her statement; and, more than this, I think Miss Martineau[1] questioned the girl, under the influence of mesmerism, as to some theological matters, which, not exactly chiming in with the questioner's notion, she challenged the girl, who confessed that she did not speak on that point mesmerically, but as she had heard from the curate of the parish at church. There appears, certainly, to be something ridiculous in this. But I speak not of It here with a view to ridicule—on the contrary, I really admire the honest and simple candour of the narrator; but it leads to the necessity, as yet, of limiting some of the powers of mesmerism to this globe, and of forbearing to claim for them any higher aspiration. But, to return to the spirituality of mesmerism, there can be no need to argue that, of himself, no man can prophesy. Spiritual discernment must be a gift. If there be a "second sight," it is a power intrinsically not human. A seer is one inspired. He is the instrument through which the Invisible speaks. What Invisible? Perhaps good, perhaps evil!! I do not see how mesmerists are to escape from this admission of there being an Invisible Power—that is, a Spirit, quite above themselves, of a nature not like their own—acting upon them and through them; and yet some of them question you thus—" Do you believe in spirit?" I would grant a physical power to their science; but when they reach clairvoyance—a knowledge of the past, present, and future—there must be something not matter. Must we then go back to Demonology for a solution. Why not? If I admit the facts, and can account for them in no other way, I am forced into it, however reluctantly; and I cast about to see what grounds there are for it. I am only speculating, not asserting—and fear to enter that wide and wild field. Yet, it must be confessed, the facts, or asserted facts, of mesmerism and of demonology are very analogous. What power inspired the damsel who "brought her masters much gain by soothsaying," of whom it is said that she was "possessed with a spirit of divination?" Paul commanded the spirit to "come out of her, and he came out the same hour;" and her masters then saw that "the hope of their gains was gone." What did this damsel more than is now done by many such possessed young women? Women have been burnt as witches for exhibiting far less power, and for owning to it too. Undoubtedly, people have believed themselves to have been demon-aided, and learned, wise, and prudent people have condemned them to awful punishment for the crime; and we may therefore presume these grave judges believed in the power. And why not, after reading the passage quoted from the Acts?
Remembering the exhibition of the irresistible drawing of the young woman towards the mesmeriser—admitting it to be a truthful exhibition—I cannot but see a most fearful power in evil hands. And such power has frequently been a matter of confession. In the "Causes Celèbres" there is a case quite in point. Louis Gaufridy, a priest, is condemned and burned for sorcery, having confessed to the following effect,—That, inheriting some books from an uncle, among them he found one on magic, to which he then addicted himself—that being well practised, he made covenant with a demon, who appeared to him. The result was, that a power was imparted to him that, by breathing over any woman, he should inspire her with a passion for him, and have entire control over her actions as her affections. Having made the compact—"Le diable ne repond point; mais il lui dit, qu'il reviendra. Il revient effectivement au bout de
- ↑ Since the above was written, Miss Martineau's atheistical publication has passed through my hands. It professes to be a joint work by herself and a Mr Atkinson, one of the clique of infidel phrenological mesmerisers; but it is manifestly the doing of Miss Martineau herself. If Mr Atkinson had any hand in the production, the female atheist (" and here a female atheist talks you dead") must have manufactured and cooked much of his philosophy, as of his grammar and diction. A work more thoroughly degrading to character, whether moral or intellectual, has never come from the press. The credulity of unbelief is truly astonishing. "The fool hath said in his heart there is no God:" it is now added that man is an irresponsible creature—that vice and virtue are mere names.
