A poetic lament for a squirrel named Jack, written by James Hadfield—a patient at Bethlem Royal Hospital who attempted to assassinate King George III in 1800—will go on public display for the first time at the Bethlem Museum of the Mind in London. The work is part of a new exhibition titled "Between Sleeping and Waking: Hospital Dreams and Visions," opening August 14, which also features a major installation by contemporary artist Kate McDonnell and other previously unseen works from the hospital's historic art collection.
The exhibition matters because it brings together rare artifacts from one of the world's oldest psychiatric hospitals, highlighting the intersection of mental health, creativity, and history. Hadfield's case was pivotal in establishing the insanity plea in English law, and his poem offers a poignant, personal glimpse into life inside Bedlam. By showcasing works by former patients alongside contemporary art, the show challenges stigma around mental illness and underscores the enduring therapeutic and expressive power of art.