Towards the end of his life Landseer became hopelessly insane and,
during his periods of violence a dangerous homicidal maniac. Such
an affection, however, had my father and mother for the friend of
their younger days, that they still had him to stay with us in
Kent for long periods. He had necessarily to bring a large retinue
with him: his own trained mental attendant; Dr. Tuke, a very
celebrated alienist in his day; and, above all, Mrs. Pritchard.
The case of Mrs. Pritchard is such an instance of devoted
friendship as to be worth recording. She was an elderly widow of
small means, Landseer's neighbour in St. John's Wood; a little
dried-up, shrivelled old woman. The two became firm allies, and
when Landseer's reason became hopelessly deranged, Mrs. Pritchard
devoted her whole life to looking after her afflicted friend. In
spite of her scanty means, she refused to accept any salary, and
Landseer was like wax in her hands. In his most violent moods when
the keeper and Dr. Tuke both failed to quiet him, Mrs. Pritchard
had only to hold up her finger and he became calm at once.
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