The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-09-22

Standard viii be very apt 10 brag on thu
great affair, aud so DO we brag for few
more such Dinners will gl,e Henry Clay
. Or 81 thousand majority in this State ii
1874.
MOBILE.
MEsMERISM-oR ANIMAL MAGNET
ISM.
This really seems to be the age Of hum.
bugs, aud It is aughable to see how easily
"poor human nature" can be guIled.-
0ne man Processes to have found golden
plates and prints new bible and thous.
ands follow their infatuated leader anoth.
er Processes 10 be the real Messiah and 10
and behold be has his dupes another pro-
iesses 10 tell when the world will be de-
s,royed and thousands advocate the same
doctrine. And thus II has been in all ages
Of the world. that let men promulgate
whatever theory they please, and lie, it be
ever SO extravagant and they are sure 10 find
adhefcnis. But what caps the climax Of
all humbugs is the doctrine that one per-
son can Pat another in state Of inyolunta.
ry and unnatural sleep, and while in that
condition can exert absolute control over
his sensations and Notwithstanding him
feel as he feels, see as he secs, and taste
whatever he eats--and not only this, but
puts a spell upon hun and directs his nc.
tlons. As prepostefous as this las, hum
bug seems to be hundreds are becoming
converts to it. la Richmond, Va, a Mr..
French, who IS said to be gentleman Of
the highest responsibility, a lawyer, and a
scholar Of fine attainmcnts, aRd who is al.
so said to be above oil trickcry and decep.
ton, has been delivering lectures with
practical illustrations on this subject, and
has caused quite stir among the people
IN that city, and numbers among his con.
serls the ancient Editor of the Richmond
Enquirer, who IS so fully impressed with
lis truth lhot he has taken stand as its
mos, strenuous advocate. To such eS.
trenes was be induced 20 goin advocating
the doctrine tina, the Richmond Wing tells
Of hoax that was played off upon the old
gentleman by some ways, which had the
effect 10 bring the art into disrcpute. A
committee ofphysieians at his suggestion,
were appointed to examine into the truth
or falsity Of the doctrines of Mesmersm,
bu, not one word can be got from them
relative 10 the subject The following is
an account Of the hoax as given by an eye
witness:
MOST EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITION
OF MESMERIsM.
Ga Monday evening last was politely
requested by friend, to call a, his room
ut eight O'Clock, TO witness the operations
IN this strange phenomena. Punctual tG
the hour myself, found some twenty gen
uemen 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 entree.--
The Mesmerisor, or, as he has been more
lamlltarly called, the operator, seemed dis
posed to suspend his work, waiting impa-
tienljy for the arrival of some portion Of
the machinery Of his operaIlons--when
his countenance all at once assumed a
more quiet look, by the appearance of Mr..
R...., who entered the scene of ac-
ton, with a red silk pocket handkerchief
well filled with, what might be most pro-
perly called, articles of detection, which he
cautiously deposited on the mantle piece,
near him.
Mr.. X. taking his seat near table, cal.
led to Mr.. s., Mr.. e., and Mr.. NJ, who
held some ten or fifteen minutes OF con-
versatIon together, apart from the rest of
the company after which, Mr.. X. inrmal-
Nv announced TO the gentlemen present,
that he had appointed Mr., s, investlga-
tor, Mr.. G., promptcr, and MIR. NJ, re-
corder, of all the experiments that were
about to be witnessed, himself acting as
moderator of the whole crowd.
The Moderator (Mr. R.. calling the
company to order, urged upon them the
necessity Of preserving the most profound
silence, for the excitement produced by
the noise on the mcsmerizee would disturb
the nerves and prevent the magnetic tiuid
from taking such immediate effect, as
when all around was still and quiet. Al
ter this appeal was made by the Modera,
tor, the most breathless silence prevailed
over the assembled company. Mr.. NJ,
seated by table, with pen, ink and paper
before him, acting as recorder, while Mr.