EVIDENCES OF SPIRITUALISM. In Plato’s Divine and moral works, subject, “Theages" or “ Wisdom," Socrates tells Theages— "I have had by the favour of God, ever since I was born, a genius that always accompanies and governs me. This genius is a voice which, whenever it speaks to me, always diverts me from what I have a mind to do, and much more to the same effect. Socrates boldly told the truth, and for exposing the superstition of the day was killed, but not until he had demonstrated, on the morning of his exe cution, the immortality of the soul. Joan of Arc, who led the French successfully against our soldiers, was burnt to death, not because the English were beaten, but because she declared that she was in structed by a voice from an unseen intelligence which she called “ God,” and as her conscience would not allow her to recant she was burnt, and as the flames approached her she exclaimed, “ Yes, my voices were from God!” Galileo, who taught that the earth rotated on its axis and revolved around the sun, only saved his life by going down on his knees and recanting. These are sufficient warnings of the state of public opinion respecting those who have the courage to avoy a knowledge of facts, dissonant with popular prejudices. Wesley, the founder of a religion bearing his name was a witness of the spiritual phenomena called raps, which occurred in a marked manner in his own family one or more of whom were rapping media. All the details are perfectly authenticated by documents written and signed upon the spot, and many of the facts will be found in Southey’s Life of Wesley. Swedenborg, again a scientific writer of no small power, had most remark able expcriences as a conscious clairvoyant. In the case of the Sceress of Prevorst many instances are given, attested by declarations of medical men and state functionaries, of remarkable phenomena similar to many I have personally witnessed. Dale Owen's list of cases in his Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World are well worth perusal. The Indian Government, some years since, caused an official inquiry to be made into the reality of certain mesmeric phenomena among the natives, and the result of the inquiry confirmed the truth of the facts of mes merism. Notwithstanding all these and many other existing records of unusually well-authenticated cases, it is surprising how few people in this country have at tempted to inquire into or know anything about the subject. I know many medical men who, when the study-door is locked, freely and earnestly discuss these matters, and tell their own experiences, but at the same time confess that they dare not open their mouths to others, fearing the fate of Dr. Elliotson, who lost a practicc of thousands a year for telling the truth. Varley. AGASSIZ ON EDUCATION.—At the close of the exercises of the Association of Science, which held its convention at Salem, U.S., recently, a compliment having been paid by one of the speakers to Mr. George Peabody, as the founder and patron of the Academy of Science which bears his name, Professor Agassiz rose and delivered himself of some remarks on the general subject of scientific education and its tendencies, which deserve to be repeated in their tenor in this place. He told the people of Salem that they scarcely realised what embryo they were trying to rear in ther academy, nor what was to be the result of its final intel leetual growth. Its influenee over the community, he said could not fail to be wide. In regard to the plan of in struction which had been adopted, he thought he could de tect in it something which would dispel from the minds of the community certain obstructions to the truth concerning matters in which we are all interested — our future eternal life—but of which he said we now scarecly dared to speak because what we should have to say might go contrary to certain established doctrines and to certain long-cherished convictions with which the community was imbued, holding them as sacred, when well informed men knew better And he further said, what intelligent Spiritualists have long held, that the teaching which scientific institutions were to furnish, would tend to bring about a new era in that system of popular education of which they were all so proud, but which at present was merely a system of routine teaching in comparison to that rational study of Nature which ele mentary education might become. It is a timely admission and from the foremost of our scientific men.—Banner of Light THE ROYAL INSTITUTION —The Royal Institution session began last Tuesday afternoon, when Dr. John Tyndall, F.R.S. delivered the first of a course of six lectures upon “Light," adapted to a juvenile auditory. The theatre of the Institution was full to overflowing, so that many were unable to obtain seats. Among the lectures to be delivered this session, con nected with man and his development, are six by Professor Humphry. M.D., F.R.S., on “The Architecture of the Human 22nd. Two lec Body;” Tuesdays January 18th to February tures on “ Plant Life as Contrasted with that of Animals, by Dr. Masters, F.L.S.; Tuesdays March 1st and 8th. Four lectures by Professor Rolleston, M.D., F.R.S., on “ Deductions from the Comparative Anatomy of the Nervous System," Tuesdays March 15th to April 5th. Four lectures on “The Science of Religion,” by Professor Max Muller, M.A., LL.D. Saturdays February 19th to March 12th. Four lectures on “The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy,” by Pro fessor Blackie, Tuesdays April 26th to May 17th. Among the lectures delivered during past sessions at the Royal Institution, there were two in which the subject of Spiritualism was largely introduced. One of these lectures was by Mr. E. B Tylor, on “ The Survival of Savage Thought in Modern Civi lisation,” and the other was by Dr. Carpenter, Vice-President of the Royal Society, on “The Unconscious Action of the Brain." The president of the Royal Institution is Sir Henry Holland, Bart., F.R.S.