The maniac died a few days afterwards

At Leeds, a strange discovery has lately been made of a human being, who has been incarcerated in chains in the house of his parents, for upwards of 15 years.

The mother of this unfortunate young man, whose name is Benjamin Surr, applied to the committee of the Leeds Workhouse, stating that she was in want of relief for her son, who was not of sound mind. The committee, on investigating the case, found that the family belonged to another township, Seacroft, we believe, and referred her to the overseers of that place. On the following day, the old woman haa fatal accident: while walking in the streets, she came upon piece of ice, and, falling backward, fractured her skull so dreadfully, that after languishing till Friday she expired.

One of the neighbours, moved by her situation, went into the house, and after rendering the last offices to her remains, walked into the cellar to wash her hands. She there heard a moan as from a human voice, and on examination she found that it proceeded from an object, so neglected and destitute, that it was difficult to say whether it was of the human or the brute species.

This discovery was communicated to the neighbours, and a considerable number of persons assembled round the house; but John Surr, the father of the family, had locked the door, and refused to admit any of them. The overseers and constable were then sent for. The old man, probably from an apprehension of the fury of the populace, refusing still to open the door, they were obliged to force their way into the house. On obtaining admission, they proceeded into the cellar, and here they found an unfortunate man squatted under the cellar steps, chained by a leg to the wall, and in so loathsome a state, that it was evident he had not been washed for years. "Sharp misery had worn him to the bone;" a few sacks and a little straw served him for a bed; his appearance was that of a spectre; and his bones had in several places penetrated through his skin, which was much excoriated.

As a first step, the parish officers ordered him to be taken to the workhouse; and on viewing a comfortable bed which had been prepared for him, he exclaimed - "What! is this for me? God bless you! you will go to heaven for this!" and other expressions of a similar import. Sometimes he conversed freely, but frequently incoherently. There was, moreover, a vacuity in his look, which showed a want of mind. He appeared, however, to be perfectly inoffensive and tractable, and it was evident that he knew and felt the difference between his present and his late situation.

When the young man, who seemed to be about thirty years of age, was taken to the workhouse, his father was taken to the prison, and underwent a private examination before the magistrates at the Court-house. The reason, we understand, that was assigned by the old man for keeping his unfortunate son in the situation in which he was found, was, that he was deranged in his intellect, and required restraint. It also appeared that the prisoner had always maintained a good character; and though it is impossible to justify his conduct towards his son, the nature of his offence was not judged to be cognizable by the law; it was therefore determined that he should be discharged.

The maniac died a few days afterwards, in consequence of the change in his treatment.