The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-29 00:00:00

(From the "Medical Circular," Nov. 16,_ 1859.)

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"We have seen Mr. Davis's improved spectacles, and by
their aid the most defective vision may be improved."
Steel Frames and Pebbles, 10s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. Glasses,
ss. 6d., Is. 6d.. 3s, Gd. Country residents suited by stating
age,

Yesterday evening, in the front drawing-room of a house
in the immediate neighbourhood of Portland-place, a select
number of persons were invited to witness some stranga
manifestations which took place in the presence, if not by
_ _ . .

the agency, of three gentlemen lately arrived from America,
and who have passed in their own country as spiritualists

of the most gifted order. The party consists of two brothers
named Devenport, 24 and 25 years of age, and a Mr Fay, a
gentleman born in the States, but, we believe, of German
origin. They are accompanied by Mr H. D. Palmer, a gen-

tleman long and favourably known in New York in connec-
tion with operatic matters, and by a Dr. Ferguson, who
explains the nature of the manifestations about to be pre-
sented, but who does not venture to give any explanation of

them. At the Cooper Institute in New York, the Brothers

Davenport, accompanied by Mr Fay, have recently per-
formed some astonishing feats which have hitherto puzzled

the ingenuity of the curious and baffled the acumen of the
most scientific persons of that city. It should be stated at
the outset that the trio, who appear to be gifted in so extra-

• _ _
ordinary a manner, do not lay claim to any particular phy-
sical, psychological, or moral power. All they assert is,
that in their presence certain physical manifostations take
place. The spectator is, of course, at liberty to draw any
inference he pleases. They invite the most critical exami-
nation (compatible with certain conditions to be observed),
and those who witness the manifestations are at liberty to

take all needful precautions against fraud or deception.
The party invited to witness the manifestations last night
consisted of some 12 or 14 individuals, all of whom are ad-
mitted to be of considerable distinction in the various pro-
fessions with which they are connected. The majority had

never previously witnessed anything of tho kind. Some were
avowed sceptics, while others were what spiritualists call more
impressionable in regard to occult influences than others. All,
however, were determined to detect, and, if possible, expose

any attempt at deception. The brothers Davenport are

slightly built, gentleman-like in appearance, and about the
last p,ersons in the world from whom any great muscular
performances might be expected. Mr Fay is apparently a
few years older, and of more robust constitution,
At the upper end of thc, apartment was placed what might
be called a skeleton wardrobe, composed of walnut wood less
than an inch in thickness. The portion in which the drawers

of a similar piece of furniture are usually to be found was
empty, but a seat or bench, perforated In are I,nd there with
holes, was fitted to the back and ends. The doors consist bi
three panne's, which shut inside with a brass bolt; thus,

when the middle d)or is open, any person can put his hand

in and bolt the side doors. The bolt of the middle door

was shut by some invisible agency from the inside. The
brothers Devenrort having seated themselves zis-a•vis on
the end bench, their hands and feet were securely tied by

hose present so as to prevent the possibility of their using

,hose members. A guitar, a tatubuurine, a violin and bow,

a brass h ,rn, and a couple of bells were placed on the

seat inside, and the doors were shut. At the top of the
pannel of the centre door was a diamond-shape opening

about a foot square, with a curtain secured on. the
Instantly on the centro door being closed the bolt was se-

cured inside, and hands were clearly observed through the
opening. A gentleman present was invited to pass his hand
through the opening, and it was touched by the hands
several times. The musical instruments and the bells then

commenced making all sorts of noises and knockings,
snatches of airs were distinctly hoard, and suddenly the
centre door was burst open, and the trumpet was thrown
out into the room, and fell heavily upon the carpet.
The doors were subsequently closed by persons who, when
doing so, were touched by invisible hands, and the noise of
undoing the cords was distinctly heard. A moment or two
afterwards the brothers were found sitting unbound, with
the ropes at- their feet. Tho next illustration was more
curious still, for, after an interval of perhaps two minutes,
the brothers were found to be securely bound with the
same cords, the ends of the ropes being some distance
from their hands. One of the company present W 23 then

invited to take a seat in the cabinet, so as to assure him-
self that whatever might be done could not be accom-
plished by the brothers. A gentleman having volunteered
to be imprisoned in such mysterious company, his hands
were securely tied to the knees of the Davonports, whose
hands were fastened behind their backs by cords passed
through the holes in the bench. Their feet were also tied
together with a sailor's knot. A tambourine was then laid
in the gentleman's lap, upon which a guitar and violin
were placed, as also the trumpet and a couple of handbells.
Any interference with these articles by the gentleman in
whose lap they were deposited was rendered impossible,
by reason of his hands being tied. Ho states that the in-
stant the door was closed hands were passed over his face
and head, his hair was gently pulled, and the whole of the
musical instruments were played upon; the bells were also
violently rung close to his face, and the tambourine beat
time on his head. Eventually, the musical instruments
were flung behind him and rested between his shoulders
and the back of the cabinet. During these manifesta-
tions one of the gas-burners of the chandelier was lighted
and two was candles were burning in different parts of the
room.