Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-04


Dear Sir: ] promised you the last time we met that
If any thing of interest should occur in my mesmerc
experiments sufficiently as TO make them public, !
would avail myself OF your journal to give them cir
cuation | now redeem that promse-to what extent,
yGu and your readers must dc eide.
The interesting experiments made previous TO the
occasion referred to, account Of which appeared III
the "Rlchmoad Enquirer of the 1l,h instant, had
awakened spirit Of curiosity, establishment and incre
dal,y, perhaps uncquailed IN this region before. The
s,rangpness Of the phenomena might well excite q
spirit Of unbeiief but Tie respeclablity of the parties
connected with the experiments, either actors or
witnesses, pat all idea of collision at defiance, and
thus like Mahomets coffin, the vacations OF the pub.
lie mind vbrated alternately from sceptcism to belief
On my return to this neighborhood found very
polite note from DR.. b and lady, requesting my com
pamy at their hos p.alle nansion aud although ! had
received the bet too late to avail ms self of the nyi
ation, promised verbally, meeting the DR.. and his
lazy at "Grace Church. that would dine with them
one day tie next week. Accordingly on Thursday last
with my family and neighborhood friends, | net
the Dr.s quite pleasant party, Of The better and
the steiner
Mesmerism, Of course, become the subject OF
conversations and after pgrtakng Of dinner tile bare
vision of which might disturb editors reveres for
week, request made through male friend, that
should try and mesmerze some one for the edifcation
of the company.
Dr. s two interesting daughters the one about II
the other about 10 years of age, presented to
to make choice Of subject Mrs. R. "a sister of Mrs
3 remarked that one all belief the other all in
crrduhy determined 10 experiment upon the ncre-
dclous subject frs in the person of Miss e. the elder
sister, intelligent, sprighly and Of course pretty
young lady.
sat her down, and commenced the usual gaze md
mani pulatons In about fifteen minutes she was fully
mesmerzed. In order to arrive correctly at this
clusion, continued npula.ing with one hand while
passed u piece Of tobacco into my mouth with the
other: she Immediately showed signs ofuneasiness, and
made several efforts to eject the nauseous weed from
her mouth.
now bndfoded her securely, and commenced tast.
ing dferen, atIcles-such as rhuhavb, brandy, water,
Jelly. &C. and in reply TO my questions, would swer
ssome,hing strong, "water, "somethng sweet" &c
4 volume Of "The Patriarch" was handed to me- O.
what do | hold in my hand' Answer" Book. "
I"What part Of it am looking at" "Pcture "Whai
IS the picture "lted flowers 1T was So ~ am
looking at something else IN the book, what is ii; >
picture of a woman" Qsieht) "Read with me-:
1.-The Patriarch" (sight) "Read more with mel
'sIadys Book" tRish,.) "Who is coming into the
ROOM" "a lady" ''Who is she:" Mrs. McC .
(Right) "Who is standing herr" "Nr R. >
(RighD
At this moment lady in Tie room still ncrcdulous,
remarked 'she can see Atthis Lit r. proposed to me,
10 pu, another handkerchief over her eyes This did
covering up entirely every avenue of light from her
| then asked "what am looking a,:' "P,cture of
Uncle NJ -. (R'ght) "Wbat am looking at now
"Por:a, of Aunt NJ (R'gh,) "What do | look
at now MAP" (R'ght) "And now" "The
clock" (Right) "What time is IL" "a few mi
nntes past sax" The time really was VI. 10 min
The clock had, however, stopped, and Met experiment,
was content M, TO consider any of Mesmerc vi.
She then told me the Of every person in the
room before whom | would stand.
Several experiments were made to the satisfaction
"Flle large comolny, only one two doubling, and
get declaring in the same breath
Twas strange, twas nonerouS strange"
now "dispeiled The fluid " The child seemed mort.
fed when told OF the exhibition she had made, and
you know, was downright proud of nv success
! promised Mr. Il. and the Dr. that I would walk
the next Saturday afternoon when their friend
j. j. C., Esq OF Fredericksburg, " M had read nv com
munca,ion in the Enquirer and had protested himsef
satisfied that mesmersin was no humbug, might be in
vited TO witness my experiments.
On arriving there on Saturday, | found the house
flied with visitors and the CRY 1sas siV then coma,
So great my nervous excitement at the appear
ance OF so many persons tina, seriously anticipated
failure and had To walk up and down the pc.tico in or
der to rally my fluttering spirits.
However, | commenced. In about % minutes the
head fell back, he eyes mainestng By their wild and
unnatural rolling beneath The closed Ids that The mes
merc medium was in fine circuafIoD and after making
few passes above them and finding her in n profound
slumber, | blndIoldsd her and commenced the usual
eice,era of tasting, smelling, feeling, &c. proposed
she should walk. The room was so closely crowded
That could scarcely progress. However, had path.
way cleared for us, and we commenced our march If
during the walk any one touched her, she would be
seized with spasms which were alone Gained BY nv
laying my hand upon her.
took with her the Piano, and from among
several pieces of music of The company silent
ly selected little song. Query "What have in
my hand'" Answer. Paper" "Whut am looking
at, on III" "a picture" was looking at the Wig
neue title page "What beck is it," at is no book,
II IL a piece ofmusic." Read the words with me-"
TIE moon DER the mountain is heam:ng"
Right IL was one CT my old wid songs That some