New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-02-17
THE TRIBUNE.

t:.,~r Counsellor at Law. formerly President OF the
Western Physiological Society, Professor Oh Medical
rurisur.dence in the CastetOn Medical college, anu
,n,hnr q, 4 New System Of Phrenolosy NcS-fcrh ::
saxon & Miles, 2n5 Broadway. lsi5.
Man is always trying TO get charts and directions
for the suocr. sensual element in which he finds
himself involuntarily moving. Sometimes, indeed,
70, long pc RODS, lie Of continual activity In sup
plying bodily wants or wardins of bodily dangers
Will make HIN inat,entive to the circumstances Of
this other life Then, in an interval Of leisure, he
will start to fad himself pervaded by the power Of
this more subtle and searching energy, and will
turn his thoughts, with new force, TO scrutlnlze lis
nature and its promises.
At such times corps is formed OF workmen, fur
nshed with various Implements for the work. Some
collect facts from which they hope to build up the
ory; others propose theories by whose light they
hope to detect valuable facts; large number are
engaged in circulating reports of these labors;
larger in attempting to prove them invalid and ab-
surd These last are of some use by shaking the
canker-wornls from the Trees all of use in eu-
cida,ng truth.
Such a course of study has the civilized world
been engaged in for some years back with regard
TO what is called Animal Magnetism. We say the
civilized world, because, though large portion OF
the learned and intellectual, 10 say nothing OF the
thoughtless and the prejudced, view such research
ca az folly, yet believe that those PRESIDENT souls,
those minds more deeply alive, which are the heart
of this and the parents OF the next era, ALL more or
less consciously or unconsciously, share the belief
in such an agent as is understood by the largest de-
iniiien of Animal Magnetism that Is means by
which influence and thought may be communlca-
ted from one being to another, Independent of the
usual organs and with completeness and precls-
ion rarely attained through these.
For ourselves, since we became conscious at all
Of our connexion with the two forms of being
called the spiritual and material, we have perceived
the existence of such an agent, and should have
no doubts on the subject, il we had never heard
one human voice in correspondent testimony with
our perceptions. The existence OF such an agent
we know, have tested some of its phenomena, but
of its law and its analysis find ourselves nearly as
ignorant as in earliest childhood. And we must
confess that the best writers have read seem TO
zig about equally ignorant. We derive pleasure
and profit in very unequal degrees from their state
nts,.in proportion to their candor, cleaness OF
perception, severity Of judgment, and largeness ct
view. If they possess these elements OF wisdom,
their statements are valuable as afiording mate
rails for the true theory, but theories proposed by
them affect us, yet, only as partially sustained
hypothesis. Too many among them are stained by
faults which must prevent their coming TO any
valuable results, sanguine haste, jealous vanity,
lack of that profound devotion which alone can
win Truth from her cold well, careless classical
ton, abrupt congratulations. We see, as yet, no
writer great enough for the patient investigation, IN
spirit liberal yet severely true, which the subject
demands. We see man OF Shakspearean, New
tonian incapabiiity of deceiving himself or others.
However, no such man is needed and we believe
that 1t is pure democracy to rejoice that, IN this
department as in Others, 1t is no longer some one
great genius that concentrates within himself the
vital energy Of his time. Ii is many working &C.
getser who 90 tic work. The waters spring up N
every direction, as little r:ls, each If which does
lis worl.. We see movement corresponding with
tins in the reFion of exact science, and we have
no doubt that n the course of fifty years a new
circulation will be comprehended as clearly as the
circulation q he blood is now
In metaphysics, n phreno.ogy, in animal mag
nesm, in electricity, in chemistry, the tendency is
the same, even when conclusions seem most disso-
nant. Tie mind presses nearer home 10 the seat
oI consciousness the mere intimate law and rule
of HE, and old limits become fluid beneath the
fire Of thought We are learning much, and ii
will be grad muse, tia; shall b, PLAYED on this
organ Of Eany pipes.
Via regard TO M,. Grimes's book, IN the frs,
place. we 10 aot po>ess sufficient knowledge of
the subject 10 criticise it thoroughly; and secondly,
il we did, il could not he done in narrow limits
To us his classification IS unsatisfactory his theory
inadequate, lis point OF view uncongenial. We
d'sapproNe OF the spirit in which he himself cr!t-
cises other disciples in this science who have, we
believe, made some good observations, with many
failures, though, like himself, they do not hold
themselves lowly as disciples enough TO suit US
For we 40 no. believe there Is any man, get, who
Is entitled 10 s,ve himself The air OF having taken
degree on this subject. We do not want the tone
@! qualification or mnclag apology. We want no
mock modcsty, bat lis reality, which is the almost
sure attendant on greatness. What a lesson il;
would b. for this country if body Of msn could
be a; work together in that harmony which would
not fail 70 diSintersstcd love of discov-
ering ruth, and with that patience and exactness
in experiment, without which no machine was ever
invented worthy patent. The most superficial,
go-ahead, hi,oY-miss American knows that no ma
chine was ever perfected without this patience and
e1actness; and let no one hope 10 achieve vc,o-
res in the realm, Of mind at cheaper rate than in
that o matter,
Iaspeaking thus of Mr. Grmes's book, we can
still cordially recommend ii 10 the perusa OF or
readers. lis statements are tull and sincere. The
writer has abilities which onlyneed TO be used with
more ihofoushness and higher aim 10 guide hun
10 valuable aiiainmen,s 1t appears from notices
asked 10 his book Ina, he has commanded an IN
usual share OF attention, in field where he has
many competitors, and we think his book wosld
VIA Tor HIM the same 1t will bes,ow on those
who DO no; find IN 1t positive instruction. informa-
hon and suggestion enough to requi,e careful Pc
russl The best criticism on this as on other sach
works IS to associate 1t as a manual with our own
inquiries.
II will be the best justice to Mr. Crimes after
whaiwe have said of our impression as TO the tone
OF his work to publish the following extracts from