The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-31
DIR. Cullen a. this crisis strobe forward in seem.

dragged him from the stage. The tumult then
commenced. Speeches were made, some throw
ing spirit upon the flame, and others oil upon the
waves. Mr.. and Mrs. De Bonneville evinced
great frmness and spirit, and the faction in the
crowd had the immense qualification of INDUCING
in all the vulgar abuse of " Humbugs" and i'm
posters. of which blind passion is at all times SO
competent TO Judge! Having sufficiently famed
the flame. the leaders of this riot withdrew, with
the heartfelt, if not expressed, contempt of every
friend of liberty and truth, who witnessed their
eXecrable pantoInime.
Mr.. and Mrs. De Bonneville, arm in arm, and
surrounded by many friends, made way through
the rioters, to the carriage without. An effort
was made at a rush, by which a gentlem was
preclpitated down the steps TO the slight injury of
his left hip. No further accident however, oc-
Cured. and the worthy Professor and his lady
rode off to their lodging pursued by a mob crying
'Humbrg, Humbug! = Mesmer had TO flee from
city TO city DIR. Gall had TO leave his country, on
account of Phrenology and Mr.. De Bonneville
and the friends of Magnetism in this city, have
had the honor TO suffer insult and persecution for
the truths sake, at the instigati0n of certain EN-
lightened and scientific Professors of the Rich
mond Medical College,
But to return to DR.. Cullen's son. One of
two things must be obvious to every thinking
person, namely, either The boy had been pre-
Uiousiy tutored in the part he ,cas TO piag. or the
bandage pas misapplied. This same lad was
at Prof. De Bonneville's on Saturday morning,
when the '~bandage was 'ceN applied, and HE DE-
cLAREp HE COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. The
bandage was then pelL and rightly applied
Now. if DR.. w. had well applied it at night, so
that the boy could not see, he must either hare
become suddenly a Cl~airuoyante, or he must
hare been tutored for the occasion !; if he was
not tutored, bnt did really see, then, all that was
proved was, that DR.. Warmer had not skillfully
applied the bandage, and therefore, he read
through the ~creuices. This is all that was prov
ed except, perhaps. that MIR. and Mrs. De Bon
neville were victimiZed.
But, fortunately for Magnetists in Richmond
their antagonists have proved themselves wanting
in " provision" To have destroyed all possible
proof that Tie bmdage ,oas sufficient 10 blind
the eyes, they should have likewise DESTROYED it.
This they failed TO do, and since Saturday night,
the veriiahle bandage is still extant, and can east
ly be produced. 1t has been since tried, and
found sufficient to exclude all light when proper
ly applied.
Fellow-C Citizens upon such premises as these,
Mr.. and Mrs. De Bonneville, who are entitled to
your hospitality and favor until convicted of i'm
posture upon surer grounds, are suffering unjust
reproach. They are, as it were, prisoners at
home, in apprehension of insult and violence in
your streets if they walk out. Is this a free
country. and such tyranny of faction as this to be
endured They will not leave Richmond, how
ever, until they are justified and when justified
they will accuse. They are resolved not TO be
put down by violence. They have nought to ac-
cuse you of as a citizen they do not attribute the
insults they have received to those of you who
give direction to public sentiment; but to a GER
tain interested faction in your midst.
Will you permit this state of things to con-
unue or will you not rather invite them, under
the guarantee of your protection. against mob VIC
lence, and individual disorderly interference, 10
resume their public demonstration for the gratif
cation and edification of the friends of a full, fair
and free Investigation and discussion of truth in
all the departments of things literary, scientific,
spiritual, and political? We pause for your re-
ply and wishing that you may be filled with
zeal for the vindica;ion of your city from all parli-
cipation in the scenes of Saturday night, and for
the promotion of the mental independence of your
fellow citizens. we subscribe ourselves,
Most respectfully.