Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-08

norts'a, indeed !" "Community OF Sensation con-
clusively established" Will he no, com, forw ard
and attempt atone for the insult offered to the un.
derstandings Of the People of Virginia, in trying
to palm of such an imposture upon them1 Will he
no, frankly confess that he has been wre'chedly
duped by boys-and beg pardon OF the public for
supposing them to be as culliblc as himself1 And
while upon the confessional, exchanging the eharac
ter OF a Mssmsri=es for that of Humbuggee-
he not be persuaded make clean breast, and I'D
init that he was under the influence Of the Mesmerc
fluid" when he announced, the other day, tina,
Henry Clay was the every worst man in America"
But. il he omi,s it, i, makes difrerenee-as the
epnion Of mesmerzed dupe is not worth muchi
MOST EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITION
OF MESMERISM.
On Monday evening last was politely requested
by friend, TO call at his nj eight o'clock, to
witness the operations in this strange phenomers.
Punctual TO the hour myself, | found some twenty
gentlemen who arrived before me, and we had only
to wait few minutes longer when the company
was increased TO double the number when first
made my tnlrss. The Mesmeriser, or, rs he has
been more familiarity called, the operator, seemed
disposed 10 suspend his work, waiting impatiently
Tor the arrival OF some portion OF the machinery OF
his operations-when his countenance all at once
assumed more quiet look, by the appearance OF
MIR r.. who entered the scene of action, wi h
BLK pocket nanukerCnlet well nllcQ with.
what might be mos, properly called, articles of de
teclion which he cautiously deposited on the man.
tie piece, near him.
MIR r. taking his seat near table, called TO Mr.
6, Mr. G., and Mr. M, who held some ten or fifteen
minutes of conversation together, apart from the
rest of the company; after which, Mr. r. formally
announced TO the gentlemen present. that he had
appointed MIR s., investigator, Mr. c., prompter and
Mr. NJ, recorder, OF all the experiments that were
about TO be wines ed, himself acting moderator
OF the whole crowd.
The Moderator (Mr r calling tho company to
Order urged upon them the necessity of preserving
the most profound silence, for the excitement pro-
duced by the noise on the mosmerizee would dis
turb The nerves and prevent the magnetic fluid from
taking such immediate effect, as when all around
was still and quiet. Alter this appeal was made by
the Moderator, the most brenthess silence prevailed
over the assembled company. MIR M, seated by a
table, with pen, INK and paper before him, acting
as recorder, while MIR G. took a stand near the
operator, (Mr IT, and the mesmcrizse, acting as
prompter. DIR L. commenced his operations, and in
about htIeen minutes produced the most profound
sleep on the mesmerz zee, that the human eye had
ever witnessed or the Imagination conceived OF.
The eyes OF the mesmerizee were closely bandaged,
and stuffed around with cotton, brought for the
PURPOSE in Mr. RS red silk handkerchief. Now come
the experiments TO be tried the subject in order
to test the existence Of this remarkable phe-
nomena.
Moderator hands the operator glass of wine
who drinks.
! opera,or-"John, what have you been drnknsl
Speak plain--don't guess"
| John-"Wine."
MIR G.. (prompter )-"He (John) says he was
drinking wine-the operator was drinking wine.
| mote that down. MIR NJ" says the Moderator.
Operator drinks brandy
Operator-"John, what have you been drinking7'
John-in a low voce-"Brandy"
M, g. iprompier)-"He says he was drinking
/ Inc operator has a Knns srJfj"g JhrRndv."
! John, what have you in your hand2"
INI m los. IN H. l. D..
| Inc pFompter, IN an audible voice, says TO the
| audIence-"te says he has knife in his hand
and the operator had knife ia his hand" Mos,
wonderful! Mote that down Mr. l." says Mr Il.
the Moderator. Another experiment is tried
Johns eyes all the whio blindf1lded with cotton
! stuffed round to prevent the possibility Of seeing
Operator cate breGd-"John what were you cat no ~
John replies, "bIead"-Promp,er, Mr. G.: "he sa,d
ne eating oIeid-the operator was eating brea'.
-"Surprisng ."
Various other experiments Of the sense OF touch
and taste were m1de-such rs the operator taking a
penel-siick, SC, in his hand-swallowing vinegar
water, &c all OF which were entirely satisfactory 10
| the most skeptical-aHd the Moderator (Mr n /
when appealed TO. to know il the experiments were
at all similar TO FTench's, he replied, "yes-yerv
similar indeed but infinitely superior and more sue
| cessul." Another and more remarkable exner;.
ment is ye. 10 be tried relative 10 the sense of sgb,
before TINS experiment was commenced, the Mode.
| rator (hr ~ observed-"Gentemen don't c,ord
around the subject-you will dispense the Maons,.
&c huld-e, there be free communication for he
mud from the operator TO the subject Let the crowd
tall back ~ Prompt obediencel
MIR X. (Moderator) says TO the operator: HNfr T.
thro" little moe Of the fluid on-these expert.
mens are calculated TO exhaust the subject. and he
tore We commence another experiment, il would be
weH 70 tehoVate MIN. Throw on more of the huiI.n
Mr. L. approaches the Mesmonzce and BIZ vc,v
| deNterous motions Of his hands, throws on n suff
clen quantity OF the FLUID, and pronounces the Mes
mer zee ready Tor another experiment. MIR b. takes
out his watch oni sets the hands to o'clock, and
hands the watch to the operator, who nlaces n =
watch on Johns head and asks, "John. what inns
- by the watch" John, in low voice SAWS
| VI o'clock" MIR G. (Prompter:) "He saws il is
O'Clock -the operator saysit is o'cocbp Mr. q
again moves the hands Of the watch 10 half after g.
and pisces the watch in Mr. TBS hands, who again
says-"John, what time is it now by the watch ~
John again responds: "half pist 81 Pfomn,er-
lie says It IS haf.past three oclock-the operstor
says II is hhi-pas, three o'clock" "Note that down
u you please, Mr. NJ" faid the Moderator. This
certainty does beat any thing Of the kind I have
ever seen or heard Of" says Mr. b. who thought
ne had put tho watch at half past 2 instead Of 2
=, hOouoe-cased watch was put into tho hands OF
the Operalor-who had not seen it: "John. wha,
time Of night ~ Take time, before YOU gus,s .
a voiee-He mustn't guess-thats not allowed ~
Opeator-"Nr French says the patents will guess
somelmes." 90 yes (said the MODERATOR Ibnt,s
according 10 the principles Of tho soience-Thev
a'e allowed TO guess"-but Johns voice was 50
EU.
MfR..(the Mod.) takes too lasgs books-creeps
onupIoe, yly up by the siIc Of John and saps he
books together, close 10 Johns ear with force tbnt
rings around the room. John does not move a mus
&C.; Mr. X. with uplifted hands) "you had Jus, al
wen attempt 70 wake up dead mann
HHuseless 70 enumerste the different experiments
resored TO- TO test the truth Of this most unnccoun,
| eO'e Phenomena-such as smelling rose and overv
oiher experiment that could be thought OTTO ali Of
winch John, when questioned by the Operator. re-
yponled with entire accuracy, except once when
/ ~ " put pill box in the operators hands
! The play being gone through with convioeing
/ aIl Of the existence oil this most remafkahe pho.
nomena-- especially the Moderator, who was in
perfect ecs1cies at the result Of oil the experiments
That were tr.ed-The concluding scene was Tho
/ fchesi ever seen.
Mr. 4. The OPERATOR said; "1Io had gone through
'he experiments prepared for the occasion, md which
seemed 10 give general satisfaction. l"Yes, entifs
~ THIS science than its professional prscti,ioners-
they DID not attempt TO do. As an evidence Of HE
power, no would request the subject 10 rise and TO
be VIDE awake" AZ the word, The mesmorizee rose
laughing, and unbnndaged his eyes-Aud such was
| me spell with which the Operator had tound the
audience, ihot for halfa minute, they supposed hi,
part and the crOWning part Of the performance
But harsh whisper came grating upon tho
nerves ofthe true believers "a Ho1g! n HOgri ~
All eyes at once fell upon the MODERATOR. who
stood, with mouth wide open, the very genius
Of Despair. For a second death like sulnoss
prevailed, and thon broke forth a roar OF laughter
which would rival the Falls Of Niagara. In tbs
midst Of the confusion, tho Moderator acknowledged
NE eorn, and confessed he had never been so com