name at length, with a characteristic sentiment referring to the progress of spiritual enlightenment. This spirit was the second who had communicated with me at Mrs. Hayden's. We then asked Why could not M- write by Amelia's hand?' The answer was, 'Dispositions do not harmonise.' A gentleman whose literary works had always been characterised, after the manner of Fuseli's paintings, by a tendency to the sanguinary and terrific, once asked me to place my hand on his wrist, in order to set his hand going.' The two hands soon moved, and the usual scrawling practice was made, but my arm felt stiff and painful even to the shoulder and neck. After one or two efforts the names of Catherine de Medicis and Maria Manning were written. We left off immediately. Had I not felt uneasiness in the arm before the two names appeared, the sensation might have been fairly ascribed to fancy. Certainly the pain lasted for more than an hour after the pencil was dropped. In the next chapter I will give the explanations we received of the agency by which, as is asserted, spirits. act through mediums. CHAPTER IV. MESMERISM. EFORE entering on an explanation of the manner BEFORE in which, as asserted by themselves, the unseen powers' influence the mediums, it is necessary to say a few words on that which preceded 'Spiritualism' in the world, namely, Mesmerism.' Those who are acquainted with the processes and phenomena of mesmerism will at once understand the description of this mode of operating; but to many persons mesmerism is only another word for some mysterious and fearful, perhaps dangerous operation, which puts people into strange unnatural states, or throws them into an endless sleep. For readers in this vague and imaginative state of mind, some further explanation is wanted, especially as my object will be to show the connection between spiritualism and mesmerism-whatever may be the physical agencies at work in and the ultimate cause of both. Long before the rappings, &c., were heard of, I had made many experiments in mesmerism, all of which had the cure of disease for their object; and though phenomena were never sought after, several very remarkable cases occurred, with a very few of which I will trouble the reader. They will help to throw light on the more mysterious occurrences which afterwards took place. 1. The following will show the power of mesmerism over the muscles of the body. I leave to physiologists to describe the manner of its action through the nerves. A baby, ten weeks old, which from its birth had been unable to hold up the feet in their natural position, at right angles to the legs, was brought to me by its mother, who wished to be taught how to bandage the legs, according to the directions of an eminent surgeon. The feet hung quite powerless, in a line with the legs. While I was considering the best way of bandaging such very small limbs, it occurred to me to show the mother how to mesmerise them, as that, I thought, could do no harm, and, from what I had seen, would be likely to strengthen the joints. I had, however, no expectation of what actually occurred. A few passes were made-perhaps twelve, at most twenty in all-from the knees to the end of the little feet. After about six passes the feet began to rise, and immediately gained their natural position. I went on; the muscles gained a power which they never had before; the bandages were returned to the hospital; and the cure was complete, having been accomplished CHAPTER IV. MESMERISM. EFORE entering on an explanation of the manner Bin which, as asserted by themselves, the unseen powers' influence the mediums, it is necessary to say a few words on that which preceded Spiritualism' in the world, namely, Mesmerism.' Those who are acquainted with the processes and phenomena of mesmerism will at once understand the description of this mode of operating; but to many persons mesmerism is only another word for some mysterious and fearful, perhaps dangerous operation, which puts people into strange unnatural states, or throws them into an endless sleep. For readers in this vague and imaginative state of mind, some further explanation is wanted, especially as my object will be to show the connection between spiritualism and mesmerism—whatever may be the physical agencies at work in and the ultimate cause of both. Long before the rappings, &c., were heard of, I had made many experiments in mesmerism, all of which had the cure of disease for their object; and though phenomena were never sought after, several very remarkable cases occurred, with a very few of which I will trouble the reader. They will help to throw light on the more mysterious occurrences which afterwards took place. 1. The following will show the power of mesmerism over the muscles of the body. I leave to physiologists to describe the manner of its action through the nerves. A baby, ten weeks old, which from its birth had been unable to hold up the feet in their natural position, at right angles to the legs, was brought to me by its mother, who wished to be taught how to bandage the legs, according to the directions of an eminent surgeon. The feet hung quite powerless, in a line with the legs. While I was considering the best way of bandaging such very small limbs, it occurred to me. to show the mother how to mesmerise them, as that, I thought, could do no harm, and, from what I had seen, would be likely to strengthen the joints. I had, however, no expectation of what actually occurred. A few passes were made-perhaps twelve, at most twenty in all-from the knees to the end of the little feet. After about six passes the feet began to rise, and immediately gained their natural position. I went on; the muscles gained a power which they never had before; the bandages were returned to the hospital; and the cure was complete, having been accomplished |