American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-06-23

MEsMERlsM AND CLAIRyoYANCE. The Co.
shen Democrat is out against the so-caled SCI
ence OF Mesmersm. The editor says he feels
forced to pronounce mesmeric carvoyance a
perfect humbug. We have been as great an in
hdel and unhelicVer in s0ch matters as any of
our brethren, but when we have recited story
upon this subject which can be well attested
and which comes near home, it will not be
wondered that we stagger under tho weight of
evidence against US. Mr.. Jacob Bensel, (fath-
er OF the editor of this paper,) residing in the
town OF Shawangunk, Ulster county, has been
long afflicted with disease. He has applied to
many physicians, and tried various cure-alIs
with very little success One Of his neirhbors
having heard of Mrs. Kahn, a Clairvoyant at
Newburgh, and wishing to be satisfied in rela-
ton to the truth or humbug of ''Clarvoyance, -
procured Of the sufferer a t0ck of hail! Mr.
Winfield (the neighbor) having persuaded a
sister Of ours to 90 with him, took the hair TO
Ncwburgh, distance some lG or s miles. Mrs.
Kahn was magnetizcd by her husband, and the
lock OF hair placed in her hands. After feeling
1t, and iumbling some time she said the owner
lived good way off, ana 1t was strange road.
(Ths she might have gWcsSed) She SAID that
If one acquainted with the road would take
her hand, and lead her in Moughi, she would
examine the patient. The sister before men
toned took her hand and did as directed She
also also asked the clairvoyant questions while
on the journey and the answers proved beyond
cavil That tho minds were strangely mingled
When they arrived at the house, the clairvoy-
ant said the owner was not in, but that she saw
him! Mr.. Winfield examined ks watch and
found the time 3 p. m. On inquiry the next
day at the proper source, he learned the unu-
sual circumstance that the old gentleman was
absent from his house at that time! Here,
then, the clarvoyant must have acted ndepen-
IDENTIFY Of any other mind. Crhe chances all
against gucssing) To prevent the possibility
of deception, she was asked to mention some
mark upon the body by which the patient might
be known; and the reply was prompt, that he
had cancer Wart upon one FOOT No oihe1 per-
son lining, except members of the family, kAe,o
This ttct' 1t should also be remembered that
the woman is an entire stranger IN that part Of
the country, and was totally unacquainted with
all tho parties. After the examination, and
after describing the patients diseases with the
most astonishing accuracy, Mrs. Kahn said that
although she was no physician, and seldom
prescribed medicine, in this case she could men
ton that which would much assist nature in
performing her various functions This medi-
cine was procured and taken according to d.
rectons, and the result was that within tro
,CeekS the old gentleman was able to 90 over
the whole farm and perform some of its tighter
duties. These circumstances combined have
led us into the quagmire of uncertainty: they
/ have compelled us to admit that there is some
truth in magnetism, and ace kaow not hoU much
fthere could not possibly be any undiscovered
laws of mind, then would we at once condemn
the whole class of magnetizers as arrant cheats
hut knowing the truth of the above-narrated
circumstances, we believe we will be permitted
to declare our neutrality (.Nsc
York) Courier.