[4] In 1754, the ambassador of Sardinia reported that " the prince royal does not appear to enjoy good health" [5] adding that "there is something in his eyes that does not harmonize with the rest of his features.

Since Charles III was to depart to Spain to take possession of the Spanish crown, he had to abdicate the thrones of Naples and Sicily in favour of a son.

A committee of high officials, magistrates and six physicians examined the mental state of the Prince, who was twelve years old at the time, to determine his capacity to reign.

The administration acts wisely in exposing him now and then to the eyes of the public, as the very sight of him is a full vindication of their conduct in regard to the sentence of idiotism and disinheritance passed on him some years ago.

He has that wandering roll of the eye which is peculiar to idiots and new born infants, who, not having the endowment of thought and reflection, consequently cannot fix their attention to one object.

There are some knavish quacks, and some silly doctors, who say the cure is not impossible, and that he may be restored to his senses... By what I can learn, he leads a happy kind of animal life.

"[7] According to William Hamilton who was the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples, Infante Philip "was treated with certain distinctions, having chamberlains placed about him in constant attendance, who watched him with unremitting attention; as otherwise he would have committed a thousand excesses.

He has many times eluded the vigilance of his keepers, and on seeing ladies pass through the portents of the place, would attack them with the same impetuosity as Pan or the Satyrs are described by Ovid, when pursuing the Nymphs; and with the same intentions.