Would love to learn more about it.
The text of the certificate, for anyone interested:
Page 1
Polled 203 votes in April, 1st application
LIFE CASE.
THE ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS,
EARLSWOOD, REDHILL, SURREY.
Your VOTES and INTEREST are earnestly requested at the Next and following Elections, on behalf of
EDWIN PEGLAR,
AGED 14 YEARS,
He is the Son of a poor labourer formerly living in Milbury-Heath, in the parish of Thornbury, but since the boy has been in the Asylum his parents have absconded and there is no one to take charge of him if he should have to leave Earlwood.
The Case is strongly recommended by
Rev. M. F. S. TOWNSEND, Vicarage, Thornbury.
W. O. MACLAINE, Esq., Kyneton, Thornbury. And by
THE MISS CHURCHILLS, Thornbury Park, Gloucestershire,
Who will gladly receive Proxies.
[Miss] Churchill presents her compts to Mr Graham Campbell + if He could give her votes for the above case would feel greatly obliged or if engaged for the ensuing election would He kindly note the case for future help as being a life case such a large number of votes are required
Page 2
There is a presence ever near
It may be loved, or dreaded
Ready to wipe this mourner's tear
Bid joy with grief be wedded
Give grace to him who seeketh grace
If I've made any mistakes or you can read some of the words I couldn't, let me know and I'll update the text! :)
EDIT: Link to the article (Morning Post London, October 28, 1864), locked behind a paywall though: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/396241533/
I find it curious how some text of the paper is professionally printed and not all handwritten. This wasnt a time when things could be xeroxed or copied off computer, so the description of the subject had to be written, sent off to a professional composer or typesetter, set in type, inked, rolled off a printing press, cut, etc. One might expect that for just a letterhead, but not an entire description of an individual case. Doing that for each individual orphan (or even just one) would have been an odd expense/labor on paperwork. Thoughts about how/why it was done this way?