mena when the patient is in a state of vigilance, though in some cases it may easily be done.

From the above experiments it would appear that, as the results were in several instances very different from what I had anticipated, and as the operator had no motive for touching me anywhere but as he was directed, my own case does not furnish any evidence against phreno-mesmerism, although it would seem to qualify a view more amplified and modified than that at present taken by most phrenologists.

pos

The next instance of the kind in my own experience is one, the particulars of which involving as they do the feelings of others, I am at present inclined to withhold from the world-though wishing them to be published when all parties personally concerned have departed this life. A case more beautiful and more significant of important psychical principles I have never heard or read of, even among the Germans. Suffice it now to say, that to me it established the sibility of one person putting himself in direct communication with another, at any distance, without the aid of any sensible medium;-nay more, it made quite evident to me the fact, that, no matter how far apart in body, persons may occasionally appear as being really present to each other, and thus interchange their thoughts as easily and clearly as if corporeally near and in regular conversation! I never wonder now at the Druids and sages of antiquity admitting none to a participation of their knowledge but such as, being first selected by themselves, were made afterwards to undergo a long process of initiation and a pledge of secresy. By any other course they would have lost one of the grandest secrets of their hold upon the mind of the world; and perhaps in their age it was well to be thus exclusive; but where once Christianity has been published, there is, I think, no further need of such mystery. Lest any one, however, attempt to abuse this power, let him be assured that if wrongly used there will be a reaction of it upon the evil-doer, with a

punishment more awful than it is in the nature of an inexperienced mind to comprehend. I speak with authority, though I trust with modesty, as one who has been favoured to see far into these things. But let us for the present change the topic.

One evening when in Edinburgh, I was passing an hour with one of the most distinguished professors there, and his lady. The latter wished me to try if I could mesmerise her, but secretly determined to be the active instead of the passive party. Without having the slightest suspicion that such was her intent, I soon began to feel the magnetic influence stealing upon me to a degree that compelled me to desist, when the lady good-humouredly explained that seeing my usual homely and quiet aspect changed at the commencement of the operation into one of a more determined and lofty character, the thought was suggested to her that by a still stronger exercise of her own will she might possibly counter-influence me— and such was the effect. The influence, however, remained upon me so long as to become burdensome. All that night, and for several days and nights afterwards, I felt it haunting me in a manner that prevented any object having its natural appearance. This fact I mention to guard my readers from a repetition of the experiment. I am sure the benevolent and intellectual lady in question would not have attempted any thing of the kind, had she been at all aware of the consequences.

The last time any powerful magnetic effect was produced upon me was during the spring of this year, at Mr. William Howitt's. Our little circle had one evening been for some time engaged in a conversation on mesmerism; and many and deeply-interesting were the illustrations of it my friends quoted for me from their favourite German writers. In turn I told them many of my own experiences, and it was at length resolved that I should once again submit to the operation, and that Mrs. Howitt should be the manipulator. Stand

ing behind me, as I sat very still, she began with slow passes over the top and back of my head, without contact. In about five minutes a tide of sleepy influence seemed to roll down to my feet and then back to my head. Then came a mild light, and the quiet and lovely vision of a landscape composed of the most picturesque mountains, with lakes sleeping at their feet, and a cerulean sky above. As the manipulations were varied the vision changed. The operator too began to observe effects more powerful than she had been prepared for; and I think it must have been about this time that, instead of the vast, calm landscape, I saw as it were all the colours of the kaleidescope before me. Sometimes they seemed to be fixed and beautifully arranged, as in a large cathedral window; then to be commingling and changing places with each other; and at last, as the operator became more anxious about the consequences, and I very desirous but incapable of giving her directions quietly to proceed, all seemed to vanish together in darkness, when I was awoke and immediately afterwards retired to my room. But my sleep that night was not common sleep; it was more like a long and varied half-waking dream; and on arising the next morning I had still most beautiful colours flickering before my eyes. This I attribute chiefly to the operation having been influenced by Mrs. Howitt's hesitancy when the trance should have been deepened by a continuance of the passes, which probably would soon have brought on a salutary crisis. But however free and daring in her own delightful region of song, she did not feel so brave in mesmerism; and such were the results of her humane fear of proceeding too far in a walk with which she was not familiar.

The foregoing instances will be sufficient in answer to the many who ask, "If a mesmeriser can be mesmerised?" Often when that question is put to me I say Yes, just as a wrestler may be overcome by one more powerful or skilful than himself; or even by one

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less so, if he will be passive enough while the other is active. It is not a fancy but a fact, that when one powerful magnetiser, Mr. A. A. Sparrow, approaches me, I can absolutely feel his presence; such was the effect even when I first saw and did not know him; and my own presence has a similar effect upon Mr. Mulholland, another magnetiser. I have also mesmerised, or hypnotised myself, by straining my eyes upon a fixed point. By this method I have been thrown into a semi-somnolent, dreamy state that has continued for hours; but do not recommend this experiment, as it has almost invariably been followed in my case by shivering, accompanied with the same kind of sensation that results from sleeping on a coach in the damp night-airespecially if left to recover slowly by myself; whilst, on the other hand, I have found no condition more tranquil and refreshing than that obtained by submitting entirely to the manipulations of an earnest, healthy, and intelligent friend, who has full faith in the efficacy of what he is attempting, and a determination to continue the operation cautiously but fairly beyond a

crisis.

CHAPTER IX.

SUPERSENTIENT PHENOMENA-PATIENT HEARING THROUGH THE OPERATOR-SIMULTANEOUS MUSCULAR ACTION OF OPERATOR AND PATIENT IN SEPARATE ROOMS-COMMUNITY OF TASTE-CLAIRVOYANCE" MENTAL TRAVELLING" - INTROVISION MENTAL FEELING, TASTE, ETC.

HAVING several times alluded to clairvoyance and other supersentient phenomena, it will be right, before concluding, to present a few unquestionable examples, as in no case have my opinions on these subjects been founded upon other than the most positive evidence, elicited with the utmost caution. It must not, however, be inferred, that because so few examples of this or any other class of phenomena have been introduced, that such cases are rare. On the contrary, great numbers of them have occurred under my immediate observation. It is to avoid tedium, that I shall confine myself to one or two illustrations of each class.

The name of Bon Gaultier will be familiar to most who are acquainted with our popular literature. This This gentleman and his sister were members of a large party one evening, in Edinburgh, when mesmerism was the principal topic of conversation; and being desired to furnish the company with some evidence of its truth, I selected the young lady alluded to for a sujet, not only because