The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-06-06


quenty OF hostilities exists. The risk consists only
IN the possibility that from some motive or other an
American captain may refuse 70 give proofs OF hls
nationality, and SO provoke orcbe entrance into INF
ship TO ascertain that fact, and that LIE may De
lost in the attempt--a case which confess could
hardly fail TO cause much excitement IN the Unteo
states. Here is the only risk OF war Qrepeat) tna'
presents itself from your carrying the treaty OF De-
cember 20 lS4i into execution, and tor this chance
you should be prepared but il is obvious, that II
wlno doubt have been foreseen by Lord Aberdeen,
and will be obviated by Lord Ashburton and the
American Government in their discussion Of the
points at issue between the two countries.
Some people here think that the refusal of France
to ratfy the treaty of December 20 would enhance
the danger of war between England and the United
States. should be very sorry to believe that THIS
impression were well. founded for can assure you
and pledge myself for the exactitude of that as
surance-the treaty IN question will never be ratlhed
by France If proof be wanted, you will have u IN
few days by a discussion that will be provoked In
the Chamber of Deputies.
Again, it's urged that the Presidents approval OF
all tha General Cass has deemed it his duty 10 say
and do on the subject (and which expressed appro-
val Is unquestonable,) argues hostile disposition to
England on the part OF the American Government;
but the friends of peace draw distinction between
the approval and the performance of an act Gen
Cass took view of the question and pronounced his
opinion and that is all His pamphlet and his pro-
test and the expressed appreciation of both by the
President, bind the American Government to no
course in the negotiations opened at Washington,
and which, for all we know, may be conducted on,
and directed to- points not embraced in the book or
protest OF the American Minister in Paris.
Thus. although the French press, the French pub
lie, and the French Chambers, and, will add, the
French Ministry are opposed TO the treaty OF the Ith
of December last, and although il is necessary that
the chance of collision through the fault the tenn
per of an American captain OF ship be anticipated
and provided for, and although Mr. Tyler has ex;
pressed his appreciation of the book and protest OF
General Cas-, which are both before you there
does not fortunately appear anything like real dam
ger of a war between the United States and the mo-
her country for the preparations for defence going
on in the United States, to which my attention Is
also drawn, must be held as only precautionary and
TO omit which, In the circumstances no government
would have been justified.
ANIMAL MAeNErIsM.-With regard to animal
magnetism" it is called, the case stands thus =
II Is proved by experiment, that, in persons OF de-
hcate nervous organization, certain most remarka-
bic effects can be produced in The nervous system
by the agency of another human being standing at
moderate distance and directing the points Of the
figures towards the brain, or moving them slowly up
and down opposite the face In the course OF a few
minutes state resembling somnambulism super
venes, in which the eyes are closed, the power OF
voluntary motion suspended, and, although perfect
consciousness Is retained, the will is completely pa
ralyzed. Some sort of relation seems to be estab-
Eshed between the operator and patient :-lnvolun-
tary nervous twitchings are excited by the motions
nerves seem even to be subjected to the will of the
magnetizer From this state the patient IS reused
instantaneousy, by the simple process Of the mag
neither drawing his fingers transversely across the
brow. The eyllds start open, as if spring were
touched and the natural state Is restored as COM
pletey and suddenly as in the case Of a somnambu-
list awakened from sleep. Up to this point there is
no doubt of the facts They have been repeatedly
witnessed and ascertained under circumstances
which preclude the poss bity of imposture indeed,
arr w n n u,aan nj farc or g.
cnrrence. and any person who likes may convince
himself Their truth by experimenting on his friends
Beyond this, however, certain extraordinary facts
are asserted by the adopts in the science, CONCERN
ing the truth OF which we say nothing. II is SAID
that In certain rare cases state beyond that of
common somnarIbt.sm, above described, super
venes, called cauvoyance, or ear-seeing, from the
miraculous power OF seeing things by new and un-
known In this state il Is asserted that the pa
tent can read with his eyes shut bandaged, de-
cipher book placed behind his back and can see
through walls and discern things going on al dis
lance OF hundred miles, 1t is further asserted
that he becomes insenslble TO pain and well au-
thenticated story is told of lady who had can
Ger extracted from her breast in hospital at Paris,
without being ut all aware of it until the operation
was over For the truth OF these and other mystic
rous facts connected with the state of clouuoyance
we do not pretend to vouch 1t is enough that they
MED by respectable men, who have had opportun-
ties of Investigations and that as matters now stand,
we must be content 10
-n eqaal folly call,
Believing nothing, On believing ALL"
With regard to the cause of these phenomena
we are equally at sea. The orthodox theory OF
grave, wel-estarlished physicians, who, from Har-
vey's time downwards, have a ways set their faces
against novelties, is, that such part as cannot be
put down to deusion must be attributed to magma
ton, an explanation which, with al! due submission
appears to us only to adjourn the difficulty; since.
H. ek
or anomalous effects in the nervous system, ia
thing quite as wonderful and mysterious as that
there should he magne TIC influence or atmos-
pierre The second theory--that OF the professors
of animal magnetism genefaly-is, that the ner-
vous fluid, or energy, which, from, the experiments
of Sir c. Bell, Provost, Buquerel, and others, is
known to exist, and to have strong analogy 10 the
electrical, is capable of being acted upon and dis
turbed by the nervous energy oil another human
body, properly directed by an effort Of the WILL and
that this disturbance in the nervous system deranges
the relations between volltion and motion, and
causes the other anamolous and mysterious pheno-
mena which are witnessed
A third theory has been lately put forward by Mr.
Braid, Of Manchester, which differs from the Sc
cond, by asserting that the arrangement of the ner
vous system, which gives rise TO the phenomena, Is
occasloned not by the agency of the nervous ener.
gy or will OF the magnetzer, but by the tension OF
the muscles of the optic nerve and eye of the patient
himself, producing description of congestion Of the
brain.
Which of these theories is the true one, or rather
which is nearest the truth--for one pretends to
give complete and scientific account OF the pheno-
mena-we do not pretend to say; it is enough for
us that there are several modes Of explanation which
afford some glmmerng OF light, and which pro-
MISE if followed up in candid and liberal spirit OF
scientific research, 10 lead to most important results
in that most important, though hitherto neglected,
department Of knowledge human physiology, the
reciprocal relations Of mind and matter, nerves and
IMAGINATION, will and muscular motion; and, in a
word the inward structure and mechanism of this
vital frame, so wonderfully and perfectly devised.
HOMEOPATHY The attendance at Dr. Epp's third
lecture on Friday last was much more numerous
than on the previous occasions. The lecturer pro-
ceeded to explain the preparation of intinitessimal
doses. He said that when homppathists wished to
prepare medlclne-suppose it were gold which
they gave in cancer and caries-they took grain o
leaf gold the purest that could be obtained and 9.
grains Of sugar of milk, that article being employed
because it was most free from impurities, and eas
likely to interfere with the medicinal properties o
the agent employed The sugar of milk was divi
ded INTO parcels of 81 grains each. They then rub