BF 1131 .P6 Copy 1 C(Q (X C C :t 5 5^ «afc jj. «u» «ifr *7T 7v *7v* "tY" 'TV "*v It* A more intimate acquaintance with Dr Poyen will strength- en your attachment to him. He has been abused by many of our # * # * brethren, who call themselves editors." From the above mentioned letter of President F. Wayland to President Day and Prof. Silliman, I extract the following lines : " Pr Poyen has resided some time among us in Provi- dence, and I have every reason to believe him an intelligent, amiable and philanthropic gentleman. As such I beg the favor of introducing him to your acquaintance." In an article on animal magnetism, inserted in the Boston Recorder of February 17, 1837, by one of the most intelli- gent and learned [gentlemen of the city, you will find these words : u How disgusting is the tone some journals assume towards Dr Poyen, and how vulgar their abuse ! Since I have known him, he has sustained a high intellectual and moral character ; and the object of these few remarks is to induce those of like character to unite with him in classifying these phenomena, fixing their relations to the great body of science, and fol- lowing out and popularizing their medical and psychological uses." The following paragraphs are extracted from an article in the Providence Journal, July 20th, 1837, by Thomas C. Hartshorn, Esq. translator of the Deleuze : " Had Mr Poyen come among us in his true appellation, as a marquis of the old regime, and not in poverty, he would have found a thousand ready to fall down and worship his 27 title, and to attribute to himself all the distinguishing traits of nobility, where he finds one now who is willing to be pleased with the truly gentlemanly feeling which is inherent in him, and with the learning which he is not ostentatious in dis- playing. " Mr Poyen demeaned himself in society in a modest and unassuming manner. There was no arrogant pretension to superior skill or power. On the contrary, he expressly stated in his lectures, that others who were there present, might possess it in a much higher degree. He seemed anx- ious to impress a conviction on the minds of his auditors of the great advantages of it as a curative process. He stood by the bed of the sick, and instructed several gentlemen of the faculty and others, in this and the neighboring towns, in the mode of procedure, and they were more successful than himself in producing the desired results. He received no re- compense from those persons whom he instructed, except what they may have paid for tickets of admission to his lectures. And, finally, as a triumphant vindicatiq^ of his character from the charge of imposition, the magnetic practice in this city has been attended with such decisive proofs of its therapeutic virtues, that no man of character here will venture to gainsay the assertion, under the authority of his own name. " Mr Poyen's exertion in the cause, and the fact of his being a pioneer of it in New England, demand a public state- ment of these truths, so honorable to him." Such is the opinion of those who have conversed with me, .and observed my course and character. You have not treated Mesner and Deslon with any more justice and propriety than you have done me. Instead of referring to the opinion of the prejudiced, superficial and time- serving editors of periodicals and to the authors of cyclopedias, about those distinguished men, I would beg you either to read their works, if you can procure them, or to see what the virtuous, judicious and learned Deleuze says concerning them in his " Histoire Critique du Magnetisme animal," Vol. L ch. 1, and Vol. II. ch. 1 and 2. 28 If you desire more information concerning me, I would beg leave to refer you to a work just published, entitled " Animal Magnetism in New England ," in which I give a faithful ac- count of the manner in which I became interested in the "science," and of the course I have pursued to establish it in this country. I will now finish this letter by a few remarks on the re- proach which you have addressed me, of being " a lover not of science, but of gain." I assure you, sir, that if I am at all moved by the " love of gain," I am far from possessing the art of gaining. You would, yourself, acknowledge this to be the fact, should you have a chance of investigating the contents of my purse. I will even dare to affirm, that very few, nor perhaps yourself, would have persevered as I have done, in the troublesome and difficult task of lecturing upon animal magnetism in this country for so little pecuniary compensation. But, when a man is accomplishing a useful object, when he is qualified to carry it \jout faithfully and honorably, is it not equally unjust and unphilosophical to charge him with being moved by motives of gain ? Who will ever engage seriously and perseveringly in any work of some importance, without a strong hope that he shall be rewarded for it ? and what can this reward be, but money, that is to say, the means of supporting himself and enjoying the comfort of life ? In the present age, and in this country especially, we find very few icorshippers of pure glory. No one, in our days, is wild enough to seek fame and glory at the risk of wearing rags, living upon air, and dying in an attic. The present generation are all thirsting for the wa- ters of the golden Pactole ; money is the vital element of society ; it is the vast and vivifying source from which the heart draws sensibility ; the brain, intellect and power of combination ; — it is the mighty lever by which the hand of industry erects splendid buildings, digs up canals, con- structs railroads, builds steamboats and packets ; finally, ac- complishes all that is necessary for the material welfare of so- 29 ciety. God has icisely endowed: man with acquisitiveness ; this faculty, when properly balanced by a due proportion of benevolence and conscientiousness, is capable of yielding as use- ful and glorious results as any other passion of human na- ture ! The extraordinary prosperity of the United States, and their high station among civilized nations, illustrate strik- ingly this truth. It is time, therefore, that we should cease to reproach a fellow creature with the use of a faculty inherent to the hu- man organization, and so necessary to bring about the designs of the Divine providence in her temporal government of so- ciety. The love of gain, the cc sacra fames auri," is general; it inspires the preacher of the gospel, the healer of human infirmities, the ruler of the people, as well as the humblest mechanic and farmer. The u priest must live upon the altar," is a proverb which is applicable to men of all professions in- discriminately. If you reproach me, Sir, with being a u dealer in somnam- bulism," the same reproach might be addressed to you. In- deed, I have heard many a one insinuate that your pamphlet was a mere money concern ! People observe that you might just as well have published your observations in two or three numbers of the Journal edited by you, rather than to make a pamphlet for sale. Myself, I pay no attention to such sup- positions ; I am pleased to think that you have been moved by the pure love of truth. But, supposing that you had any pecuniary object in view, I would still thank God for having organized you in such a manner as to compel you to come forth publicly and fearlessly, in support of a noble and im- portant truth, for the sake of satisfying your u acquisitive- ness. 7? As far as a man seeks gain without departing from what is right and honorable, he cannot be blamed ; but, from the mo- ment he sacrifices truth, conscience, and his duties towards his fellow creatures, to a base appetite for money and the sel- fish gratification of his exuberant vanity, he renders himself 1 30 It contemptible and can no longer be considered as a safe mem- ber of society. This last trait, Sir, establishes a broad differ- ence in the mind of the well thinking part of the community, between the talented writer of the " letter to Dr Brigham" and the impudent, self-conceited and vulgar scribbler who has just enlightened the public with an li Exposition or a new the- ory of Animal Magnetism." I am, Sir, respectfully, yours, CH. POYEN. REMARKS ON THE CAUSES OF FAILURE IN THE ANIMAL MAGNETIC EXPERIMENTS ; INTENDED AS A REFUTATION OF C. F. DURANT'S EXPOSITION OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM, I jffovL d consider it a wicked waste of time and labor to enter into a minute critical examination of this libellous pam- phlet. I am satisfied that it carries its full refutation with it- self ; I would, indeed, challenge any person of education, of common delicacy and power of discrimination, to read it with- out experiencing throughout its perusal, a perfect disgust for the coarseness of the style, the vulgarity of thought and man- ner exhibited in it. I shall not, then, for the present trouble my mind about it. The object of the following remarks is particularly to re- solve some difficulties which seem, at the present moment, to bear hard on the public mind, and which are calculated, I must confess, to retard the advances of magnetism in this country, should they not be promptly removed. If, more- over, the explanations that I propose to give, are deemed sa- tisfactory, Mr Durant's assertions and the pretended experi- ments related in his book slasikhave no more weight in the .* iArts£JLj eye of the reading part of the community than the gas with which he was wont to swell his balloons. Let us come to the point. People say, u If animal mag- netism is a matter of facts the reality of which can be ascer- 32 tained by actual observation, why do we hear so many con- tradictory reports from those who have witnessed the experi- ments ? why is there such a difference of opinion concerning the alleged facts ?" These are the questions which the present state of things requires of me to answer in a peremptory manner. I must, in the first place call the attention of the philosophi- cal reader to a very important point, viz. the respective grounds upon which those who have reported in favor or against animal magnetism, have based their judgment. In looking over the history of this " science" in Europe and America, we are struck with the fact that all those who have written " ex professo" in support of Animal •Magnetism, were, or still are magnetisers. They have themselves re- peatedly and carefully performed the operations on a great variety of individuals; — and what is remarkable, noneoftthose who have thus given a fair practical trial to the subject have remained unconvinced, although they were formerly decided skeptics; none have pretended that the claims of the science were not founded on reality. This is the history of all the magnetisers of Europe and America. Now, from the rank occupied by those individuals in society, from their education and well known character, we cannot suppose either that they have deceived the people, or that they have suffered them- selves to be imposed upon. Therefore, the facts by which they were convinced must have been of a positive charac- ter, that is to say, evident enough to satisfy skeptical and en- lightened minds. When, on the other hand, we inquire of the motives upon which the opponents of animal magnetism have based their opinion, we find that none of them say that they have them- selves magnetised, and acquired from personal experience, 'the conviction of the falsity of the doctrine. They all reject the claims of it, either on the ground that it is contrary to the laws of nature, &c. or because a few experiments they have seen tried on persons magnetised by others in their presence 33 ■ ''\\ have failed ! Such is the position of the enemies of animal magnetism. The preceding remarks partly explain, in my opinion, why contradictory reports have always been in circulation concerning the magnetic phenomena, and why there is such a difference of opinion respecting their reality. Those who have witnessed or themselves produced conclusive effects, are thus led to espouse the cause of the science ; those on the contrary, who have seen failures only, deny its reality and, without looking farther into it, remain satisfied from those failures that what they have heard about it cannot be true. From what has just been said, a plain inference follows. In order to become convinced of the truth of magnetism, it is not sufficient to see and " scrutinize" a few experiments made by other people ; it is necessary to perform the opera- tion oneself a number of times and on a variety of subjects. No one has a right to deny the reality of the phenomena and r eject the statements made by other respectable persons until he has given this patient and unprejudiced trial to the matter. Indeed, I would candidly ask whether it is philosophical to base one's judgment upon one or a few failures ? It is ad- mitted that negative facts cannot overthrow positive ones. If on witnessing some magnetic performances, we meet with failures only, are we sufficiently authorized to conclude that the experiments have never been successful ? for, how could so many intelligent persons who advocate animal magnetism, have been satisfied of its reality and value, if they had not ob- tained conclusive results ? Here, another question of importance presents itself. — Why do the magnetic experiments succeed so well at times and fail completely at other times ? The reason is simple enough ; because these experiments are performed under different circumstances, some of which are highly favor- able, and others contrary to their success. Thus far, there is nothing surprising. The chemist, the natural philo- sopher, the physician, &c. know that the experiments attempt* 5 34 ed by them often fail, and that they fail either because the materials used were not in good order and of a proper qual- ity, or because certain circumstances which the operator had not foreseen and provided against, have unfortunately taken place. Such failures are easily accounted for by the profes- sor of the science or the physician, and people make no diffi- culty in accepting his apology ; they say, " the experiments have not succeeded today, for such or such reasons; but they will probably succeed better tomorrow, &c. All is for the best !" People do not retire discontented ; they do not ex- claim, imposition! deception! nothing in it ! &c; because they are perfectly aware that the chemist, or the professor of electricity cannot concert a plan with their apparatus : they are aware that brute bodies cannot connive with any living* being to deceive mankind. But, with respect to the magnetic experiments, it is altogether different. If they suc- ceed, the skeptic says, it was a plan skilfully concerted, or if they fail, he retires indignant, considering the whole as a wicked imposition, &c. Why so ? I regret to say, it is be- cause people are aware that the animal magnetic experiments are performed on, and by, a human individual, viz., by, and on beings that are capable of conniving together to deceive their fellow creatures. On witnessing these experiments the pub- lic do not reflect, and they appear not willing to grant, that their success depends also on cc the proper state and quality of the materials used, and on certain other important circum- stances without the presence of which the required and usual effects cannot take place. The materials, as we figuratively call them, are the brain and nervous system of the magnetiser, and the brain and ner- vous system of the person magnetised. These are the two pieces or elements, as Georget calls them, of the magnetic apparatus. One of these two elements is active, the other is passive ; the influence emanates from the former, and is re- ceived and felt by the latter. But in order that the desired offects should be properly manifested, it is necessary, indis- 35 pensable, that a perfect equilibrium should exist between both elements. The operator's brain and nervous system must exercise its action in a regular , even, and constantly strong manner; at the same time, the brain of the person operated up- on must find itself in a state of perfect calmness and tranquil sensibility, in order either to feel the intended effects of the action directed upon it, or to exhibit the phenomena which may belong to the exercise of its own activity and power, in- dependently from the magnetiser's influence. Every thing therefore, that will disturb the normal order of either or of both elements of the magnetic apparatus, will destroy the re- quired equilibrium, and the experiments must fail. There is one point, in all this, which I desire the reader to bear clearly and constantly in his mind ; it is that the human brain and nervous system are not brute, inani- mate objects ; they are not, for instance, like the electric machine, the galvanic battery, &c. They are the most com- plex, nice, organized and living instruments. They are there- fore, submitted to the action and reaction of infinitely more numerous causes than any other object in creation. They are (and we should expect it to be so,) infinitely more suscepti- . ble of changes and modifications than any scientific machine or apparatus that can be devised and made by man's hands. We know besides, that the complication, delicacy and modi- fiability of organized bodies vary according to the degree which they occupy in the scale of life. A plant is more com- plex and modifiable than a crystal ; an animal of a lower or- der is more complex and modifiable than a plant, &c. Now, how much more complicated, delicate and changeable, is the organization of man than that of all other living beings. Be- sides all the physical causes that are acting continually on him, as well as on other animals, man is submitted to another continual source of actions, reactions and modifications, which is within himself. I mean his own exquisite sen- sibility and his passions. Now, let us reflect that the brain and the nervous system are the seat of sensibility and of pas- : 36 sions; let us reflect also, that it is from the same organ that the magnetic influence emanates, and that they are the instruments principally used for magnetising. How then, can we be sur- prised at the variety of results obtained, and even at the numerous failures that are met with in the practice of animal magnetism? If the chemical, electric, galvanic, &c. experi- ments fail often, although the laws of electricity and chemis- try are comparatively simple and few, it is but natural that animal magnetism, the laws of which are not yet well appre- ciated, and which is subjected to a great many causes of vari- ation, should present still more numerous failures. The circumstances either favorable or contrary to the suc- cess of the experiments in animal magnetism must be, of course different from those attending the experiments made on and with Unorganized bodies. They are peculiar to the nature and capacity of the agents employed, viz. the human brain and nervous system. Those circumstances are numerous, so delicate and profoundly hidden that it. requires a long expe- rience, and the attentive reading of the best authors, united to an acute power of observation, comparison and discrimination, to know them all and appreciate them properly. This constitutes, therefore, a branch of knowledge that compara- tively very few magnetisers possess when they commence practising, especially in this country, where there is an almost absolute deficiency of books and written instructions on the subject. Being thus involved in complete darkness about the causes that are calculated to favor or disturb the magnetic ac- tion, they can but meet with failures whenever they venture to expose their somnambulist and themselves to circumstances different from those under the influence of which they have performed successful experiments. The magnetic power being natural to man, and the means of using it exceedingly plain, it becomes thus very easy to almost any one, to pro- duce the phenomena which are known to take place under such operation. But in this case power is not science. The person who just begins to magnetise may be able to obtain 37 wonderful effects, and yet be utterly incapable of understand- ing both what he is doing, and the causes which have made his experiments succeed. He does not perhaps suspect that those experiments are liable to fail, and even sees not why they should fail, as he does not yet appreciate the nature of the agents used in the operation, and has not learned through experience and study that those agents are susceptible of a great many modifications. Thence the numerous failures which have given rise in Europe, as well as in this country, to the contradictory reports which people have heard, and to the difference of opinion which is existing about the reality of the magnetic phenomena. In order to convey a clearer idea of what I mean, I will present a few cases of the failures to which I am alluding, as they generally occur to those who commence the practice of magnetism. Let us take for example, one of the magnetis- ers mentioned in Mr Durant's book. I will show how this beginner will, from mere ignorance, create failures on his way, and thus expose himself and his somnambulist to be con- sidered as impostors by some uncharitable and equally ig- norant skeptics. Mr C. hears of the wonderful effects of what is called animal magnetism and he wishes to obtain them himself ; he, in consequence, magnetises a person well known to him, ia whom he has confidence, say his friend, his sister, even per- haps his own wife. The success is complete ; at the first attempt, he throws the subject into the magnetic state ; he is already in amazement at his power; he repeats the operation and succeeds in producing the first phenomena of somnam- bulism; his admiration and enthusaism are still greater. He decides to invite a couple of friends, well known both to him- self and to the subject of his experiments. Mr C. in pres- ence of these friends feels the same confidence as he had when alone ; he is at his own house, pursues his own course, and acts from the impulse of his own mind, — the experi- ments succeed again to the satisfaction of all present, for, so far, the circumstances are favorable to the operation. 38 But Mr C. already wishes to convince more people, say two or three influential persons; he invites them to see an exhibition. They come with high expectations, but unfor- tunately the experiment fails; Mr C. cannot even put his pa- tient to sleep ; how, and why ? he cannot tell, for he does not know that he was too anxious to succeed, and that his very solicitudes have disturbed his nervous system and prevented both in himself and in his patient the degree of confidence and regularity of action necessary to produce the required effect. Among those invited, one or more were, perhaps, entire strangers to his subject, and Mr C. does not yet know that the presence of strangers agitates a somnambulist and that such agitation is contrary to the success of the operation. The persons who had been called to witness wonders, retire disappointed, and say that poor Mr C. was deluded, &c. After they are gone, Mr C makes a new attempt and suc- ceeds very well ; and it cannot be otherwise, for the causes of disturbance exist no longer. After magnetising his patient ten or twelve times, always successfully, and in presence of several friends, Mr C. again invites some strangers. This time he succeeds in producing sleep. He then pronounces the subject to be in a profound sleep from which nothing, not even the discharge of a park of ar- tillery, could arouse her. Indeed, the bystanders make noise, shake, pinch and prick the sleeper, without producing any apparent effect. Mr C. also pretends that she hears nobody but him, for, in the preceding sittings he has observed that she never answered any one else. He then tries, from his own impulse and according to his own fancy, a few experiments to test the power of the will. They are perfectly successful. Another experiment, more complicated, of which he never thought before, is suggested to him on a piece of paper ; he hesitates, doubts, feels anxious for the result ; he tries, how- ever, and of course, fails ; and it could not have been other- wise, for this experiment did not spring spontaneously from his mind, and he did not try it with sufficient confidence in 39 himself, therefore the action of his brain could not be clear and regular enough. Two or three similar suggested experi- ments are tried again, with no more success, for the magne- tiser having failed once, is afraid of failing again, and such fear will prevent him from succeeding. Do not we often see a stout, robust man, knocked down by a man of feebler mus- cles ? Why ? because he is a coward. On witnessing such failures, what will the persons invited think and say ? Some will think that there was a concerted plan, others will say that Mr C. is a visionary man. Again, another experiment is performed on the day follow- ing, in presence of several individuals, among whom is found a thorough and ungenerous skeptic, who has conceived some idea that the somnambulist is practising deception, and has resolved to detect the trick. This skeptic will manage an ex- periment like this : he writes on a piece of paper, " Will this pencil case to be a melon," and passes it to the magnetiser; at the same time standing near the somnambulist, he will say aloud or simply whisper, but so as to be heard, " Mind what I wrote on the paper, will this pencil case to become red hot iron?" and even before the somnambulist has felt any action at all from the magnetiser 's will, (for it generally takes long- er to feel the will, than to hear,) she exclaims, u Oh ! oh ! you burn me, &c." Indeed it unfortunately happens that this subject is one of those whose sense of hearing, although deaf to any other kind of noise, is open to the human voice, no matter whose voice it is. She therefore caught the skeptic's words, and .taking them in earnest, acted in consequence. Mr C. is stupefied, he begins himself to think that the patient is not asleep, and is feigning, &c. Indeed, as he had observed that she never noticed the questions of any body besides him- self, he candidly supposed that she could not hear, for he does not yet know by experience or reading, that there are certain somnambulists who, although they hear what people say, yet imagine honestly and strongly, that they ought not to answer any body but the magnetiser, because they have heard while awake and before they were magnetised, that somnambulists 40 generally speak with their magnetiser only, and with no other person, unless they are willed to. Now, if Mr C. had ex- perience enough, and had read the best authors, he would know that certain impressions, those particularly referring to magnetism, that are made on a somnambulist's mind, and while in the wakeful state, act most powerfully on their imagination, when in the magnetic sleep. But let Mr C. recollect all the successful experiments he has privately tried on his subject, without a word spoken or a signal made, when there could be no possibility for deception, and he will be convinced that his somnambulist is in earnest, and that it is not probable that she would attempt to feign such a state ; Mr C. then will infer that a person in the magnetic sleep is not always deaf; that it is, in consequence, necessary to be very careful not to speak aloud* about what is going on ; that every experiment with such somnambulist should be performed without a word of any sort uttered in their presence. Mr C. will learn also that it is very important to ascertain by proper experiments, whether a somnambulist hears others or not, in order that he should not positively assert before strangers that she does not hear at all, &c. Again, having been told that after a person had been suc- cessfully magnetised a number of times, the manipulations usually employed in the beginning to produce the magnetic sleep, became useless ; that a steady look, with a firm will, were sufficient to cause the same state to take place, Mr C. tries that new method and with the greatest success ; — he re- peats the experiment again and again, and always successful- ly, even in the presence of other people ; indeed, his subject has been so often magnetised by him, and is so completely under his control, that she cannot help going into somnambu- lism when he wills her to. Now, among the persons present, there is a shrewd skeptic who doubts the sincerity of the som- nambulist. He takes Mr C. into the entry and requests him, in a whisper , to sit and look steadily at the patienVs face with- out willing any thing at all. Agreeably to the suggestion, Mr 41 I C. takes his position and looks at the subject ; soon she ap- pears drowsy, and within three minutes she is, to all appear- ance, fast asleep. They try her in the usual ways and she re- sists all the trials with an inconceivable courage and without flinching once. Indeed, she is really in the somnambulic state. Mr C. is surprised; he cannot account for it ; what ! is she feigning again ? Mr C. knows indeed, that he has not willed her to sleep ; but he is not yet aware of the wonderful power of imagination on those persons who have been repeat- edly subjected to the action of animal magnetism. If he had experience enough, or if he had read the best authors on this subject, he would know that this singular, unaccountable and powerful agent which is commonly called imagination, is ca- pable of producing the same effects as the real magnetic in- fluence exercised by another person. He would know, in- deed, that what we call imagination, is the magnetic force or power of the spirit of each individual, acting independently from the will; he would know that the magnetic operation has a great tendency to increase the natural activity and ener- gy of the imagination in those upon whom it is practised, to such an extent that the least impression, on those persons' minds is sufficient to cause the state of somnambulism to take place. When Mr C. is informed of all this, he will beware of acting on his subject's imagination, in order to obtain results of a positive character, and not to expose himself to be treat- ed as a fool, and his innocent somnambulist to be considered as an impostor by ignorant and skeptical witnesses. If any one inquires whether all the phenomena attributed to ani- mal magnetism are not the products of imagination, as the above mentioned fact authorizes us to suppose, I would an- swer that I have directed my attention particularly towards resolving this difficulty, and that I have acquired the strongest possible evidence that there is a power besides imagination, deriving from the exercise of the will of one individual over another, and which is capable of producing both the magnetic sleep and all the phenomena of somnambulism. This is my 6 42 experience, and it is corroborated by that of thousands of other magnetisers, (see the Report of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Paris, 1831 ; also the Experiments performed by Dr Dupotet, at the Hotel Dieu, in 1820, &c.) Of the existence of this power, Mr C. can satisfy himself at any time, by magnetising his subject through a partition wall, and when she is not at all aware ofiohat is going on. Most of the magnetisers of this country have already made such experi- ments with the most perfect success, and they have been con- vinced by them, of the reality of animal magnetism. But it appears that they have not yet observed that imagination can produce the same effects ; let them satisfy themselves about this power, and they will surely come to the same conclusion as I have, that what we call imagination, is the genuine mag- netic force, or the power of each human individual, acting independently from the will. The state of somnambulism elicited under the influence of mere imagination is not gener- ally so regular and profound as that which is produced by the will of the magnetiser, but it is real notwithstanding ; any one can convince himself of it by trying the usual experiments, such as willing various things without either a sign or a word spoken, &c. The somnambulist will show that she is evi- dently affected by such mental action. But I repeat, mag- netisers should beware not to act on their subject's imagina- tion before strangers who are ignorant of the matter, because the sleep produced in that way is liable to be imperfect, and it may happen that all the subsequent experiments will be very unsatisfactory. I now leave Mr C, and will finish these explanations by extracting a few more instances of failure from the practice of Mr A., another beginner, an equally ignorant and shallow observer. Mr A. has made a great number of experiments on his somnambulist, in whose honesty he has the greatest con- fidence, as she is the most intimate friend of his bosom, his own wife. He has so far obtained wonderful results, and has been fortunate enough to satisfy a good number of his friends. 43 As magnetism is a subject of general curie-sty and interest, and as his own business is for the present rather poor, Mr A. takes a notion to make a fortune by exhibiting the magnetic phenomena, for money. He knows very well that he is ut- terly ignorant of the science, that he can neither account for the extraordinary effects produced, nor explain one of the failures that may take place, &c. But the thirst for gold per- verts his judgment and silences the cry of his conscience. Having succeeded well at home, he flatters himself that he will succeed equally well in a strange city, and before a large promiscuous assembly. He does not see why he should not, for he has not yet reflected on the nature of animal magne- tism, and is not, moreover, capable of understanding the pro" perties and structure of the agents used in the operation. He starts then, for the city of New York, anticipating the most brilliant results. Among his visitors in New York, is a sel- fish, double-tongued, vain fellow, who, at first, conceives the idea of associating with Mr A. to make fortune in common, but on perceiving the ignorance and simplicity of Mr A. this shrewd fellow despairs to make any thing of pecuniary con- sequence with him ; feeling also that in the present state of universal and warm excitement existing on the matter, it might prove more profitable to oppose, and if possible, ex_ plode the science than to advocate it, he boldly takes it into his conceited brain that the whole is an imposition, and forms a mighty plan to expose it before the world. But he avoids telling any thing of his intentions to Mr A. On the con- trary, he carefully keeps him in the belief that he is still his friend, and is seriously thinking of helping him along. This malicious fellow pretends that he has invented a profound and scientific theory that will account for all the phenomena of magnetism, and will infallibly secure to Mr A. a prompt and immense success. Among the experiments which he suggests, there is one, which if it succeeds, will establish beyond all dispute and cavil the correctness of his theory, and thereby prove the reality of animal magnetism, and make 44 Mr A.'s fortune as certain as though he had already got it in his purse. " This experiment," says he, " cannot but succeed, it must succeed, for it is founded on the well known analogous laws of nature. It consists in cutting off the magnetic cur- rent producing somnambulism, by interposing a sheet of tissue paper between the magnetiser and the person magnetised. This tissue paper is pretended to be a newly discovered and very rare substance, which has the extraordinary property of neutralizing the effects of common mineral magnetism, and as, in the views of the ingenious fellow, mineral and animal mag- netism are alike, the cerin (so called tissue paper) must of course neutralize also the effect of animal magnetism.* Mr A. and his wife, poor simple people, who suspect noth- ing of the infernal and absurd trick played upon them, swal- low the whole at once ; their imagination is full of it ; they become infatuated with the new theory, and they propose to try the experiment immediately ; Mrs A. sits in her rocking chair, persuaded that no effect is going to follow, and wishing strong- ly that none should be produced. The cerin or tissue paper is placed before her face ; Mr A., sitting at some distance, looks at his wife for a few moments and tries to will her to go to sleep. But how can he will such a thing, when he so eagerly wishes that the contrary should take place ;-^-when he is so profoundly impressed with the idea that his will can have no effect in the present case ; when finally, he fears to exercise his will, as he knows that his sweet dreams of for- tune would vanish away as a bubble of soap, should any effect be produced. Under such mental circumstances the experi- ment proposed by the profound and acute minded fellow could not but succeed : indeed Mrs A. could not be put to sleep. Now reader, is it'.not evident to you that the inventor of the ad- mirable theory above alluded to, has shown in the said expe- riment his asinine ignorance, as well as a ridiculous vanity and a base malice, instead of acting like a man of common sense * This experiment is taken from Mr Durant's book. 45 and feeling. Indeed, could this fellow will himself to sleep, when at the same time he strongly desires that sleep would not touch his lids, for fear that a robber would introduce himself into his room and steal away his money? Could he will himself to loalk, when at the same time he ivishes to stay still, and is fearful that if he gets up he shall break his leg at the first step ? Why then, did he so improperly act on Mrs A.'s imagination ? why did he place Mrs A.'s brain between two opposite forces ? This theorician, who claims for so much science, shows yet that he is not even aware of the simplest law of nature, viz. when two equal forces are acting in a direct- ly opposite sense to each other, no motion is produced. This law is applicable to moral as well as physical forces. Again, the same fellow impresses on the mind of poor Mr A. and Mrs A., that owing to his theory, which is calculated (we must remember) to yield a large fortune to them, there is and can be no such thing as clairvoyance or power of seeing, the eyes being closed. Of course, Mrs A.'s imagination be- ing perplexed on this point, she cannot see when she is asleep ! She fails or gives wrong answers to almost every question which is asked her. And the reason is plain enough. It is because she imagines she cannot see ! Every sensible man will easily conceive this. There are other reasons why Mrs A. and other somnambulists have failed in the experiments made by the judicious theorician of whom we are speaking, to test the power of clairvoyance. In the first place, this fac- ulty is known to be the most changeable and uncertain of all the faculties of somnambulism. The least mental or physical derangement will disturb it. It is, therefore, very rare that it will fairly manifest itself when there are strangers in the room, which is a circumstance always disagreeable to a female somnambulist, particularly when she is away from home, in a large city like New York. In the next place, this mode of vision is very painful ; the exercise of it is extremely fati- guing, and soon overcomes the somnambulist's brain. It is II I 46 the observation of all magnetisers of Europe and America, that a lucid somnambulist cannot exercise his clairvoyance on more than three or four objects at each experiment. Therefore magnetisers should be careful not to ask of their subjects more than they can do. Somnambulists are gener- ally vain. They prefer, when urged with questions, to guess rather than to say they cannot see ! These are the facts ; they may appear ridiculous and improbable to those who have no experience in animal magnetism, but they are true, and we must take them such as they are. There is another and most powerful cause of disturbance for somnambulists, which we must mention here, although it is deemed supremely absurd and ridiculous by the opposers of magnetism. It is the wrong mental action exercised by certain skeptics, present at the experiments. I divide the skeptics into two classes. Some disbelieve the magnetic phenomena, merely because they are new to them, because they are wonderful, apparently miraculous, &c, but they are honest, candid, open to conviction ; and they readily surren- der themselves to evidence, when it is presented to them. The other class is composed of persons naturally stubborn, conceited and envious, who decide a priori that magnetism is a deception, reject with the utmost contempt the testimo- nies of the most respectable witnesses, and affirm that the ex- periments, the most satisfactory to other intelligent people, were the result of a concerted plan. These prejudiced and unjust men attend experiments for the sole purpose of detecting the trick, and are unwilling to give to the science the only sure and fair trial, by which they could arrive at the truth, viz : to magnetise for themselves. It is particularly recommended by all the most learned and judicious writers, as Georget, Rostan, Deleuze, De Puysegur, &c. to avoid having such characters present at the magnetic experiments. These eminent intellects say that they have invariably observed that their somnambulists always had to complain very much of those skeptics, and that their faculties were completely de- 47 ranged by their presence. This I know will appear ridicu- lous to the vulgar ; but to those who reflect, it is rational and perfectly philosophical, in admitting that every human being carries with himself a nervous, magnetic or vital atmosphere, the movements and fluctuations of which are in direct concor- dance with the action exercised by the brain and the nervous system.* This atmosphere, indeed, is formed^by certain eman- ations emitted by the nervo-cerebral organs. Now, we are aware that the modifications of these organs derive from the peculiar nature and tendencies of the mind and passions of each individual. Thence a plain inference follows, that the vital or magnetic atmosphere of such a living aggregate of mal- ice, self-conceit and impudence, as the above-mentioned cele- brated discoverer of the new theory, (so far as I can judge from his deeds,) cannot be favorable to the magnetic experiments. Let us reflect, indeed, that owing to the great change deter- mined in the perceptive and sensorial faculties of the human organization, during the state of somnambulism, the nervous system of the person who finds himself in that state, is ren- dered capable of feeling and appreciating, even at a distance, and through very peculiar ways, the mental action of those who approach him. It is true that somnambulists feel their magnetiser more than any other ; but however close their com- munication with him may be, they are still more or less sen- sible to the influence of those who stand about them. Expe- rience has also proved that they feel more persons of strong power of determination and of great nervous activity, than those of feeble will. It appears to me that the property that the nervous system has, during somnambulism, of being so much influenced by the vital emanations emitted around them, is analogous to the property of electrometers to mark the quantity and nature of electricity contained in the atmosphere, or emitted by certain electrified bodies ; it is likewise analo- gous in some respects to the capacity of a barometer for marking the variations of the weather. That such a faculty belongs to the nervous system of man, when placed under * See my preceding Letter to Col. Stone, pp. 9, 10, 11. 48 peculiar circumstances, is not at all unlikely and surprising, when we know that brute bodies, as the above-mentioned instruments, possess a similar one. I have endeavored, in the foregoing pages, to demonstrate that the difference of opinion which exists in regard to the real- ity of the magnetic phenomena originates from this main cause, viz : some basing their judgment on positive facts, obtained through experiments performed either by themselves or their friends, are thus led to advocate magnetism ; whereas its op- posers judge only from a few failures, which they consider at once as evident proofs of deception or of the falsity of the doctrine, without inquiring into the reason of those failures, or taking the trouble of magnetising for themselves. I have further endeavored to show, 1st. that the magnetic experi- ments are liable to fail when they are made under circum- stances contrary to the free and proper operation of the agents used ; 2d. that most magnetisers, being as yet ignorant of the true nature of these various circumstances, and of the peculiar structure and properties of these agents, are thus often led to experiment at random and contrarily to all the laws existing, but so far, hidden to them. I have also ob- served that it would be extremely unphilosophical to expect as constant and uniform results from experiments on animal magnetism, as from experiments made on brute bodies and with inorganized apparatus. Indeed, the agent used in the animal magnetic experiments is no other than the spirit or vital principle of man, and the apparatus employed is the human nervous system and brain. Therefore, the favorable or unfavorable circumstances attending on experiments of this kind must be of & peculiar description, viz : appropriate to the well known properties and dispositions of the human system. We know, for instance, that if mankind are every where alike in the essential and general features of their organization, they vastly differ in the details, both moral and physical. What a variety in their bodily forms, color, and external appearance ! What a difference in their intellectual capacities and passions ! 49 In fact, variety and multiplicity of manifestations, seem to be the attributes of human nature, more, at least, than of any other species of organized beings. This is a primary fact ; we cannot account for it ; but it is, and we must take it for granted. It would be, therefore, irrational to expect that every som- nambulist should present the same phenomena to our obser- vation. Indeed, their faculties and dispositions vary a great deal, and it is, I repeat, natural that it should be so. Some of them can see while asleep, and their eyes being shut ; — others cannot, even with the best of their efforts and wishes. Some hear every person in the room, and can answer their questions ; others hear, but cannot answer ; others,' finally, hear nothing and nobody except their magnetiser, &c. Now, we easily understand how important it is that magnetisers should know all these particulars, in order to save both disap- pointment to their visiters, and injurious reports against the innocent subjects of their experiments. It will be said, perhaps, that if the dispositions of som- nambulists are so various, it becomes very difficult to ascer- tain what is real or not. Very true ; but a plain consequence follows, it is that both the witnesses and operators should be perfectly informed of the nature of what they are doing or seeing, and of all those causes of mistake. Then they would conduct themselves in a proper way, to have positive results ; they would not, like Mr Durant, take so much trouble to find out an imaginary deception, by suggesting certain tests, which, however ingenious, are not at all calculated to prove any thing against the subject of inquiry. I affirm that such posi- tive results can be easily obtained by following the proper course. (I would beg leave to refer the reader to the nu- merous facts contained in my work lately published, entitled u Animal Magnetism in New England," &c.) If I am permitted to express my opinion, I would now ven- ture to say, that to those who have attentively read the pre- ceding considerations, there cannot be two ways of judging 7 50 Mr Durant's Exposition of Animal Magnetism. It is evi- dent enough that this scientific theorician has exposed nothing but his utter ignorance of the matter upon which he treats. Every one of the pretended experiments which he has made on Mrs Andros and others, for the purpose of showing the imposition, can be referred to the cases of failure I have men- tioned and explained through the same way as I have those failures. These experiments, even supposing them to be true, show only an appearance of deception to superficial observers. But they do not weigh a straw against the numerous positive facts, by which so many distinguished individuals have been convinced. Those individuals, it is true, did not resort to the many vulgar and mean tricks used by Mr Durant ; not because they had not wit enough to imagine them, but merely because they saw at once that they could yield but negative results, and were altogether insufficient to bring forth evi- dence enough to satisfy them. If Mr Durant believes that the plan applied by him to detect the deception was some- thing new, he is greatly mistaken. I assure him, that how- ever shrewd he is (and I readily confess that he is remarka- bly so,) there is many a Yankee fully equal to him in this point. All the tricks played by him have been a hundred times applied to my somnambulist, but always unsuccessfully, because she cannot, like Mrs Andros and others, hear what is said in the room. I have myself often resorted to the very same means, not merely to expose an imposition, but to ascertain the peculiar dispositions and faculties of my new subjects. Mr S. H. Jenks of Nantucket, will remember how severe were the tests, and how shrewdly concerted was the plan adopted by us to detect a person I had magnetised at his house, and whom we suspected of deception. Yet the result of these experiments, although still stronger than that obtained by Mr Durant against Mrs Andros, was not suffi- cient to convince us that the girl was not asleep ; for she presented other phenomena, which could not possibly have been feigned by a human creature in the natural state. 51 Now, reader, allow me to tell you frankly what I think of MrD.'s work. It is throughout the most inconceivable exhibi- tion of self-conceit, impudence and vulgarity that could perhaps be presented to the world in the shape of a book. Read it, if you please, and if you do not come to the same conclusion, you must be .... at least, uncommonly forbearing. I do not propose to enter into any particular examination of its contents ; I will only say that the manner in which the author treats Dr F. Wayland, president of Brown University, Miss Brackett, the Rev. Daniel Greene, and others, is extremely contemptible, and deserves punishment. You will now ask what was Mr Durant's object ? See the clap-trap engraved on the cover of the book, and you will easily guess at it ; the honest author thought it his duty to magnetise the public's eyes in order to catch their pennies. His object was to make money at any rate ; and I am sorry to say that he will ac- complish it, for his favorite composition addresses too directly the mischievous and vulgar tendencies of men, not to excite the curiosity of all, and be greedily swallowed by many of his kindred minds. But I must warn those who desire and are candidly seeking the truth, that they ought not kindly to rely on what Mr Du- rant says ; for myself, I cannot credit any part of his narra- tive ; he has, to my knowledge, committed too gross mis- representations of the truth to be believed in any thing. Ah uno, noscite omnia, might be properly said of the whole book ; the two following specimens of the author's antipathy to truth, will clearly exemplify what I mean. Speaking of the Report made in June, 1831, by a Committee of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Paris, he says : " The commission spent five years with the most scrutinizing experiments, and finally, in 1831, reported unfavorable to the science, but acknowledged in the report, having seen many ex- traordinary and unaccountable facts, which was sufficient to show their prejudice and total incapability of judging in a science in which the fundamental principles were above their compre- hension. 52 " The respectability of the society which appointed the corn- mission had some influence in retarding the rapid advances which the science was making." It is evident to my mind, that in the preceding remarks the honest author has most daringly attempted to impose upon the public. For the report to which he alludes, is al- together favorable to the claims, even the most extraordinary, of magnetism, and is justly considered as having formed a new era in the history of the science. Those who have read it, know this to be the fact. Among other conclusions drawn from all the experiments related in the report, and which are presented at the end of the volume, I will extract the fol- lowing : " A certain number of the observed phenomena appeared to us as having been produced by magnetism alone, and could not be produced without it. These are physiological and therapeutical phenomena well established." " Considered as an agent of physiological phenomena, or as a therapeutical means, magnetism should be ranked within the frame of medical knowledge, and consequently physicians alone ought to have the privilege of using it, as it is already practised in the northern countries of Europe." " The committee have collected facts important enough to allow it to believe that the Academy should encourage and favor researches on magnetism, as being a very curious branch of psy- chology and natural history." Now, can we suppose that Mr Durant had not read the said report ? To me, this supposition is inadmissible. But if he had not, how could he so boldly and pertinently speak about it ? Here is another specimen of his love of truth and fairness. The following letter was written by Dr L. L. Miller, one of the most eminent physicians of Providence, whom he men- tions in his book as having been present at some experiments tried by Mr Potter, on a respectable infirm young lady : For the Journal of Commerce. Messrs Hale and Hallock, — Sirs, I have noticed in your daily of the 20th inst. an extract from Mr Durant's book on Animal Magnetism, respecting the case of Miss Ebon, (should be Miss 53 Aborn.) My name being mentioned in connexion with the case, I cannot assent to the whole matter contained in the extract, therefore, I wish you to do me the kindness to insert the follow- ing in your paper. Miss Aborn has been a patient of mine for two years or more. Her disease is lateral distortion of the spine, under which her sufferings have been very severe, causing sleep- less nights, loss of appetite, strength, &c. A long and strict per- severance in medical treatment failing to relieve her, as a dernier resort, I suggested the trial of animal magnetism, with the single view of procuring rest. Her answer was — " I will assent to any thing you think proper." I called upon Mr Potter to make trial of animal magnetism. His first attempt was successful in about thirty minutes. On visiting her next morning at 8 o'clock, I found her sitting in the room, and she exclaimed with an ex- pression of the most perfect sincerity — "I have not had so comfortable sleep for two years, and feel as much refreshed as I ever did from my natural sleep." I advised her to try the ex- periment again. She was magnetised every night for some weeks, and with but two or three slight exceptions, rested per- fectly well and continues to, up to this time, without the aid of any medicine whatever. Her general health soon began to improve, and she now en- joys all the comforts of quiet sleep, good appetite, &c. I cannot imagine how Mr Durant arrived at the conclusion that Miss Aborn is a " self-deceived somnambulist," and much more am I surprised that he should give so vulgar a description of the progress of magnetising, together with his vile in- sinuations. It is true, the magnetiser is seated in front of his patient, and that in the process of manipulating, the hands are passed over the limbs. But I assure you, there are no circum- stances attending it, that would excite such thoughts in an hon- est heart. The imbecile language she is made to use in his extract, I have never heard from her, and am assured by Mr Potter, she never used it in his presence. I have no recollection of any other experiments than the one willing the pencil a watermelon, and willing her to awake in a given time, which I am very happy to say are true. However, this does not interest me so much as the manner in which the young lady is treated in the extract by Mr Durant. Miss Aborn is well known to a large circle of friends of the first respectability. Her charac- ter here, does not need a moment's comment. She is a young lady of good powers of mind, and a heart as honest and pure as the one is vile which attempts to traduce it. LEWIS L. MILLER. Providence , Oct. 27, 1837. '/■ B I I 54 The description given by Mr D. of the experiments per- formed on Miss Aborn, is such as to make even a soldier blush. Any person of common sense and delicacy cannot help being indignant at the gross outrage against decency, truth and christian charity contained in these libellous pages. The reader will, perhaps, find me rather severe in my re- marks. This may be ; but I beg his pardon, I cannot be otherwise. I am a man, I feel like a man, and express my feelings as they are. If I thought that Mr Durant were ca- pable of appreciating mildness, I would have been mild to- wards him. If I thought that he would have considered si- lence as a proof of perfect contempt rather than of fear, I would not even have said a word about him. But I am fully convinced that such a vain and prejudiced character always sees things through a distorted medium, and cannot but mis- take the true sentiments of others either for homage or an expression of dread of his superior skill. I would add, more- over, that my feelings towards Mr D. are not those of anger and revenge ; he has surely spoken of me in very harsh terms, but I pay no attention to it ; I feel particularly indignant for the impertinent and unjust manner in which he has ungrate- fully presented before the public, so many respectable per- sons from whom he had received only polite attentions at Providence. The interest that I feel in those estimable per- sons, as well as the love of truth have prompted me to write these pages ; God knows that I have been moved by no other motive whatever. In justice to Mrs Andros, the somnambulist, who has been so unfeelingly imposed upon by Mr Durant, I will say a word more ; I have seen her twice in the magnetic sleep, and she gave me as well as to others who were present, indisputable proofs that she was in magnetic somnambulism. She had been magnetised nearly three months, by Mr Ame. C. Potter, an intelligent and amiable gentleman of Providence, before she ever was magnetised by her own husband. She never had I I I 55 any idea of going to New York, to appear before the public as a somnambulist until very lately, when she was strongly ad- vised to do it by several influential gentlemen from that city. Mr Andros, induced by the hope of making his fortune, de- termined to follow the plan suggested to him, and in conse- quence went to New York with his wife. But I must say, that a few days before her departure, this lady told me that she was very reluctant to leave her home for such a purpose, and that she was doing it to comply with her husband's wish- es. I must also declare that I strongly disapproved of Mr A.'s resolution, although I had myself no idea and never had an inclination to go and lecture in New York. I objected to Mr A.'s plan, on the ground that he was incapable of pro- perly managing a somnambulist, was totally ignorant of the science, could not give a single explanation about the effects produced, and was not at all qualified to face on any occasion with a scientific man. I observed to him that I knew from experience that in thus displacing his som- nambulist, he would expose her to frequent failures, and very probably throw himself and his innocent wife into very serious troubles ; I finally assured him, that, should he persist in his plan, I would publicly protest against his doings in New York ; it being my duty to do so, as I felt responsi- ble for the success of animal magnetism in this country and bound to secure all possible means to favor its free and regular development. Mr A. did not take any notice of my admonitions ; he went to New York, and exhibited his som- nambulist, although every circumstance was unfavorable to his experiments. I did not protest in the newspapers, both out of kindness towards Mr A., and for fear that he and others would have charged me with jealousy ; I thought it better to keep silent. Mr A. acted then on his own responsibility. Whether his wife ever contrived to practise deception or not, I leave it to others to judge. But if she had, would it be just and philosophical to draw the inference that all som- :■ 56 nambulists do the same ? Can people, besides, decide any thing concerning animal magnetism, from the conduct and language of Mr Andros, ignorant as he is of the matter ?* C. P. * I refer the reader to the appendix of the last edition of Col. W. L. Stone's letter to Dr Brigham, where several wonderful and well authenticated proofs of lucidity were afforded to him by this very Mrs A. whom Mr D. represents as an infamous deceiver. N. B. The reader will probably have noticed several grammatical inaccura- cies and idiomatical phrases in the two preceding Essays. In preparing them for the press, I was obliged to rely solely upon my own imperfect acquaintance with the language. Those of my friends to whom I wished to submit the MS. before publication, were so much engaged at the time that 1 hardly thought it proper to withdraw their attention from their own affairs. I must therefore ask the indulgence of the reader for this first edition. The next one (should there be demand for another) will undergo a careful revision. REMARKS I I ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CLAIMS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM SHOULD BE MET AND DISCUSSED. [A long and very valuable dissertation under the above title, appeared some months ago in the Bristol County Democrat, published at Taunton, Mass. We at first intended to extract the whole of it, but are obliged, in order not to exceed too much the proposed limits of this pamphlet, to leave out several parts of it. These omissions, however, do not substantially alter the sense and connection of the arguments.] Animal Magnetism seems, at this time, and in this vicinity, to excite some public attention and interest. The number and character of the believers in the reality of this mysterious power, are such as to entitle the subject to a candid consideration and impartial examination. The question whether its claims, as pre- sented by its advocates, are founded in truth, is one of consider- able importance, and the evidence which its advocates offer in the affirmative should be subjected to a rigid, but unprejudiced investigation. It is not my intention, at present, if ever, to dis- cuss that evidence, or to attempt to establish or controvert fhose claims ; but simply to make some remarks and suggestions as to the manner in which those claims should be met and discussed. This seems to me to be a necessary preliminary to the actual discussion ; because, so far as I have noticed any published re- marks on the subject, in this vicinity, the writers appear to me to have approached it in a manner and spirit little calculated to lead to correct results. It may be proper, in the first place, to state as distinctly as may be, what is to be understood by the term " animal magnetism. 1 ' The definition of the term and the description of the phenomena produced, as given by Mr Poyen, are as follows : 8 58 " It is a peculiar state of the nervous system, during which some unusual physiological phenomena, not yet well appreciated, present themselves — -a state which is ordinarily produced in one individual by the will of another, performing certain manual evo- lutions for the purpose of causing it to take place." " The phenomena produced under the influence of the wz'ZZand gestures, vary according both to the disposition of the person to receive the magnetical action, and the power of the magne- tiser to exercise that action. Thus some individuals, especially those who are strong and enjoy perfect health, feel nothing, some others feel some heaviness of the eyelids, cephalgia, nau- sea, much calm or great agitation. Finally, some are plunged into a peculiar sleep, called magnetical sleep, and reach, after a few sittings, that very singular state known under the name of somnambulism. The magnetical sleep is characterized by a complete suspension of the external senses. Somnambulism is the faculty of speaking during the sleep ; of recognizing external objects through unusual ways, and finally, of hearing nobody but the magnetiser or the other person brought into relation to the magnetised." Here, then, we have a definition of the alleged power or agen- cy in question, and a statement of the phenomena said to be pro- duced by it. The questions to be settled are, whether any such state of the nervous system can be produced in the manner stated, and if so, whether any such phenomena as are described, are consequent on such a state ? Now it is obvious that these are simply questions of fact, and to be decided, like all other ques- tions of fact, by the evidence. And in an inquiry of this kind, what is the nature of the evidence which we are to expect, and which ought to be required 1 My first principle, in answer to the interrogation is, negatively, that the facts are not to be proved or disproved by a course of mere abstract reasoning. No fact in physical science ever was, or ever can be, proved or disproved conclusively by reasoning a priori. Facts are to be established, in the first place, by their appropriate evidence — the evidence of experiment, observation and testimony — and from the facts thus established, we may, by reasoning, draw inferences and deduce conclusions as to the causes and consequences of these facts. Facts are the data — the basis — and the result of reasoning. You may, by reason- ing from previously established analogous facts, show, more or less satisfactorily, the probability or improbability of another al- leged fact ; but such reasoning must always and necessarily be inconclusive, and subject to be controlled by evidence having a direct bearing on the question. Who, for example, would ever think of proving by abstract reasoning the fact of the falling of 59 meteoric stones from the atmosphere, or from regions beyond it ? or the fact that a certain metal took fire and burnt up on being immersed in pure, cold water ? Before any such facts were known to have occurred, one might, by reasoning analogically from the known properties and qualities of stones and the atmos- phere, in the one case, and of metals and cold water in the other, have shown, very clearly, the improbability, and might claim to have proved demonstratively the impossibility that either of these phenomena could take place consistently with the established laws of nature. And yet the facts, in both cases, are proved, by incontestible evidence, and are now admitted by all who have ex- amined that evidence. Reason is to be employed in deciding upon the nature, the credibility, the weight and the effect of the evidence adduced in support of any alleged fact. But when reason is satisfied that the evidence is appropriate, its credibility unquestionable and effect conclusive, reason has nothing further to do but to yield its assent to the truths thus established, how- ever strange and mysterious they may appear. * TV- -T? -7^- -7?- -75- "7? The intrinsic improbability of miracles is, to say the least, as great as that of animal magnetism, and if similar evidence, or evidence equally cogent, can be offered in support of animal magnetism, which its advocates do not set up as a miracle, but merely as a recently discovered operation of the ordinary laws of nature, consistency requires assent to that also. I do not say that such evidence has been or can be adduced. I am not now examining the question of the reality of animal magnetism, but endeavoring to settle the principles upon which the examination should be conducted, and the nature of the evidence which should be required. 4£> AU ^6f ~4l* *V- - '4£* * 4fe "TV" *7v* •7?" •TC* "Tr "Tf" V?" My second negative proposition is, that the truth of the al- leged facts and phenomena of animal magnetism is not to be proved or disproved by ' Revelation* In this enlightened age and country, I should not have deemed it necessary to announce this principle, if I had not heard it asserted that some persons refuse to believe in animal magnetism because they consider it contrary to scripture. -V- -A/, -\£. Jj, -!(, .V, "7S" "7V" W -TV* TV" "K- The truths of nature may contradict the letter, but never the spirit, of the scriptures. They may, in some instances, con- tradict our previous private interpretation of the scriptures, but no scripture is of private interpretation. There may be appar- ent but there cannot be real contradictions or inconsistencies. The scriptures speak of the rising and going down of the sun. Astronomy teaches that the sun actually neither rises nor goes 60 down, but is stationary. This astronomical truth was once sup- posed to contradict the scripture truth, and was accordingly de- nounced as heresy ; but that notion has long since been explod- ed. More recently the truths of the science of geology were supposed to be inconsistent with the truth of the Mosaic account of the creation, and infidels rejoiced and some believers trem- bled in view of the consequences of this discovery ; but farther researches and discoveries have shown that the revelations of geology are not only reconcilable with, but furnish corroborative proofs of the truth of the scriptural account, in its fair interpre- tation, of the formation of the earth and its inhabitants. Very recently, we learn, his holiness the pope has issued his bull con- demning the supposed truths of phrenology as heresies ; but I presume the advocates of that science, in this country at least, will not be driven, by its terrors, to the abandonment of their in- vestigations and pursuits. Neither do I believe that the inves- tigations of the enquirers into the claims of animal magnetism will be abandoned on account of the tremulous apprehensions of those who have so little confidence in the foundations of their own faith in Christianity as to be alarmed lest they should be overturned by the puny discoveries which may be made in natu- ral science. There is nothing to be feared from an indulgence of the sober spirit of inquiry into any subject. Christianity is founded on ' the rock of ages' and all the discoveries which man can make in the laws, operations and phenomena of nature will only contribute to the proof of its strength and immutability. •u. .ii. J/- -U. JJL. -ii- ■Tv* "3v* vt" "TV* "A* "Tv* My third negative proposition is, that the questions relating to the reality of animal magnetism are not to be settled by the mere authority of names, and opinions of men however learned, intelligent, and respectable. Facts are to be establish- ed by evidence, and opinions are to be founded on facts. If the opinions of others are not based on facts, they are baseless and utterly without weight, by whomsoever entertained. If they are based on facts, let them communicate the facts to us, that we may form our own opinions. ' Have any of the rulers and of the pharisees believed V is a question which, in substance and spirit, though in various forms, has been repeated times innumer- able, during, at least, the last eighteen centuries. But after all, mere opinion as to matters of fact is, in general, utterly worth- less as evidence of truth. ^L. .M, JiL> «V* Another objection — or rather declaration — which has been made by some persons possessing corporeal vigor and mental ac- tivity, is of this kind : " I will not believe until some person shall cause me to fall asleep by the magnetic influence." Whether this specific piece of evidence ought to be more satisfactory than any other, I shall not stop to inquire. The objection savors strongly of the spirit of the unbelieving Thomas. He refused to believe the concurrent, positive testimony of the other disciples, and even went so far as to prescribe the precise nature and de- gree of evidence to which alone he would yield his assent — the evidence of two, at least, of his own senses. In that case the required evidence was graciously furnished ; but accompanied at the same time, with a gentle reproof for the slowness of his belief. " Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believ- 67 ed ; blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed." The fact, in that case, certainly required as strong proof as that of animal magnetism ; and the implied reproof of the unbelief of Thomas shows the unreasonableness of rejecting the concurrent testimony of numerous credible witnesses to a fact, even of an extraordinary character, about which they could not be mistaken ; and of rejecting all evidence except that of our ozvn senses and personal experience. Some persons, I am told, have even gone farther than this, and declared that they would not believe in animal magnetism on any evidence whatever. This is a species of monomania which, quoad hoc, deprives the objectors of the characters and attributes of reasonable beings, and to them, there- fore, I can make no reply. Another objection — not so much to the truth of animal magne- tism, as to an examination of its evidence even — is that, " if true, it is wrong and wicked, and ought not to be meddled with." This, I suppose, is merely a remnant of the old superstitious feeling against magic, and sorcery, and the black art, and " sol- emn compaction or conversing with the devil by way of witch- craft, conjuration and the like." It is a feeling unworthy of the present enlightened age, and I presume very limited in its influ- ence. We need not fear that we shall ever discover any truth which God intended to conceal from us. Our powers of investi- gating and comprehending truth were given us with the intent that they should be successfully exercised. Truth — all truth — is essentially good. It is good in itself and good for man, though he may pervert it to evil by his own wickedness. If the power ascribed to animal magnetism is a reality, it is already discov- ered, and the knowledge of it cannot be annihilated. If the good reject it and refuse to employ and direct it to benevolent objects, the wicked may cultivate and pursue it in order to pervert it to their own unholy purposes. I have little faith in the declaration of some of its enthusiastic advocates, that it can be successfully exercised only when undertaken from good motives and for be- nevolent ends. All truth and all human power, so far as I know, may be abused as well as used, and I have yet seen no evidence to satisfy me that animal magnetism, if a reality, is an exception to the general rule. If, then, there is such a power and agency as that which is ascribed to animal magnetism, it is, I humbly insist, not only the right, but the duty of the virtuous to investi- gate it thoroughly, that they may not only use it themselves for purposes of benevolence, but may discover and apply the means of counteracting the arts and machinations of the depraved to pervert it to the accomplishment of their own guilty designs. If there is evidence sufficient to raise even a slight presumption of its reality, we should seek the light of further evidence on the subject, and follow wherever that light may lead us, without fear 68 or faltering. I am not so enthusiastic as to expect that any dis- coveries which may be made in relation to this power, if it is a reality, will effect any great revolution in human affairs. I do not believe that it will furnish a panacea for the cure of all mala- dies ; a rail road conveyance to the acquisition of all knowledge ; or a remedy for all the nameless " ills that flesh is heir to." I ask only a sober examination of its evidence, its capacities and its uses. I have never, amongst all the objections, heard any one of the objectors say, " I have faithfully and repeatedly tried the experi- ment on others, and submitted to its trial on myself; I have also witnessed repeated trials of it upon and by others of different ages, sexes and temperaments ; and all without success, and without perceptible effect." Such an objection, if made, would be entitled to grave consideration, but until made, I am not called upon to meet and examine it. I now proceed to consider the last oracular objection to which I shall refer under this head. It is this. " I cannot," say the objectors, " believe the reality of animal magnetism, because its pretensions are an assumption of the essential attributes of Jeho- vah, — Omnipotence, Ubiquity, and Omniscience." Let me again ask the objector to be more specific. Which of the essen- tial facts and phenomena of animal magnetism assumes these, or either of these attributes of the Deity ? Who claims to possess them ? Does he usurp the attribute of omnipotence, who express- ly disclaims the power to operate, with equal efficacy, on all, and even to produce any perceptible effect on some ? Does he usurp the attribute of ubiquity, who exercises the power to discern some external objects by unknown means and to a limited extent, though the precise limits may be undefined and may vary with varying circumstances ? Does he claim the attribute of omni' science, who distinctly admits his utter ignorance of the nature, essence and efficiency of means in the production of their effects ? Man, with all his ignorance, and dependence,' and weak- ness, and frailty, and folly, and sin, can do some few things by the aid of his acknowledged, though limited and derived powers. He can fell forests, erect palaces, build cities, level mountains, mould the refractory rocks into forms of gracefulness and beau- ty, guide, direct and disarm in some measure the lightning, and subject the elements of nature to his will. He can subdue the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, and the leviathans of the ocean, and compel them to minister to his necessities and plea- sures. He has power, too, over his fellow men. There is pow- er in the eye of man when it beams with benevolence or burns with indignation— a power acknowledged and felt wherever it is seen, and which has caused even the tiger to quail and shrink 69 from its steady and determined gaze. There is a mysterious and fascinating, but mighty power in the eye of female beauty — a power which has charmed the ferocity of the savage, sub- dued the strength of the valiant, softened the audacity of the bold and unrelenting, melted the heart of the cruel, and com- pelled the proud despot to kneel before it and sue for favor. The conqueror has power to levy and command armies, ravage na- tions, subject them to the sway of his sceptre, and bind them in fetters of iron and bands of brass. Even in our own boasted land of freedom and equal rights, man exercises the power to hold millions of his fellow men in abject slavery, to subject their bodies, and, if it be his pleasure, to crush them beneath his heel. All these things man has the acknowledged power to perform and actually does perform, but if he claims a power to cause a fellow man, less vigorous than himself, to fall asleep, he arro- gates to himself the attribute of omnipotence ! ! He can harness the winds and the vapors to his ships and his cars, compel them to do his bidding, and cause them to trans- port his person and his wealth " to the uttermost parts of the earth and of the sea." He can rise from the dust, poise himself in mid air, ride on the wings of the wind, and behold the earth and its inhabitants rolling beneath him. With his " visual orbs" he can penetrate the realms of space, number the stars that ap- pear in the firmament, and call them by their names. He can watch the planets in their courses, weigh their masses, measure their distances, and foretell their places amidst the heavenly constellations at all future periods of time. He can gaze on the galaxy, wander through the wilderness of suns that glitter through the abysses of space, pass from Sirius to Orion ; from the Pleiades to regions beyond the uttermost visible star, and there wonder and adore in the midst of the magnificence of this immeasurable temple of the Most High. All these things man has the acknowledged power to perform and actually does per- form, but if he pretends to discern by unknown means, a few ex- ternal objects on earth, which are beyond his own or others' or- dinary ken, he usurps the attribute of ubiquity ! ! From the silence and secrecy of his closet, he can utter without even an audible whisper, his behests of business, his ar- dors of affection and his agonies of unrequited love ; and the strength of the horse, the power of steam, the skill of men and the energies of governmental agency are forthwith wielded to speed his utterings to their destined object, however remote. From the deep recesses of his own mind, he can send forth his invisible thoughts, embodied in visible forms— his thoughts that breathe in words that burn—\he glowing emanations of wisdom and virtue — to enlighten, and instruct, and cheer the millions of the civilized world. He can transmit those thoughts, — -invisible, 70 intangible, inaudible as they are — to the unborn millions of all future nations, and ages, and kindred, and tongues. On the wings of imagination he can fly back to the source of the stream of time — to the period when light first dawned on the infant creation — and listen to the song of the morning stars and the shout of the sons of God. He can, by the same power, summon around him the departed spirits of the sages and patriarchs and prophets of the ' olden time ;' behold their venerable forms and catch the accents of holiness and inspiration flowing warm from their lips. He can hear the indignant denunciations of Isaiah, the tender and pathetic waitings of Jeremiah, and the melting harmonies of the harp of David. He can pass on to the final consummation of all things, join in the hosannas of saints and angels in the realms of bliss, and bathe and revel in the efful- gence of uncreated glory. All these things he can do by the aid of his acknowledged powers, — weak, frail, dependent, sinful as he is — but if he claims the power of communicating a single volitiqp from his own mind to that of his brother in his imme- diate presence, he is guilty of robbing the Almighty of his attri- butes and usurping omniscience ! ! I have now done with objec- tions. ■$£- 4£* 4fc Ot> 4& Sir 'TV' "A* *7v* "7v" ■7V' **v- In removing these objections I have been led into such a series of remarks, and have made so many suggestions relating to the principal objects I had in view, that little remains to be done. I shall therefore only announce as distinctly as may be, a few affirmative propositions applicable to this inquiry, and then relieve my readers from their wearisome task. The first proposition as to the manner in which the claims of animal magnetism are to be met and discussed, is, that it should be done with unprejudiced, impartial and candid minds, and with a sincere love of truth. Prejudice is always a great and sometimes an invincible obstacle to the acquisition of correct knowledge on any subject. The mind which is prepossessed by it, views facts and evidence through a distorting medium, and weighs them in an uneven balance. The very first requisite, therefore, to successful investigation is impartiality, and a sin- cere disposition to view every fact in its simplicity, and to give to every kind and degree of evidence its due weight and impor- tance. But this state of mind is not all that is necessary. There must be, Secondly. An active desire to ascertain where to learn facts, to seek evidence, and to follow wherever, and to whatever con- clusion that evidence may lead. A mere passive state of mind, however impartial and candid it may be, is not enough. The maxim, that * truth is great and will prevail,' is correct only in a restricted sense. It is often unable to prevail over obstinate prejudice, and it possesses no inherent energy and activity by 71 which it can force its way into the passive and indolent mind. It must be loved and sought and wooed in order to be won. Thirdly. The lovers of truth in this matter should make the investigation of it a common cause. They should therefore be solicitous to receive and communicate, fully and freely, all the light and evidence which they respectively possess. The insu- lated experiments of a few individuals, pursuing their investiga- tions in secrecy and silence, may do something ; but if they hide their light under a bushel, and refuse to communicate or receive aid, their success will be comparatively small and their progress slow. Fourthly. The great' object, in the present state of the in- quiry, should be to ascertain and establish facts, in all their na- kedness and simplicity. All theories, all preconceived opinions, all speculations about causes, should, as far as possible, be dis- carded. Let facts, numerous facts, — -facts in all their multiplied forms and varieties, be first settled, and then let those who will, form theories and systems to account for them. These may be useful for some purposes, but at present we are not prepared for them. All science consists exclusively in a knowledge of facts. We even learn the laws of nature, about which we hear so much, only from the facts of nature. Those laws are not, in general, revealed to us by instinct, intuition or inspiration, but by a slow and careful induction of numerous particular facts. Let facts then, at least for the present, be the exclusive objects of attention and research. These are the principal rules which I have wished to enforce as to the manner and spirit in which the claims of animal mag- netism should be met and examined. They are equally applica- ble to investigations on all other questions of natural science, and I should not have thought it necessary to allude to such obvious principles, had I not some reason to fear that they had been over- looked in their application to this particular subject. I now proceed to make a few remarks as to the nature and sources of the evidence to be required to establish the reality of animal magnetism. From the preceding observations it may be perceived that facts are the only sure basis of knowledge, and should therefore be the primary objects of attention. The in- quiry is, then, what is the nature, or what are the sources of evidence in support of the facts and phenomena of the magnetic influence ? The answer is plain and simple. They are and can be only the three following. First. Our own personal experience. If we have person- ally felt and exercised the magnetic power, by being effectually magnetised ourselves or by having magnetised others, under cir- cumstances which preclude all suspicion of deception or delu- sion, we then have evidence, irresistible and conclusive to our own minds, of the reality of its agency. Any two persons can 72 try this experiment. If successful, it will satisfactorily establish the affirmative of the question in debate. If unsuccessful, it will not conclusively prove the negative, because one or both of them may be destitute of the susceptibility or power of the magnetic influence. There is another source of evidence. Secondly. Personal observation of experiments upon and by others. The effect of this kind of evidence will be propor- tioned to the number and character of the parties and the nature and variety of the experiments. They may be equivocal, or they may be such as to preclude all doubt. But our personal experience and our opportunities of personal observation must be limited, and consequently our knowledge of facts, derived from these sources may be less extensive than might be wished. There is, then, one other source of evidence to supply this de- ficiency. It is, Thirdly. The testimony of others as to their experience and observation. This presents an extensive field of inquiry and if faithfully cultivated, it may yield much fruit. It is a very important source of evidence, and means should be adopted to enable us to reap all its benefits. This may be by conversation, by epistolary correspondence, or by a publication, for general in- formation, of all well authenticated facts and phenomena which may be discovered. The testimony of witnesses thus obtained, as to facts, may be as satisfactory as the evidence of our own senses and observation, and therefore should not be rejected or disregarded, but diligently collected and faithfully applied. *$£* ^fc •£& ^& •& ^ •7? "fc */v* *7T* '7V' *7^ I would, in conclusion, recommend to those who are inter- ested in this question, and who believe that the affirmative of it may possibly be true, to form themselves into a class or classes of convenient numbers, for the purpose of making experiments and keeping a record of all the facts and phenomena which may occur. The record should contain a statement of every experi- ment which should be made, whether successful or unsuccessful; of the ages, health and temperament of the parties, and of the simple facts and phenomena, if any, that should occur. The record of these experiments and phenomena, should, from time to time, be revised, arranged under appropriate heads, and a com- plete synopsis of them prepared, for easy reference. The report of the late commissioners of the Royal Society of Medicine in Paris on this subject, may be recommended as a model of the form in which such experiments should be tried and their results stated. A correspondence with other classes or individuals en- gaged in similar experiments might also be carried on with great mutual advantage. An authentic repository of facts may thus be formed, which will do more towards settling the question in debate than can be done by all the logomachy of a thousand talkers, whether objectors or advocates, in a whole century. ENQUIRER. *5£fc JUMoAJn, LETTER TO COL. WM. L. STONE, OF NEW YORK, ON THE FACTS BELATED IN HIS LETTER TO DR. BRIGHAM AND A PLAIN REFUTATION OF DURANT'S EXPOSITION OP ANIMAL MAGNETISM, &c. v. BY CHARLES POYEN. WITH REMARKS ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CLAIMS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM SHOULD BE MET AND DISCUSSED. BY A MEMBER OP THE MASSACHUSETTS BENCH. BOSTON: WEEKS, JORDAN AND COMPANY, 12L Washington Street. NEW YORK; — C. SHEPARD. 1837. *3d«C CLC Ice - epM .SEES _cc <£Tc ■ oc £C<«Ks3 <^cc <*<: cr x cc !^5^ ^ x C CC ^x^ ;c ^h ^x< C. <^ lC