The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-25 00:00:00

SOMNAMBULISM.

A young gentleman, known as Alexis the Somnambulist,
has just arrived from Paris under the care of M. Marcellet,
and was exhibited yesterday, for the first time (we believe)
in London, at the residence of Dr. Elliotson. Alexis has for
some period excited much interest in Paris by the wonderful
powers of clairvoyance which he manifests whilst in a state
of magnetic sleep. Through the kindness of Dr. Elliotson a
large, number of ladies, and scientific and distinguished per-
sons, had an opportunity yesterday of witnessing M. Marcel-
let's experiments. It is but just to. Dr. Elliotson to observe,
that previously to the commencement of the experiment he
stated that he did not hold himself at all responsible for what
M. Marcellet had advanced. Knowing M. Marcellet to be a
gentleman of undoubted respectability, Dr. Elliotson permitted
him to hold hiS first levee in Conduit-street, taking no part what-
ever in the proceedings. Without admitting that we have be-
come believers in the possibility of producing such a condition as
that known by the name of clairvoyance, we must, neverthe-
less honestly confess that we have been much staggered by
what we saw after M. Marcellet had thrown his patient into
the magnetic state, and exhibited the tetanicspasm or rigidity
of the muscles of the arms and legs which usually accom-
panies this condition of the nervous system. Preparatory to
the phenomena of clairvoyance being shown, the patient's
eyes were bandaged. We pledge ourselves that we did this
effectually. To see, in the ordinary sense of the word, a ray
of light was physically impossible. Two large pieces of wool
were placed over each eye, and above this were bound with
great care two linen handkerchiefs folded several times. Thus
blindfolded, he was placed at a table, and commenced play-
ing ecarte with a strange gentleman in the room. It was,
indeed, wonderful to see with what accuracy he played, not
only knowing every suit he had in his own hands, but, by a
specieS of divination, being able to detect the condition of his
opponerit's hand. Several persons played with him, and
among *others; Dr. Jerden, who, however, was fortunate
enough to beat the Somnambulist. To exhibit the man's
extraordinary powers, a large book of plates, nearly two
inches in thickness, was placed between Alexis and his
opponent, and,, notwithstanding this physical impediment,
the Somnambulist was able to tell the person with whom
he was playing, the cards he held in. his hand. It may be
said there was collusion. We know such was not the case.
Alexis then had a letter placed in his hands by Colonel Gur-
wood, with the view of ascertaining whether he was compe-
tent to make out the name of the party who had written the
letter. It appears that Colonel Gurwood had placed himself
in communication with Alexis, some time back, in Paris, in
order to discover whether he had it in . his power to give
him any hint by which to enable him to discover the resi-
dence of a French soldier, whose life Colonel Gurwood had
saved during the siege of Badajoz. Alexis during the mag-
netic state gave Colonel Gurwood some valuable information
on the subject of his inquiry, and, acting upon this, he was
fortunate enough to find not only the name of the person,
but his pface Of abode. Colonel Gurwood wrote to the sol-
dier, and the letter which he placed ,folded in Alexis' hands
was the answer which he had received. Alexis, after a little
examination, wrote down the person's name, and told Colonel
Gurwood the purport of the letter which he had in his hand.
He made, certainly, one mistake in the final letter of the
person's*name ; but this did not in the slightest degree de-
tract from his extraordinary penetration. Another gentle-
man, who had not seen Alexis previously (Colonel Gardener,
we believe), asked the Somnambulist to describe his resi-
dence. This he did with great accuracy, telling him the
number of pictures he had in his drawing-room, their peculiar
position, and the subject of the pictures. Watches were then
placed in his hand, and, by merely feeling on the back of the
case for a few minutes he pointed out,- with one exception,
the exact position of the hour and minute hands. A large
book of plates was subsequently held to the back of his head,
and to Ale amazement of every person in the room Alexis
was able to describe the various prints to which his attention
was directed.
We have thus endeavoured faithfully to record the facts
which we witnessed this day. It is our belief that the expe-
riments were performed fairly, and that in no single instance
did anything like collusion exist. We do not pretend to
• account for the strange, the wonderful phenomena which
this youth certainly manifested. Of course there were many
present who refused to admit the possibility of any person
seeing uuder such circumstances. One gentleman, more in-
credulous
.than the rest, declared most emphatically that
Alexis was able to. see down his nose—an hypothesis, we
must confess, at variance with all our anatomical and phy-
siological knowledge. With his eyes almost hermetically
sealed he was able to read a book taken from among a num-
ber of works on the table. Independently of this, a hand-
kerchief twice folded was placed over the printed page of a
large volume, and through this the Somnambulist waa able
to read with facility. We have thus endeavoured faithfully
to record the experiments performed this day. We draw no
conclusion from the facts: we confess they are mysterious
and inexplicable—beyond our comprehension, Let those
who are disposed to be sceptical examine the matter for
themselves ; they w ill, we understand, have frequent oppor-
tunities of doing so.— Times.

DEFENCE OF THE COAST.-.—The plans for harbours
of refuge in the English Channel are progressing as fast as
their Important nature and the improvements which sniwest
themselves will permit. Every port is to have a strong ad-
jacent defence ; and three propositinna have been made to
effect this desirable encl.-Ist. Line-of-battle ships with screw
propellers} d. Otearn-frigates like the Penelope. 3d. Bat-
terips on shore. A plain and simple question arises—why not
have both land and sea protections? This saems to be the
most naturally adapted; for if ship are compelled to move
away in pursuit pt an enemy, the refuge harbour might be
left defenceless ; and ie nothing more than a battery is
erected, it would be impossible to chase.--United Service
Gazette.
Cerito appears to-night in a new ballet, Zelia ; on,
La Aryn The de Diane. It is in four tableaux. The music
by Pugm ; the miss en scene by Perrot ; the sceuern
from the pencil of Grieve.