Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-21
RICHMOND WING.
WEDNESDAY, MoRNING. sEpr. aI
nc "deuble.shotl,d, HumInr.


ed with detail! OF the most wonderful phenomena
which were exhibited las, week, in Phreno, Mes
merism. There never any thing like it-and
the wonders arc narrated with all the gravity ina
inAble-as tho the whole world had los, their rea-
son. We are no, surprised greatly u, the course oil
our editorial co,emporaries. Old Mesmer il. hope
less case-aRd our contemporary OF the Compiler ha
been giving some very significant winks, which, to
man up tree, clearly indicated that the nod was
soon to follow, which would shake the realms OF
science and overturn the dark dominion Of error-
We were surprised TO hear that some Others were
en,raPped by Humbug-whieh, al,ho' well acted,
canno, compare with the exhibitions OF Monsieur
Adrien. We were particularly surprised, and NOR.
tihed to hear that Old William and Mary had been
drawn, through one of her Professors. into scrape,
which mus, inevitably entail rdeulc upon those
involved in il.
IL is not for us to explain the arts by which the
astonishing phenomena were evolved, any more
than i, would be duty 10 detect and expose the
slight of.han6 tricks OF a stree, iusgler. But
that they arts in both cases, TO impose ur-
on and cheat the of the spectator we DO not
dosb, and we are happy to have the opinion to the
same effect OF the Faculty of the city of edmond
The Doctors-in whose provinces the science more
properly falls-who have closely investigated the
experiments Of Mr. French, have prepared a Repor,
utterly exploding the Humbug. The Repor,
will be published to morrow. 1t demonstrates, by
simple detail OF the experiments, that, on every
principle recognized by scientific men, the alleged
science is an nrant cheat and impos,ure. But the
reader will judge for himsef-tho' no pen can con
'ey any adequate idea OF the gross ana ridicuou,
failures Of the exhibtions-under the eyes Of the
Faculty. We will mention one incident in the
course OF the experimen,s-whieh will throw some
light upon the subject. MIR French had mesmeriz,d
his girl Amy and placed her in communication len
raPPoriis the phrassl with DR. w. MrF. said ANY
was remarkable subject-she could no, endure the
touch Of any person, not in communication with
her-so sensitive was she, that II any Other person
attempted tie on the bandage she might be thrown
into commissions. After d; w. had asked her many
quesiions-some o: which she guessed right and
others rot-he rose from his seat, aud she, drawn
by adaman,ine cords, followed him. He continued
to walk around the room-she 10 close pursuit. DIR
B. motiOned to DR. w. to stop. He did so. Dr. B.
very cautiously took Dr. WIS place. ami began 10
walk as DR. w. had been doing. Amy followed
Or b., without moments hesitation! DR. 3 then
without being put in communication with her, took
her hand and conversed with her. jus, as DR. W.
had done. This is one specimen OF the SCIENCE
Blu; this garins exposure Of the cheat goes 70. no.
thing.
That this absurd and ridiculous humbus hiss
made so much stir in this city, is certainly not very
tredltable to the metropolis Of Virginis;-but the
fact is mainly referahe to the Editor Of the Euqui
rer. That very es,imaLle old gentleman, with a
facility to gullibility truly astonishing-hsd the
misfortune to become dupe very enrly in the cam
paign. On the principle Of the fox, who had lost
his tail, he sc, about forthwith to reduce as many
others possible to the same Notifying predica
meni in which he found himself. To this end, he
attended public exhibitions-he nosed out all the
private charlottesville had exhibitions ut his own
house-he made speeches upon the sublime and
mysterious virtues OF the new Phiosophy-he ap-
peaed to the clersy-he appealed to the ladies'
and finally he brought upon the singe all the mem
bers Of the old Junto-the lame, the hal; and the
blnd-,o ge, deep in h. was or to liz him GU,
OF the mire. He has succeeded in humbugsing
some-bu, he has got deeper in himself; and If the
laugh is not so loud and universal it is because his
friends fear he has reached that stage of mesmerism
from which there 10 no nwaking. The fluid may
be thrown of or on, as copousy as may be, bu,
for the remnan. Of his pilgrimage here, he is lrou
b!ed and wandering dreamer.