did not obtain dominion over me, I had "at least perfect repose.

These approaches to sleep are acknowledged, not for the surrender "of what I have maintained invariably: but to confirm the main "position. In Ohio two persons came into my bedroom while my " head was covered over, and because I did not speak to them said "I was asleep. So here in Boston, while reclining on a sofa with "closed eyes. On both these occasions I knew the train of my thoughts "perfectly. In another place, the servant who put on my fire in the "morning reported that on two occasions he had found me asleep. I "was confident he had not, and tested the matter another morning unknown to him. I covered up my head, kept silent, let him question "me, and then discovered that it was only from my being attentive "that his voice was audible through the covering.

Both the doctors above quoted, allow that sleep may be dispensed "with for long periods; and if for weeks and months, why not for "years and for ever? I have not only done without it for years, but "for months have simultaneously suffered from acute pain and torture "of mind still worse than that; nor could I have endured, but for a "cherished principle - that to endure is duty.