Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-12-11
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
CLAlRYOYANCE.

ReHsosp. Nov. IS, lsl5.
To tAs Editors Of ths Rich,nsnd WAiss
Gen'lenien;-I have waited patiently until now In tho
expectation, that OF those ~ho lately publicly opposed
the seencs ut "Msgnetism" OF least wouJ be found.
~ the .ubee, something OF ineysn ,hs,
matter long exciting the minds Of the good citizens ot
Richmond demands, but have daily turned the col
emns OF the journals IN vain nothing but broad negaon'
founded upon presumption. have met my eye when Mag.
ns,sm has been alluded by those who have ignorsnty
dsaied its truth tho time approaches, when other to-
pics VI interest will absorb public attention. voaius To
ssnd you few observations In reply To the assertions
have spoken ~ and though /, may at fret sight appear
that slluds item In somewhat harsh and decided
yet pared give "chapter and verse; Tor what
shall say, they will think be found than
sincere wish Tor the establishment Of truth variants
shalt say sshtle possible OF tho observations which
have appeared in the columns Of the "whg edtoris
tsesuse the candid aud ingenious confession of the ed
hat he knows nothing about IT," me the trouble
and the few remarks which shall make, after review Of
the lsiers which appeared In that paper OF the 9Th nst
will be found sufficient fautaion OF his opinion tha I
"Msgn.iisn 10 an impiou. hunbug"
Ia the nine letters which will be found la both the "whiR"
shd the Enquirer the itself thrown Compare
lively the back ground while th. personal conduct Of
Dr.. Warner at the late Lectures os NJ De Bonns, ile
forms the prominent feature in them. Statements on this
subject, both in favour O and are
teiore the public and after ALL OF very secondary
Importance. l shall endesvor confno myself IN O re-
Nsws OF these letters To the observations Of the writers
o. Magnetism itself, although, with the Inodcsy
DC spoken, for feel sensiby any limited knowledge Of
The scence-h is like using Steam Engine to crush
hy.
The 6ss, communicate is from Dr. Warner, who s,,.
this
Wy confidence in my ability convict the imposition
wa. upon common sense principles. knew that the God
Vi Nature had given the control Of his fellow. My
eaiest moral instruction had taught know, that
my acp were prompted BY my will, alone
sponSoe that no could assume the responsibility. be-
cause could control my will. Z"
Now this, as l understand it, 10 sing Laopl<ds<
t1unded upon early educson that Magnetism not true
bnt Dr. Warner recolec how thnRs early eJu.
SAJn teaches true, that life we eKper
prove not aud vice verss experiment IL of more
value than thousand theoretical reasons more
IN case where is presumed TO be given, even
by those who speak from experiment. Now # the Doctor
had said 81 have tined. aud found after many peri
meats that Ia not So" his opposition would have stood
upon seine thing like reasonable ground but the
ry, lie ony cit be- because early education
taught me 40 anj so" Now, to come from = proes.
eng science, this 10 too puere for might well deny
tle effect OF prssic scJ the da ,uereUtpe or
las though not least, seeing that it shows astounding
sneet OF Magnetism the telegraph between Washington
and BiltimoTs These and host Of others that night
name, actually belepsd De- although early edu
eaton woul! have caused us all speak Of them I'M
possiblliues
DIR. Warner then says:
81 knew that oil phos ,phy condemned tho preensions
oi the Mesneriss, and that men only through
organ, which skill had appropriated IN all an mails
- tat particular function. farther kaew that all pre-.
Nods CisrvoyGnoe had been unable sustain itself before
q rigid inyeStig CATION"
We most Of US know, that "al philosophy" once con.
temned tie theory that the word u sphere, and ad-
heTed the belief that il stationary and that the Gun
and the stars revols.d around the uu.
'cTse' sufficiently proves but ink upon the
distances that might be sdduced waere "a philosophy"
has been in Of think OF doubling hume.
rous cases oi natural somnamb Ism, where individuals
have been reported, upon evidence nSSIly positive
6 ie evidence u the truth Of Cairyoy ance have walk.
OF her ord
mary ihngs, exactly In the that somnanbu
lists have performed them when the slesp las been pldu
ed by Magnetism.
The assertion Il the Doctor he "knouss all previous
ClIivJyance has been unable q rigid invesga
Gon arrogaus an anoun OF inform iion that give
him credit of; had he said be tslersd had been
Thing but he he knOies IL; inclined how
10 De too hard upon h,s precise words and willing
think he mus have all he kEsc but this only
proves, aud mention II melancholy fact, any
'hng dsfspeedu that he ignorant he subject from
moi having read concerning At, lac Is from the Of
experimental knowedee Tor he might have
'"s'-d by '"sisda@is ~sSss n~H,s- defy -u>p'eIon-
But DIR. Warner says his knowledge IA fpundeI upon
what lie pleased common sense" principe s
,ont-ss myself somewhat lnss define his precise
meaning In making of This term; tie
kn,ws that the "common sense" IL the jes
the mex; for instance, would the common
The Egyptians have caused them laugh The
that small quaniiy vi pounded charcoal mixed with
dfeent KINDS oi earth, would blow up one OF the Pyrs
Inids
knowledge founded upon experiment il. much more vau
bic; Franklin lheor sed the possibility bringing down lie
lightning from the clouds and putting bottle. and the
common senso" ~ several armed socieue, in London
merely ridcned 6s refused publish his theories;
but spite OF tho ilitealy Of a philosophy" Frank u
did tTing down the lightning he did pat bitle.
though the "enl ghtened" OF the had
his proceedings "inpous" How contemplate does thi.
line VI conduct appear in those who Afterwards made
him member OF the aforesaid learned Societies. whose
very nance, fortunately for their fame have peed while
that OF the object Of their dicu!e has become mmoIa-
$50 let il be with" DE Bonneville
do not sec any thing further IN Dr. Wanst's letter
worthy VI notice, but sincerely regret that in the
no should have descended such lavish abuse
Of Mr.. DE Bonneville he know that csllibg
IL no Argument" and can only lower the dignity Of him
who IT, WILL therefore, only hope he will heo.
Iise little less, and expenmenslze little par-
culsry, since the practical part OF the profession that
has rnised him 10 his present high standing Ia IT, that
with the determination confirm early education,
which leads in many have already proved 10
prejudice, but with tho manly intention Of publicly
knowledgng he has been wrong, If he shall find himself
90 have beens,.
The letter from Mr.. Gree nhow and says moth.
ing upon the subject oil. The third from Mr. Ca.kie.
This communication is carefully worded. and
fences might puzzle cOnjuror 10 discover the writer's
exact meaning; but plain man." read IL thus;
I" was convinced, says he. "when on the Cor.
iites, the little girl could through her natural
eans but subsequent events proved me 10 have been in
sTor."
Lawyer orc pr,verbsl for speaking equally well on
both sides Of question and Mr.. Caskies professional
reputation from all have heard stands dsservedy high
but from this specimen do think he would be e1
scut Ho Inuch reliance
difficult point oflaw, "ior fear in weskstne b. might
lind himself 10 have been In error" have not the
smallest doubt that he perfectly conscientious in both
opinionsi but they somewhat variance, do not
consider either Of them ~ entitled TO much weight
letter from Mr. Samuel II. Myers an escelle II spec-
men VI the mon. commsl." When on a Comm ttee az
"Odd Fellows Hail." he. II recoect rightly express ed
his opinion that The child could hs doe, not with
draw that opinion, but az the seems equally TO
refrain from ssyirg he siill holds n.
Mr.. Geo. r. Peaks's letter smused me much a. he ac>
knowledees TO having only been present tho Saturday
evening, and yet TALKS most vi eny The setusly calls
nsmosO Of the experiments IN vSyaHe,; when oil who
~ero present know that the experiments on that evening
10 which he took pert, confined entirely Bandass
should not have noticed this funny letter ALL had not
been an excellent specimen Of the Absurdes into which,
In some cases, common sense" principles will lead
man. Mr.. Y. 10 known a Of "common sense" aud
ssueh, entitled 10 the respect Of every one but bopo
Imoy be permitted to wish, that small portion ii another
sort Of sense, VIZ good sense" had not been wanting
when he made the acknowledgment that there was not
doubt upon bis mind Of what he had opportunity Of
judging.
Mr.. r. 7. Dsnisrs communication ssys nothing upon
"Msgnetsm;" 80 pass IL by merely advising hun II he
las doubts, TO oIperinentalizo upon young N,