The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-03-20
Nats:e!:aa;a.
80
hk.-S-s
.,rw.; woN,'nov, srKANcr."

TO perform. Prince Charles Of Saxony, having car
nealy, as well as repeatedly ~befough, it: after many
r~efufals, real or affected, obtained at length a reltc-
tant promiie 70 prefent before his eyes an a,parition;
for Sehreprsr a%rtrully ~prcfefed the greateit repug-
nance and Rehabilitation to the ACT, as being perilous
to himfe!f, and attended With various ~circumaaaces
o. horror. 1t or!y remained therefore, to Fix TIE ipi-
ii, to be fummoncd. After long confederation, the
Chevaiier de SAKE was named, and Schrep!er uDder-
,oot to produce hrs shoa before a ielect company.
The place chosen for TIE experiment; was Prince
Charles's Palace in Dreflen. But, as it was well
known that the El.aor having the misfortune to be
neither ereiulous, nor inclined to permit fuch exhibi-
iions in hi, capital, might diiaPprove and prohibit it,
the GridsG fscrccy vas o6lcryed previous Il The af-
fair.
The Che Waller de szxe. third in order of Birth a.
r1ong the n,,ural fons of Augufus the fecond, King
Of Poland, was criy half brvther to the famous Mar
fhai SAKE, 4. they were nv different mothers. lurisht
OF his wife, who was a Princefs LnooniIfsa, OF We
~ i~'iunrious Polih family, tn Chevalier inherited
comfortable property in that country, as well as in
Saxony. He reGded principally in Drefdeu, and d.
ed only a few years ago, at his palace in this city I;
which his nephew Prince Charles, who was his prin-
eipal heir, occupied after his deceafe. In addition to
his maternal eaates the Chevaler pontaed a wait in
come from his military and other appointments in the
electoral frrvice and as he left no if1ue, he was fup-
pofed TO have auaAed great fnns. Reports had been
circulated, that u,oney was concealed in ts.e palace;
but no enc pretended TO afcertain the preeife place
where il was d~crsited. IF his fpirit could be COM
PEELED to APPEAR, that in~terefing feeret might be ex-
torted from him. Thu, euriodty combining with a.
yarise, or at 'caa with the hope Of difeo-ering a CON-
hderable ~trea!arc, prompted Prince Charles to
name his uncle, as the object Of the experiment..
On the appointed night for ~Sehrepfer naturally
preferred darkuefs, as not only more private in i,felf,
bat better caleslated for the effea OF incantations; the
company aGen,bled-They were nineteen in num-
Der, of whom 7 perronally know feveral, who are per-
r---- r.-ac - - a.
When they were met in the great gallery of the pa
lace, the fro ohjea of all Prefent was to fecure the
Niiiio~s and doors, in order equally to prevent intru-
hon or deception. As far as precautionc onl1 efecf it,
they dM 70, and were fatisfed that nothing except
violence could procure accefs or entrance. ~Schrepfer
then acquainted them, that the ad which he was a.
bout to perform, would demand all their frmnefs; &
advifej iiieru to fortify their nerves BY PartakiHg of a
bowl Of punch, which was placed upon the table. Sc
Seral Of them, indeed, as believe, all except one or
:wo. thinking thc exhor;ation judcious, very readily
followed it; hue, the gentleman from whom | recei-
we'd theie particulars, declined the advice. =" am
eonre here faid ne to Sehrepfer, to be prefent at
4" ra. ing IN experimentation ! will fee all or no.
Citing. My refolution is taken, and no inducement
" can make me rut any thing into my iips."-Anoth
Of the company, who preferred his preience of mind,
placed himfelf cloie to the principal door, in order to
watch If any one attempted 70 oren or force it. Thefe
preparatory Reps h.ing taken, The great work began
.:,h the uinon ~foiemnity.
Sshrspfer commenced it, by retiring into a corner
Of che gallery, where kneeling down, with many myf-
FERROUS ceremonies he invoked the fpirir to appear, or
-ather to come to his aid for it is allowed that none
were ever vilihle. very comfortable time elapfed
hz.ore they obeyed {; during which interval, he labor
eG,arparently under great agitation of body and mind,
heirg covered with a violent fweat and almot in con-
vu,iors, like the Pythonefs of antiquity. AT length,
a loud c,atter was heard at all the windows on the out
fie which was loon followed by another noife. re-
Trembling moro the effset produced by a number of
vet fingers drawn over the edge of g!a1es, than any
thing eife to which it could well be compared. This
fouaj announced, Is he faid, the arrival of his good
OF prote aing ipiri,s, and fesmed TO encourage him
20 proceed. a flor, time afterwards, a yelling was
heard, of afrightful ard mutual nature, which came,
he declared, from the malignant fpirit Whole prefenee
as ii leeins, was n~ecefiary and Indispensable to the
completion Of the cataffropEe.
TIE company were now, at leaf the greater part
electrified with mazen,ent, or ~petrided with horror ;
and of courfe fully prepared for every object which
could be prefented to hem--Schrepfer continuing
his invocalions, the door fuddenly opened with vio-
lence, and foniething that refenlbled a black bali or
globe, rolled into the room. IL was Unveiled with
E+1oke or cloud, ;n che midi of which appeared to be
a human face, Ike the countenance of the Chevalier
de Sake; much in tie fame way, it would feen, that
Corregio or Hannibal Carrache have reprefented Ju-
piter appearing to semele, from this form iaued a
loud and angry voice, which exclaimed in German,
:" Carl Was WOtc Qu fllt lBlCH SudIItF, "nd
wouidR thou with me Why dot thou difurb
mel"
Language, as may be %iuppofed, can i'll deftribe the
conformation produced among the spectators at iueh
a fight. Either firmly p~erluaded that the appearance
which they beheld, was fpiritual and intangible OF
deprived Of ref9lution to approach and attempt to
teise It they appear to have made no effort to fatisfy
themfelves Of its ineorporeai nature. The prince,
whole inrpious euriofty had lummoned his unele's
shoG, and to whoai, as the perlon principally refpon-
fbIe, the fpeare aidrrfsd i,feIf; far from manifef-
ing eoeineis, or attempting reply, betrayed the frong-
ct marks Of horror and c%ontri.ion. Throwing HIM
f.lf on his knees, he called on God for mercy while
others of the terrified party earnefly b~efought the
nisgic;an 10 give TIE only remaining proof Of his art
for which they now were anxious, by ~difnhTing the
1pparitiou. But, Schrepfer, though apparently will
ling, found, or pretended 10 find this effort beyond his
power. However incredible, abfurd, or ridiculous IL
may be thought, the perfons who witnefed the Geene,
proteh that near an hour elapied, before, by the force
OF his invocations, the fpe6ire could be compelled to
sifappezr. Nsy, when at length S%chrepfer, had fuc-
eeedeA in d~ifmrGipg il az the moment that the CONF
pany began to reGumc a degree differently, the door,
~hieh had been elofei, bura open again and the fame
hideoss sarn srslcateI itfeif a new 10 their eyes.
The moa refolu:e and collected among them, were
n9s proof ioits feeond appearance, aud a feepe Of u
niyerN difmsy enlued. s~thferfvr, however, BY rel
tersrsd e~zorcifms or s~zeTtrns, finally diiniiIgd the
-acpaIition. The terrified spectators Goon dilperfed,
- fill. nix - NIn..