book, and even the thoughts which are passing in the mind of another. We know that many under mesmerism can describe any diseased condition in themselves and in others within the sphere of their vision ; that they have an instinct of remedies,-when a crisis will occur, and the cure will be effected. They do not go by any system, but by an instinct, so to term it, of the peculiar temperament and wants of each particular case. There are some who have detected the properties of herbs and of other substances, and can observe the structure, condition, action and uses of parts of the animal frame. Whatever doubt any one may have as to the truth of any of these particulars, the general fact has now been so clearly exhibited in almost every portion of the civilized and uncivilized world, that, without regard to my own experience, I presume I may say that, in a general way, the fact is established. With such a host of notorious instances on record, it is difficult to conceive that any enlightened person would dispute it but there are persons even in this great metropolis who talk on this subject as if they had been born, bred, and dwelling in an obscure country village, subject to its arrogant conceits and contracted sight.

It has been objected by some physiologists, that if these facts be true, it remains to be accounted for that discoveries in physiology have not been made before. The answer is, that qualified men have neglected the subject. The microscope might have existed long enough without any discoveries having been made by it, if it were used only for amusement

and to excite wonder; to magnify flies' wings, or to watch the grotesque movements of insects in a drop of water. It is a matter requiring the greatest perseverance and carefulness, and good cases are rare; the state depending, I think, much on the condition of the mesmerizer, and the direction of his mind. I am, of course, alluding now to the Intuitive powers; not to the cases where the organs are excited by touch. How deeply Lord Bacon seems to have been impressed with the importance of the phenomena of mesmerism! The effect of one living body upon another at a distance, he considered "one of the highest secrets in nature.' He considered it in relation to the causes and the cure of disease. This has been pronounced ignorance and weakness in Bacon. Well might he bequeath his speculations to future ages! I wonder whether Macaulay was aware, or thought of this, when, in his essay on Bacon's philosophy, he said that Induction might lead to the belief in Mesmerism, which he, for want of the spirit of an inductive philosophy, calls nonsense. Bacon even speaks of clairvoyance under his term "Natural Divinations,"* as one means of acquiring obscure knowledge, and of anticipating events. What we have to attend to chiefly in this matter is to be aware of cases of delusive dreaming, and of false prophecy; to receive, even in the best cases, what we accept as suggestion, to be tested in all possible ways; and lastly, to reason only in relation to what is known. We must be on our guard against hasty assent, and generalization from * See Appendix A.

a few instances, and incomplete experiments; as well as against (what is common in novel matters) being oppressed by difficulties, without waiting to see through and pass them. We must restrain enthusiasm by caution, and doubt by wisdom. We shall win Nature only by waiting upon her, and conquer her by submission, rejoicing in every new light without fear or prejudice, remembering that the progress and innovations of knowledge must always be good. This should be a faith with us. But we shall not gain knowledge by sending our patients rambling amidst visions of "another world" in the steps of Swedenborg and others, but rather by bending the power to gain knowledge of ourselves and of what is about us, and useful to us in this life and sphere of being that we have to do with. When somnambulists think they see into another world, a world of spirits, it may be clearly proved to be all delusive dreaming; and yet on such declarations do enthusiasts build up a faith and religion, and are proud of what they call spirituality. How the matter tempts me to wander ! But you see how, from fancying the properties of things to have an individual existence, and calling this Spirit (meaning an existence out of matter, and the ruler of matter), and the fancy recurring in the dream, floating impressions are supposed to be realities. Such tricks has strong Imagination!

But where there are shadows, there is substance. Let us see what it is. It has clearly appeared that nothing is gained by waiting upon the revelations of somnambulists. They must be used as instruments.

They must be directed to physiological inquiry, and to such matters as are found to be within the sphere of their particular powers. Each case must be tested, and stand on its own ground. It must be ascertained whether they can recognize what is clearseeing, in distinction from what is but vision or dreaming, or impression from without: and in the most unexceptionable cases, still the matter must be confirmed, as I have said before, and tested by every available means. I do not think I am a very credulous man; and I say that the facts I am about to state are as fully proved as facts can be. I am always, thankful, however, to have any reasonable objections advanced.

I will relate to you the nature of one case as an example, and as the one from which I have gained the most. This was a lady of fifty years of age; the mother of a large family, in a weakly state of health. She had lately become partially deaf; which was the cause of my first mesmerizing her. She was not learned; but of a most unaffected and charming nature. I speak not from my feelings, nor praise her because she was my patient, and so clever a somnambule, (which is too often done,) but only relate what is the universal impression among those who knew her. She knew nothing whatever of physiological subjects. She is since dead. She manifested from time to time clear flashes of clairvoyant power in various ways. Her constitution was breaking up; and in the end, this power turned to mere delusive dreaming; which is common in such instances: but

She could

in the meantime, I had occupied her with the brain, finding that character of sight to be her forte. I could excite any part of her head, and under any combination: as I found that she could recognize the size and character of each organ when in action. She could explain the nature of each faculty, and its precise situation, and relation to other parts. She had the power of bringing into action any portion of the brain at will, whether it were among the outer or inner convolutions; and when there was any indistinctness or difficulty, she would say so, and would declare when she was tired, and could no more see with accuracy. She could thus see whether any sentiment were a simple power, or the result of a combination; and of what combination. see the form and structure of the brain. echoed my thoughts; but pointed out what was wholly new to me; and both in regard to the functions of the organ, and the form of the brain, there were the same difficulties and the same facilities of perception, whether it related to what I already knew or to what I was ignorant of. The objection that such instances are merely cases of excitement of the power of thought-reading was wholly out of the question. There was not the slightest approach to it. She would reply to me by fact after fact, and reason upon reason, which proved to be correct; but not in the least what I anticipated at the time. She always replied to what she supposed the question referred to, and never to my thought.

She never

It is singular that I have never produced a case