Sincerely, Jennifer x

11th January 1829

Confidential – Admission Report

Doctor Francis Gore

In respect of William Hamilton, it is my professional opinion that he would benefit from an indefinite stay at Saint Michael’s Lunatic Asylum.

William Hamilton is the sole survivor of what has come to be known as The Eglantine Massacre.

The merchant ship The Eglantine was undertaking a return voyage from Mobile, Alabama, in the United States of America, when it encountered severe difficulties, ultimately wrecking upon the coast of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves. Though it was scheduled to dock in London, it never arrived as intended.

Local authorities inspected the crash site and discovered only one living person onboard—Seaman William Hamilton. 

The remainder of the crew was found deceased, with the deaths appearing to have been caused by a combination of factors: some succumbed to a mysterious bacterial infection, while others bore evidence of violent and horrific injuries.

Hamilton himself was discovered below deck in the cargo hold, bloodied and in a state of extreme distress, sobbing uncontrollably. 

He was apprehended and subsequently held in custody, pending his return to England. 

During this time, he reportedly recounted to his captors a fevered tale of a monstrous creature in the hold that had slaughtered the crew.

Upon my examination of him, Hamilton repeated his story in vivid detail. He claimed to have suffered night terrors, fevers, and overwhelming anxiety throughout the return voyage. 

These disturbances, he asserted, culminated in his discovery of a creature lurking among the ship’s cargo. His account was rife with bizarre imagery: strange creatures in crates, the cries of enslaved workers, and a prophecy of a dire fate awaiting all of humanity.

Such fantastical claims can only be attributed to a disturbed mind. Hamilton appears deeply afflicted by delusions, his imagination running riot in an attempt to rationalize the horrors he has endured. Furthermore, his moral state is gravely compromised, and he exhibits signs of what I can only describe as a spiritual malaise.

It is regrettable that the crew of The Eglantine suffered so gravely, and I am compelled to believe that Hamilton’s sickness of the mind has contributed, if not wholly caused, the calamity. The contagion of his delusions must not be allowed to spread further.

To that end, I recommend an immediate and indefinite course of treatment at Saint Michael’s Lunatic Asylum. His regimen should include purgatives to cleanse his humours, frequent cold baths to temper his fevered mind, and spiritual guidance to address the stains upon his soul. These measures are essential to his recovery and to the safety of those around him.

In truth, I do not anticipate that Hamilton will ever be deemed fit for release. The depth of his affliction and the danger posed by his delusions necessitate that he remain under strict supervision for the foreseeable future.

Signed,

Doctor Francis Gore