The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-03 00:00:00

THE RAPPITES.

Some of oar readers may still recollect—for non-
age,: occasionally takes a stronger hold upon memory than
mire valuable matter—an account transmitted by our New
York correspondent of a set of ghosts who communicated
with the men of this world by rapping upon !tors or
tables. They appeared to be a cross between " Old J-firey,"
who (see Southey) so long haunted the house of the Wesley','
and the Coek•lans ghost. They dilfrred, however, from
both in their readiness to change their place of residence
wi mi their earthly friends wished them, and to become
subservient to fortune-telling speculations. This might be
owing to a growth of the mercantile spirit in the spirit
world analogous to that which his been witnessed of late
years in one own.
Not having heard anything lately of the Rappitcs and
their serviceable spirits, we assumed that the man& stations
bad caaard. In this, however, we were awaken, se
appears clearly funs the following piece of grave humbug,
which appeared in the New Yo►k Ti ibune of the 20th ult.:

• TALI ifini • DECEASED FatIND
(Through a Clairvoyant).
The following minutes of a cOr.firsation held with the
spirit of &departed friend, who lett tide mortal state iu June,
11149, is not published u any evidence of the truth of the
remarkable phenomena of alleged intercourse with disem-
bodied spirit., known in our says es clairvoyance, mys-
terious rapping', &e. The young man who was the medium
of communication in this case has been consciously e!a,r
voyant but • few weeks, and the tappings," so called, are
also heard in hie presence, though he is no connexion of the
Fox family. and has but the slightest acquaintance with any
of them. We think none who know him would consider
fraud on his put possible, though what delusion, hallucina-
tion or diabolic influence he may be subjected to, %hie
deponent sixth not.
We happen to know of still another family in this city,
having so connezios with the Foxes, In which the " nye-
teethes rapping." are now hued, and no one can say how
many more there m-y be, as in every instance the profoundest
secrecy is enjoined and observed.
The object of publishing the following is simply to refute
the common assumption that nothing is ever communicated
from the spirit world by this. new s:snciee that is of the
slightest importance. The responses, it is said, are uniformly
frivolous, useless, and uninteresting. We should say that,
so far as we have observed, they are about ea worthy of
regard as the questions to which they ass replies will permit
them to he. li,wever, here is a specimen, copied verboten
from notes hutily taken down as the words were uttered
by the alleged clairvoyant. The deceased Mr. C., who
purports to be the communicator through this medium, was
a men of decided intelligence, energy, and philaathropy,
and these responses are very like his manner of speaking
while on firth. But to the questions and answers :
Question—Mr. C., had the human race • random exiat-
*see before we came on this earth I—Answer: Soul matter
had an existence, but not • conscious existence.
Are there any spirits which curt an evil or malignant
influence on human actions and conditions ?—Yes ; but not
because they desire to do so, but because of their inferior or
gross organisation.
Are there any human spirits which have passed from earth
which ate not an • state of Imes, or improvement 1—No;
but some progress slowly, having a very gross organisation to
begin with.
Do you know Eder A. Poe, the poet?—Yes.
In what sphere as he'-1 have a different classification
from others. (Question pressed)—He is in (what I consider)
the third society, second sphere. [Note—ln rervhaes made
through Rapping* which purported to be from Poe Limulf,
he Is said to be in the sixth sphere ]
Are there any spirits in a state of misery or pain, so as to
feel their existence a batten I—There are some who bane
mental suffering, because they did net improve [or misused]
their advantages while cm earth.
Are there any **separated from their friends as to cause
them unhappiness—not beteg allowed the society of thou
they love best i—lf they might (now) have been astociated
II with those friends by improving their advantages (when) es
earth, then they are uuhsppy.
Are there any who despair of ever attaining the oondltles
of the bleat 7—They may at times, but not lastingly.
Does the state in which Mr. C. now is seem more lams-
diathly, palpably under the Divine guars went rhea earl
condition I—lts ishabitants see more clearly, as they haw
progressed further.
Are there any in that state who disbelieve the existents et
the Deity I—They do not disbelieve it, but some do sot
comprehend it.
Tun the Deity is not visible from that sphere I—He ie
nowhere visible. We runic, impressions from 13im, but do
not see Him.
Are the apostles and founders of Christianity visible to,
Mr. C.l—No: None who are in a higher sphere are 'labs '
to those is a lower.
Can thou in • higher either* communicate to those in a
lower ?—Yes.
When clairvoyants suppose that they see apostles, &a.,
are they deceived I—or do they really see as they suppose /
Many of them think that they see the Apostle Paul, or
whoever else they wish to communicate with, when they
really do not.
When a mother, who dearly loves her good child, but who
has lived unworthily, goes to the spirit world, is she, or is
she not, permitted to see her child before she has attained
his sphere ?—She does not see him, but receives impressions
from him.
Does he see her I—Yes ; he communicates to her, and

watches OVID? her.
Have generations passed away, so that they cannot he WE
from Mr. C.'s present sphere ?—Sorne have, and some have

not.
Could Kr. C. hre Adam and the ancient patriarchs ?—No.
Is this new ability rn our part to communicate with the
spirit world a ansequence of en) change or imorovsmsat in
the beaten family ?—Yes ; the human race hare become
more refitted sad susceptible (to impressions f 'ma the spirit
world) than formerly.