The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-08 00:00:00

ANIMAL MAGNETISM AND MESMERISM.

Monsieur Lafontaine's second lecture upon animal magnetism
was delivered, on Tuesday evening, in the theatre of the Medical.
hall, Mount-pleasant, and was attended by a numerous audience,
principally consisting of gentlemen connected with the profession.
A few ladies also were present. Amongst the medical gentlemen
we noticed Dr. Carson, jun., Dr. M'Kenzie, Dr. Watson, Dr. Suther-
land, Dr. Anderson, Mr. K. Ellison, Mr. Nottingham, Mr. Marshall,
Mr. Currie, &c, Upon the platform were the lady from Manchester,
who was magnetised at the former meeting, and two female servants
from the George Hotel, upon whom we witnessed the experiment
tried for the first time on Monday evening. Mr. Nottingham was
called upon the platform to superintend the experiments.
In opening the proceedings, M. Lafontaine briefly detailed the
course which he should pursue, which was the same as described in
our notice of his former lecture. lie then commenced his experi-
ments upon his first subject, the young lady from Manchester, and
in less, wo should think, than a minute, succeeded in putting her
into a state of somnolency, and afterwards cataleptized her legs and
arms. Whilst in this condition she was subjected to the test of be-
ing punctured by pins in the forehead, eyelids, hands, ankles, &C.,
which she bore without betraying the least symptoms of sensibility.
In the commencement of the proceedings Mr. Currie, surgeon, who
on the last occasion manifested a somewhat insulting suspicion.
inquired if the subject was this evening in perfect health,—(on a
former occasion she was not so)—and was informed that she was
in a proper state, bodily, so far as the lecturer knew, to teste
his
powers. When the lecturer was pricking her forehead, &c... 1,11
_cc
mand of the same gentleman, to be permitted to apply alert:
e
met with a very decided " non" by M. Lafontaine. The
At this .t test, a
h47,,f
ever, was allowed to be tried by Dr. Nottingham• magne-
' the experiment the pulse of the lady, which, before being been
used, (although after some excitement might reasongahacil''
produced,) had been lon, was declared by Mr./coo:nu
A strong aromatic was then applied to the n
for about 30 seconds—(having previously although respi-
medical gentlemen to ascertain its strength) s hof the sbuebjj el
beenanhda,
ration was fully ascertained to be going on
the effect produced was slight, though
o
Peeror instance—in an un-
by Mr. Currie that any person—he himself:durin:dite sdt application,sever al
ptible. It was objected
aromatic at
to that his nostrils for half
on the appeal of the lecturer gentleman, it
was admitted that he could only do so
lady, we may repeat, breathed the whole time of the applicati,m.
a very painful test, was applied
A singular, and, we should think, a
slip
_
f paper under the eye-
' by Mr. Nottingham, by introducing
lids, and running it round that organ. Mr. Nottingham announced
that 1.0 sensation appeared to he produced by tho opplicatioh to tho

white; but that she appeared to be slightly effected by its applica-
tion to the transparent part of the pupils.
The lecturer then proceeded to the application of the gaWanic bat-
tery, and proposed that some medical gentleman should first receive
the same shock which the subject would receive. Mr. Currie ob-
jected to this arrangement, and offered himself to receive the shock
with the lade. This was declined by M. Lafontaine, on the ground
that it would not be a fair test, and that by the contact of the mag-
netized person with one unmagnetized, the power of the former to
sustain it would be weakened. It seemed to be the general opinion,
too, that the power of endurance of a strong person. like Mr. Cur-
rie, was scarcely to be received as the test of that of a female. Mr.
Currie having declined, Dr. Watson offered to receive the shock,
and, when it was administered upon him, was greatly affected by it.
When applied to the lady (we may tr,ention that the battery was
managed by two professional gentlemen. prepared with philosophi-
cal apparatus to regulate the strength of the shock) she was per-
ceptibly rir
completelyted,andgave utterance to a smothered scream. After
cond time, and, although magnetized,tbe ar nn s otfh
thelaltLeyr)„,-
.aevraes
dariate du
paasned-
the muscles of the neck much contracted by the power of the shock,
no symptom of sensibility to pain was elicited. The effect, it was
observed, was no more than would be produced upon a corpse.
The lecturer then demagnetized the lower jaw, the lips, cheeks and
a portion of the back of the head, and proposed that his subject
should sing, and that, standing behind her, he would by magnetizing
passes stop her when required. This was the most pleasing experi-
ment of the evening. Having succeeded in restoring partial con-
sciousness to the face, M. Lafontaine whispered audibly in the ear
of his subject, " Sing, Marie, sing—sing a song." A reply was whis-
pered which we could not hear. On repeating his request, how-
ever, she commenced, in a low and drowsy tone, " Upon the Mil—
lie turned—to—take—a last—fond—look''—and stopped and re-
lapsed into her former tranced state. On demagnetizing the face,
throat and breast, more completely, however, she got through four
lines of the same song, when, on a sign given by Mr. Nottingham,
she was stopped instantaneously by the lecturer magnetizing again
the back of her head. On a repetition of the experiment, another
air was commenced with a similar feeble and apparently half-
unconscious effort ; and the experiment of stopping the singer, by
passes made from behind the chair, was perfectly successful. An
attempt was then made to decrease the pulse of the female, which
was now at 114—and, upon trial, after a few soothing passes had
been made, it had fallen to 110: it was again tried after a few inure
passes. but was still 110. The lecturer was then required to augment
the pulse ; but he did not succeed in producing au acceleration to
more than 114. This experiment M. Lafontaine explained was one
in which he was not always successful, and, from the small difference
produced, lie did not think he had been so upon the present occa-
sion.

The two girls from the George Inn were then magnetized one
after the other, and the arms and legs of one and one arm and one
leg of the other rendered cataleptic. Neither resisted the efforts of
the magnetizer above two or three minutes. We may mention that
whilst this experiment (which was the most satisfactory of the
evening, from the circumstance that no collusion could here exist)
was being performed, the first subject, who had previously been
partially demagnetized, and who was still seated on the platform
close to the two other girls, relapsed into the magnetic sleep, in
which she continued up to the close of the evening. The same
tests were applied (with the exception of the galvanic shock) to
these as to the first subject, although not of so violent a nature,
and a result little differing was elicited. One of the girls, how-
ever, showed a little sensibility to the effects of the aromatic ap-
plied to her nostrils. Whilst being restored to sensibility the sub-
jects (the lady from Manchester in particular) seemed to be affected
by violent shudde mention that Mr. Nottingham
nngs. We may
attempted to demesmerize cue of the girls from the George Inn,
but after persevering for some time with little apparent effect (al-
though at first some effect was visible) he gave up the attempt.
At the close of these experiments a young gentleman who pre-
sented himself, and who was preferred as a more likely subject
than Mr. Brett, who came upon the platform for the purpose, was
attempted to be magnetized, M. Lafontaine, however, declaring
that from the fatigue induced by his previous exertions he was not
sanguine of success. After about five minutes the subject closed
his eyes and his head slightly dropped, but he recovered himself,
and after persevering for about five minutes more the attempt was
given up, the subject acknowledging to having experienced at one
time a disposition to sleeo. It was then concluded that, its being
nearly 12 o'clock and no conclusive result which could satisfy the
profession having been arrived at, the experiments should be con-
tinued on Thursday evening, at seven o'clock.
The first subject, we may mention, was kept partially magnetized,
and her legs in a cataleptic state extended without any support un.
til the close of the proceedings for three hours and a quarter !
The lecturer, in reply to some sceptical suggestions as to the pos-
sibility of the legs being supported by some unseen contrivance,.
intimated his willingness that the should retire under the care of
two medical gentlemen and submit to an examination.

Mr. LAFONTAINE'S LECTURE

Mr. Lafontaine gave another lecture last evening at the Medical

Hall, Mount Pleasant. From the lateness of the hour at which it
concluded, we are unable to give a lengthy report of it. We shall
merely mention the principal features. The lecturer after describ-
ing the effect of applying the magnetic influence, explained his
mode of treating the various diseases incidental to the human
frame, such as fever, rheumatism. He next described his manner
of operating on the deaf, dumb and blind. The young lady who
has appeared on former occasions was again brought forward, and
put into a magnetic sleep. Mr. Nottingham having been invited,
stepped on the stage, and interpreted and assisted the lecturer. He
stuck pins into the legs and arms of the young lady, and she did
not show the least inconvenience.

Mr. Lafontaine then offered to thrust a pen under the thumb nail, to
show how completely the feeling of pain was absent in the case. The
meeting having objected, Mr. Lafontaine said that the Liverpool pea-

ple were rather- ha'rd of belief, therefore required strong evidence. He
assured those present that there was a total insensibility. The pin was
inserted—Mr. Nottingham having drawn it from the young lady's
nail, stated that it had penetrated three-quarters of an inch. Not the
least symptom of uneasiness was apparent. Mr. Lafontaine said, that
legs and arms might be amputated without the patient suffering any
pain. A case of cancer in Paris was mentioned as evidence of this. The
woman who had undergsne the operation was in a magnetic sleep—in
all, 17 days. The test of ammonia was next applied. This also had
no effect A pistol was next snapped at the patient's ears—she slightly
bent her head. This, it was remarked, she always did under this opera-

The nose and eyes were next tickled without effect. The galvanic
battery was then brought into operation, two gentlemen having previ-
ously tested its strength and demoustraated its effects. The young lady
shrieked rather loudly on the battery being charged, and was shortly
afterwards dememerised
M. Lafontaine stated that she was in by no means so favourable a
state to operate upon as on Tuesday last.
In reply to a question, M. Lafontaine said the paws of cats and dogs
had been cut off while they were in a magnetic sleep without their ap-
pearing to suffer pain.
A young woman from the George Hotel was next magnetised, and
exhibited the same effects as on a former occasion.

A young gentleman stepped on the stage, and was thrown into a mag-
netic sleep, but not in a cataleptic state. The gentleman who was mag-
netised at the George on Monday, as stated in our last, was next experi-
mented upon. He exhibited similar symptoms as then occurred; his
head fell back, his chest heaved, and his breathing was veryhard. Ano-
ther gentleman was operated upon, but M. Lafontaine was not success-

eter some conversation, the meeting separated. Sereral ladies were
ient.

MESMERISM OR ITYPNOLOGY

Mr. BRAID'S SECOND LECTURE

On Wednesday, thi: gentleman gave a second lecture upon his
newly discovered science of " Hypnology '' to a numerous and
highly respectable audience, comprising a considerable number of
ledies. Amongst the professional men on the platform, and in the
body of the hall, we noticed Drs. M'Cullock, Carson jun., Suther-
land, M'lutire, Grindrod, Scott, O'Donnell, Messrs. Nottingham,
Bainbrigg. Cripps, Higginson, Currie, &c.
At the commencement of his lecture, Mr. Braid commented with
much severity upon the discourteous and ungentlemanly manner
in which he had been received upon his last appearance. It had
been his intention to have, instead of a lecture, a conversazione ;
but a few individuals had come to his former lecture, and in their
anxiety to court notoriety, had converted the place into a bear
garden. He should, therefore, confine himself strictly to giving a
lecture, and illustrating it with experiments, and he trusted that lie
should not receive interruption. The lecturer then proceeded to
explain the points of difference between hypnology, as practised by
him, and the animal magnetism of Mons. Lafontaine and others,
and detailed the mode in which he first arrived at his conclusions,
and his reasons for bringing them before the cublic in the present
form. Before commencing his experiments he demonstrated, by
submitting his own servants and two other gentlemen to the test,
that the effect of merely extending the arm for two or three minutes,
with a hat or an umbrella in the hand, could not, as had bee❑
asserted by a professional gentleman at his last lecture it had had
in his own case, the effect of raising the pulse to 200 a minute. The
highest pulsation which he succeeded in producing in the course of

these experiments was 110 per minute.
The first subject upon whom the effect of Mr. Braid's system was
tried was his own man servant, who standing in the front of the
platform and fixing his eyes steadily upwards was in the course
of about a minute in a state of somnolency. His arms were then
raised and became rigid. Upon being requested to follow the
lecturer a few paces from the platform, and having been afterwards
placed upon a chair, he snored loduly, and his legs and arms were so
perfectly cataleptic that an attempt to move either moved his whole
frame. On account of the violent oppression of his breathing, the
subject was in a few minutes roused by sharp blows upon the arms
and legs, and passes with a glove upon the face. Mr. Braid ex-
plained that his reason for selecting his own servant first was, that
having been previously experimented upon, he was more susceptible
of being speedily affected. In the course of this experiment, the
lecturer detailed the effect of mesmerism upon a patient of his who
had been afflicted with epileptic fits three and four times a-day, and
who after being mesmerized a few times, had a recurrence of the
fits only once in five days. He detailed subsequently the effect
produced upon a patient, whose head was drawn down by spasmodic
contraction, until it rested so close upon the shoulders that a card
could not be passed between. After being mesmerized for about
three minutes the neck was straightened, and the patient left the
room holding his head perfectly erect and free from pain—and,
added Mr, Braid, what is bettor he continues so ! _ _

Two young girls were the next operated upon, and both were
reduced into the usual state in about a minute. They were made
to walk backwards and forwards—to kneel down, and one of them
sung very prettily " She wore a wreath of roses," and told the

form of an object placed behind her back. This experiment, the
lecturer explained was not derived from any effect upon the organs
of sight, but from the extreme sensitiveness of the skin close to
which the object was placed. It did not touch, however. Two
deaf and dumb boys were next brought on the platform, to one of
which Mr. Braid had taught the Lord's Prayer in English and Latin,
of which he repeated a portion word after word, Mr. B. repeating
them in his ear. He afterwards submitted close to the ear of each
a musical box, which they signified by signs of pleasure that they
could hear.
Whilst this experiment had been going on, an attendant was
desired to request one of the subjects, an interesting young girl
about twelve years old to hypnotize herself in an outer room ; and
she now apeared with her eyes closed, her head slanted with the
ear towards the platform, and her hands extended making her way
slowly and cautiously to the upper end of the room, directed by the
Lecturer's voice. The attitude of this girl was more beautiful that
can be conceived, and would have been a perfect study for the
sleep-walking scene in Macbeth. If it was acting, it was the best
acting we ever remember to have witnessed. On approaching the
platform she was blindfolded, and in that state made her way,—a
somewhat difficult one—up the steps of the platform, and over it
to the Leturer. She was then tested with respect to the quality of
clairvoyance, and told the shape of articles placed behind and over
her head, and the metal of which a pencil case, placed over her
closed eyelids, was formed, mistaking however gold for silver.
Whilst in this state, a very disgraceful attempt was made by a few
gentlemen upon the platform to agitate her by repeated noises, to
which she manifested extreme sensitiveness, moving violently each
time in the direction of the noise. Notwithstanding their being
cautioned by the Lecturer that such interruptions were dangerous
! to the somnambulist, a form or a chair was knocked over by the
same party, which almost caused her to rush over the edge of the
platform. The marked indignation of the audience was evinced at
this hartless ruffianism.

A dozen boys, pupils from the Mechanic's Institution school
were then introduced upon the platform ; and upon the whole of
those who were tried, the state of somnolency was in a short tha,!
produced. One hardy youth, however, appeared to resist itrrlrliy`
some success. Those who were affected were very that they
demesmerized ; and on leaving the platform declared
tyl'remark
could have put down their arms at any moment.
that they were not permitted to fall into the adracnicel
to their
rigidity &c., which may account for their own opinion a_ state of
power of volition. They were, however, evidently In u
incipient if not perfect somnolency.
labouring
Two subjects then presented themselves, who weren,ws carrier
under the effects of confirmed paralysis. The first,
unable to raise
named John Cook, residing at 17, Fleet-street, ,vizas.,, and Ids arnes
his arm above his head. After being hypoctnotnafrepu srtate of
Worm sta h
worked a little by Mr. Braid, whilst in the_,
and neatly stratiigltho',t.eln,
could, on being awoke, lift it above his head.
Nally. residing
sa Di
it. The other an elderly female—Mrs. for motrelief, her
Hare-place, Scotland.road, had been
eive _
d considerable
Hospital, where she had received
Freri°atiisove the elbow,
whole side having been at first affected.nise her hand above
h. to her head, or
eight Ph in the
merized, however, she could not
easilyr raise her ..-
he two experiments
but subsequently she could
pOrtiOn °.
'
fig The female patient
put it behind her back.
seemed to stagger the sceptical z•ssed aPPLa-,ibe.d powers.
received with loudly
expressed
uewlYB-„-'de'rrstood)—a friend of Mr.
0f ttiteseaudience, and were
seemed highly elated
with
Marshall we L.
upon, and after a brief ex-
A gentleman—(namedssfully p
°- erateuthe meeting broke up at half
Braid's, was then succe
the lecturer,
ion of thanks from
press Tlieresuit
past li o'clock.
______.,..„
_____.,..,...""'"'""'"'"•_____

abnry years chief justice of New Sculls
brings intelligence of the death of Sir
Francis For e t
The oz„,erlbanadfmo am
any
is,
The Marquis of Tvrceddale we hear, to be the new
governor of Madras.
The blue riband, which became vacant by the death of the
late Duke of Norfolk, has been conferred upon his Gra'e the
Duke of Cleveland.
RUN UPON THE RENFREWSIIIRE BAN •
K.—On Tuesday
last orders were received from head-quarters at Edinburgh,
by the branch of the Royal Bank in
this city, to decline re-
ceiving the notes of the Renfrewshire Bank of Greenock.
In consequence of this being acted upon, several of the
other banks in this city adopted a similar course, and con-
siderable uneasiness has, as may well be supposed, been felt
by the holders of notes
and
esta-
blishment. The agent others interested in the
of the Renfrewshire Bank here, on
being applied to, stated
vices from that he had received his usual Greenockad-
on W
was not aware 'Wednesday morning, and that he
upon w
As,how hat grounds the Royal Bank were pro-
ceeding.payable in G?eenever, the notes of the Renfrewshire Bank were
in exchanging ock, he did not conceive himself warranted
quantity of th them for those of other banks. A considerable
e notes were, in the course of the day, sent
down to the principal establishment at Greenock, and a run
upon the barithere took place in the course of yesterday •
but we have heard no precise account of the result. The
Royal Bank acted as the agents of the Renfrewshire Bank at
FAlnbur 1
g I.—GlaryntD Argils.

rhomps

few da

Martin Copeland, the individual who
above case as Mr. Martin, was placed be-
Police-court, charged with having
fraud Miss. Crellin of a sum of money, having
carriage to her, he being at the time a married
on a difference respecting the terms of the
nent, having threatened, unless she complied
Is, to take legal proceedings against her for a
li-se of marriage. Copeland is an extremely
and consumptive-looking perzon with a hag-
rderly appearance, giving him, in connexion
hue of his features, a disagreable, if not forbid-
n. Mr. Davenport appeared in his defence.
n having read over the evidence of Miss Crellin,
ated to the prisoner,

;rellin stated, in answer to a question from Mr. Da-
that the person at the bar was the Mr. Martin who
ved from her £2.50, and whose signature was attached
,currents in possession of the court. She could not

Ay how lov;g she had known him. She had left
1 for the Isle of Man on the Bth of September last,
is about a month previous to that time that he had
d upon her. He came to her house with MissShoane
luence of a notice in the window that the house was
He aft:•rwards came to see her, and continued his
il she went to the Isle of Man. He did not come
y : perhaps twice a week. She received him as a

mes he came alone, and sometimes with a
She was in the habit of receiving his
she left Seymour-street. When
of Man he accompanied her on board
came across afterwards to see her. He had
.s of marriage to her before she went. She did
a any answer, but he still came to see her. She
of Man on the 10th of November. On her re-
werpool he came to see her with a Mr. Bulkeley,
ed her much to be married. She saw him every
called upon her at her lodgings i❑ Norton-street.
it have been lodging there a few days before he paid
it. She could not tell exactly how long it was be-
consented to his proposals. it might be a few
She did not hear he was a married man till after she
pted him. She was told by a Mr. Duval whom she
at Mr. Crellin's, in Finch-street.

month bef
,he I

e court.—That was after she had paid him the money.
r, Davenport.—Mr. Duval was the first who told her
married. She afterwards heard it from Dr. Dryden

She had never known him under another name.
ht be about a fortnight after she had been at Mr.
on's office that she made the discovery. Her object
to Mr. Thompson's office was to get her property,
)n herself. She went only once to Mr. Thompson s
any with the prisoner. He wished half the property
be settled on her ; to which she would not consent,
y left. There was no deed prepared. She could not
hat date this took place. She had been staying a
sat Mrs. Clayton's, and left that day. From Mrs.
's she went to Mrs. Jones's. She remained there a

. Her next lodging was with Mrs. Chamley. She
I there less than a fortnight. From Mrs. Chamley's
decoyed away by Mr. Jones, with a view to meet-
in. She recollected having resided a short time in
ne. She went there to see Martin respecting the

—That was before she went to Mrs. Cham-

.cen that time and the time she left Mrs. Jones.
Is living in Lodge-lane more than a week. It was at
-re Martin resided, who took her thither.
to see Martin respecting the money. She
id the lady, Mrs. Withicomb, wished her to
tea. She inquired for Mr. Martin. They
She had no conversation with Martin
,y that night. Of course they thought at
Jeing married. She did not pay for her lodg-
only stayed on a visit. It was Mrs. Jones who
3er that Martin intended to refund part of the Ivo.
passed pleasantlq enough at Lodge-lane.
a never behaved ungenteel to her. She did not come
to say anything against him. The subject of the m -
was mentioned once or twice, but to no one but Martin
self. He went with her to a friend's house, and left her at
door. She was to go back and dine with him that day :
a few minutes after she was in the house Mr. Duval
se and told her he was a married man. While in Lodge-
e she had merely asked him once or twice if he would
urn a little of the money, and he said he would.
By the court.—The negotiation for the marriage had been
?ewed, and they thought of it till Duval called to tell her
artin was married. Nothing was said about it in Lodge-
..

keley's, whe

and take
together

The titr.

Y Mr. Davenport.—She had said nothing of the kind to
of the Bulkeleys, though she slept with M rs. Withicomb,
daughter, and saw all the family daily. She did not
)11ect the elder Bulkeley ever telling her that Martin did
wish to cultivate her acquaintance : very far from it.
Lat she heard frona Duval prevented her dining with Mar-
and she had never seen him since.
dr. Rushton remarked, that the cross-examination had
is
bee addnrcommenitessed
te tid.rely to what took place after the offence
Ibeen any fr. Davenpraudort said, at any rate it did not appear that there

lohn Nixon Gaskell T6holiialpson
T•
waewington.
Is an attorney, at No. examined by the
',ll since 1824 or 1825. first concerned for her
- about twelve months ago,aHad known
remembered
had not acted for
past. He retneher calling at his
after she came from the I
been keeping com-
a she called, but said she hitari,)f Mau- She was
,fieman for some time, and
ge settlement
him no
up
ve instructions respecting amara4 br°ught him
him at the foot of the stairs.
mill) other
said it was Martin. She said, i. No"
He k • •
her pro_
his
ill go and bring him." She gave
t time. He had had previous co
hpn she had told him she wished
lerself. She did not say so with referencero
She then brought up Martin and a per.
Jones. The prisoner was the person
Ir. Martin. She repeated that he had
resses to her for some time past, and that
) give instructions as to the marriage set-
ed all the property settled on herself.
't was very strange, considering they
rly twelve months, that she bad never
or ning ; and he thought if he set-
upo very fair.
n her it would be
he would have it all, or she
- . Martin, he be-
• , .

i—u'oon h

,r any ostler
eave it to him to say what was right
turnstances. He replied that Miss
t to exercise her own jutnent, and
.dg ;

~.._
tit ; he should advise her to hay(

,reseed a wish to speak to witness privately,
uto the clerk's office, and spoke to him in the
two clerks. He inquired what witness thought
was worth : he understood about 1:50,000.
id him, according to the best of his judgment,
.) to £10,000: certainly less than £15,000. Mar-
os not worth his while being troubled about it,

immediately returned to the other office. The conversa-
was then resumed. Martin refused to settle more than
half. Miss Crellin then said, " Come along, Mrs. Jones,
is go to the other place." And they all three left toge-
.. He had never seen Miss Crellin since.

Mr. Davenport

He had never seen Martin before in

e Mr. Rushton then read Dr. Dryden's evidence. After
he prisoner was remanded until Friday, then to be
ith the rest.