The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-06-19
From the Magnet.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
FACTS.

FACIS.
The facts that am about to relate are so
extraordinary that few persons, perhaps,
will credit them; but as 1 can swear to them
as an eye witness, L do not hesitate to pro-
claim their truth, and if you Judge them wor-
thy of public attention, | authorize you, in
publishing them to give my name if necessa-
ry.
have always been more than sceptical on
what is called MeSmerism or AnimaL Mag
netism. had, heretofore, suspected decep-
ton when the parties interested were I'M
known to me, or illusion and credulty if the
veracity of the person could not be question
ed. But, in spite of myself. | must confess
that conviction has been forced upon me af-
ter what took place Thursday, the 4th inst.
at DIR. t. Leger's rooms.
A week previous was, with several friends
present at private Lecture that that gentle
man delivered on the science that he calls
Psyche Dunany. l was indeed not little
puzzled to witness experiments which prove
the sight without the use of the eyes, ard
particularly to hear a somnambule give cor
rect description of the disease Of persons who
were present. and could neither be expected
to have called or their maledies be known in
advance. Still these singular phenomena
clairvoyance and intuition have been record
ed already in many books written on the mat
ter, whilst the experiments of Thursday last
exceeded any thing ever heard, and do not
believe that similar facts have been related
before.
The Doctor had announced that he would
try to impart, by the sole power of his will, to
person in the Psycho-Dunamic sleep, any
fhn unhf It,
ence would write on piece of paper, and
elicit the mimical, spoken, and musical ex-
preston of it, although preserving himself
the most profound silence, and without touc-
ing or communicating in any physical way
with the somnambule.
About forty highly respectable persons of
this city met at the appointed time, in the
rooms of the Doctor, No. "A, Broadway, to
witness the experiments that 1 will now sue
cinctly relate without father comment.
As soon as the Psycho-dunamic sleep was
produced, the audience agreed to write on
slip of paper; "Love of children" and to
give it to the doctor. He appeared to COM
pose for short while; then extended his
hands towards his patient, keeping them at
more than foot distance, in commanding
manner, without uttering any word or sound.
Several minutes elapsed without any perceiv-
able effect; when slowly and by degrees, the
somnabule begun to raise her arms; she cross
ed them over her breast as if pressing fondly
to her bosom a fancied babe, and initiating
all the motions Of nurse who caresses her
infant. The feature of the DIR. assumed a
sterner aspect, and short while after she
opened her mouth, and said in low but per-
fectly audible voice Don't speak, he wants
to sleep! and she rocked gently her imagined
child, singing in an under tone, Bayou babe,
baby, baye, &c.
You can easily suppose the general aston
ishment. But it was nothing in comparison
to what happened Immediately after. Scarce
~ had the Doctor by few motions of his
hands, at distance, Gained his subject than
"Love of God, =" Veneration," had been
written on another piece of paper and hand
ed to the Doctor. This time his silent exer-
tons remained longer without effect. New
ertheless, a kind of electric commotion ap-
peared to shake the patient; she joined her
hands, bent down her head, and seemed lost
in profound and pious meditation. A few
minutes after she turned her head upwards,
and her lips moved as if utteriu2 fervent
prayer; then again, as if yielding to superior
force, she opened her mouth and pronounced
in very emphatic manner, piece of poetry,
the first line Of which, if am correct was
- The church assumes her wesds of mourning
now &c.
She remained awhile as if lost in deep thought
during which the Doctors mental energy was
evidently increasing. Though he preserved
the same distance, he seemed by peculiar
motion of his hands to compel her to kneel
down, and when in that situation, he kept
them above her head. Then she sang, with
voice remarkably sweet and impressive,
the hymn
90 thou to whom all creatures bow
Shortly after, at a new motion of the Doctor,
she rose and sat down: her head fell on her
breast, and she appeared to sleep again sound
ly and quietly; whilst the Doctor, evidently
exhausted and wet all over with perspiration,
fell, himself on his seat, but in a few seconds
resumed his self-possession.
Not word had been uttered the audience
was struck with kind of stupor. In the
same silent way we then desired the DIR. to
excite sorrow.
He renewed his exertions, which for a still
longer time remained unanswered. At last
the patient became agitated; she sighed, she
appeared respondent; she clasped her hands
sobbed, and tears fell along her evidently suf-
fering features. The Doctor, always men
tally, willed her to speak, and she exclaimed
in great anguish: 40 my dear mother! why
have lost you! am now alone yes! alone
| in the world :" and her cries and sobs smoth-
cred her voice.
The emotion and sympathy of the audience
was extreme. But sooD the Doctor, by a
motion of his hand, always at a distance, and
without uttering a sound, succeeded in calm
ing her; then as if he wished her to open her
mouth, he moved his hands before her lips,
and shortly after, with an expression Of feel
ing that could not describe, she sang the
song entitled The Old Arm Chair.
Some persons will believe, perhaps, that
the patient could see the motions and gestures
of the Doctor, and be guided by them but,
alas this last entrenchment is not even left to
the sceptic; the patient is stone-blind or
phan, well known as born blind, and educated
at the Asylum for the blind, of this very